Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-10

, and pay twice a year Mrs. Alsep had
told me- so | acted upon that hint.
+Of course, ] planned by small econ
omies to be ready to meet the payment
as Mrs. Alsop did hers, and reckone5
it would be easy of accomplishment
but it wasn't.
Mrs. Alsop was an expensive com
panion; if she did always treat me
when we were out together. Sometimes
when she had no change she would,
perhaps, borrow q quarter of me to
give the man who shut the carriage
door when we came out OF the SHOP,
or two dollars fifty for the taxi on q
day when the motor car happened 70
be out of order; or a dime to give the
woman in the cloak room at the thea
| ter; and she did not remember TO pay
me as often as she should, or as my oil
friends would have done, for a dollar
or two was of such small account to
her that she quite likely did not think
it was worth taxing her mind with. al
though it was severe TAX upon me. j
couldn't save money. Charlotte, to meet
the obligation for that blue suit at
Jarad's.
Then she gave such expensive en-
tertainments that ! was obliged to 60
to greater expense to entertain her
| than | had to for my old friends and
the fiorists' bills were something
dreadful.
"The Alsops never let any kind of an
anniversary pass without celebrating
| it, and their close friends always gave
| presents on these occasions; and this
was severe tax upon me, too. al
| though my gifts were simple and she
never thought twice about accepting
| them: but her presents to me were al
ways lovely and costly and entirely out
| Of keeping with the plain Furnishings
of my modest little home.
! Il noticed that my cid friends were
| inviting me less and less to their par
| ties, where felt right in my element
and the conversation was not topiofty
while at the Alsops' the conversation
| tried my patience. for it ran like this:
| "Shall you be at New York mex
week.
DO you think Caruso is going
off?'
| How does the new chef at the
! Waldorf compare with the oldZ'
You see how 1t was, Charlottei
| was out of my element, for I was OF
| more familiar ground when I was dis
| cussing a new book, or com parine
| the fact that the trolley cars now pa 8
| the bottom of our street, and suc]
| homely subjects as we always fount
| pleasure in.
| Il quietly came to the conclusio,
| that it was for me to wean mysel
away from the society I was in througi
| the kindness Of Mrs. Alsop and my
| own weak ambitions. and to return II
| nv dear old friends and the clos,
| econopries which kent us on a debt
fire. and hard cash basis. l can low
| the Alsops. but I cannot socially com
| pete with them.
| You have learned good deal" sajt
Charlotte. IF it did come high; and
| am not surprised that you have decid
| ed to return TO the less giddy and NOR
congenial walks Of life. We have al
| felt as if you had given us up TO
| something more toney; but We Wer
| aware you would find no truer frienf
than your old ones. I congratulate yol
on your good resolve, End | assure yo'
| we shall all be glad to find you one
| again in our simple walk Of life"
4 have learned" said Elizabeth
| that Simplicity and goodness are eve
found together and I know that vanit
| is venial error and carries its ow1
punishment with it."