Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-09-14
THE PIANO LAMP.

with the best wishes Of her asso-
| ciates in the shop came a wedding
gift which stirred the livcliest adm-
ration Of a young bride the writer once
| knew. IL was resplendent piano
| lamp. Instantly 1t aroused a longing
! for a piano. 1t seemed to cry our for
| fitting society. Its magnificence of
| hammered brass and pink tulle shade
would accord sadly with the inexpen-
| sive little wooden rocker, carpet-cov-
| cred lounge and muslin curtains which
| the couple had picked out as furnish
| ings for tiny Darlor. The hundred
! dollars which made their joint treasure
| was carried to a great installment
house. and instead Of buying with 1t
! all their little store Of household goods
as they had joyfully intended. they
made IL the fiist deposit of the four
hundred dollars expended on fitting
surroundings for the piano lamp with
its ballet skirt
| The first evening their friends came
to wish them joy the piano lamp cast
| "A genial glow on a plush-covered par
| lor set Gay pictures adorned the
/ walls, and lace curtains Of uncertain
quality hung at the windows The
| carpet with its immense sprawl Of pat
| tern and gorgeous coloring was an
| atrocity and the velour portieres We're
| a horror. But the happy young couple
! saw nothing but beauty in the little
! Hat. The piano lamp had dictated the
| furnishings for other rooms, the imi-
| tation oak set OF the tiny chamber, the
/ mrrored sideboard and carved table
! II the dining room, even the nickel
/ adorned stove and highly vanished
! refrigerator that almost furnished the
| scrap Of a kitchen.
| AT first the fond. foolish little couple
Mere happy. The five dollars a week
| enc the installment house was met
| promptly and the remaining seven dol
! lars covered their humble needs. Grad
ually they grew careless The install
nient man was robbed of dollar oc-
| casionalIy for theater tickets. a tide in
| to the country. pretty vase or some
! thing that seemed almost a necessity.
| He told them cordially il made no diff
| ference: You have been 50 prompt.
| hc explained: I'm glad 70 do you 4
| favor" Then the coveted piano was
! also bought on monthly payments. II
! crowded the morsel Of parlor only
| the piano lamp seemed To be content
and it's rosy light Slowcd on the daz-
| zlinS Varnish.
Pcforc their first anniversary, hard
! times began. At the shop work was
| scaUCe and half-timc wages were all
| that came in the yellow envelope. She
| could not work. for the lusty voice OF
| baby made wakeful nights IN the mar
| r1w nat The young husband could
| turn his hand to nothing hut his trade.
| ami the romance began to turn into
| trgEcdy They We're in debt to the
| 20. man. the grocer. the butcher ana
the baker Tho installment man called
| twice a week, anxious for payment
| Fist the piano badc adicu to the little
| fat. and = loud voiced man swore
| roundly as he carried il down to his
wagon. Tho piano lamp futtcred It's
pink skirt in rage over its desoation.
| Presently il grew lonelier. The IN
| stallment man stripped the little par
| lOr: ne claimed that everything there
| belonged to him He also carried
away the carved dining table and the
| sideboard with its wealth Of mirrors
| He left the simple necessities OF lie
| grudCincly. for even on them several
| pavments were due. Then there came
| the landlord for his rent. He gazed
sternly at the Haunting piano lamp.
| The sight of il killed all his pity ana
he took his due.
| one day the young couple bade good
| ~ tn the nat. They turned their wan
| faces to 4 more poverty-stricken dis-
trct To seek the shelter Of one room
| All their belongings now were trunk
n few shabby bundles and the baby OF
| lusty voice on their way to the new
| home they turned to look at each other
| with saddered eyes. They had caught
| in a passing glance at secondhand
| store a glimpse Of a tall piano lamp
Its body was of hammered brass ana
about il dropped a wilted pink ballet
| skirt-Ciood Housekeeping.
4 Ax..N-,. l.I,N-T'I I,X