Year: 1859

Richard Lane was esteemed prudent,
careful young man, by all who knew him.
His father was poor man, aud unable to
do anything for him than to give him good
common school education, which was in it
selfa fortune. As a boy he had gone into
q store and worked his way along by slow
degrees, till at the opening Of our story he
had salary of six hundred dollars year,
as salesman.
, Three years before he had made the ac-
uuaiutauce Of Isabel Walker, and from that
time a new hope animated him. He thought
of the future audthe delights of home his
own home, with Isabel for his wife, occupi-
ed the foreground of his picture for the fu-
ture. He had an idea of domestic bliss,
which he meant to realize, and with this in
tent he saved a portion of his salary eve.
ry year, so that when he was ready to get
married, he had $500 to 90 to house keep
ing with. ....:-


Isabel Walker was an orphan, with moth
ing to depend upon but her own earnings.
She had received tolerable education, and
early exhibited remarkable talent for mu-
sic some kind friends had assisted her to
cultivate it, and now she earned very
handsome salary as teacher of music
She was very pretty girl, and her amiable
character and pleasant manners rendered
her general favorite, even in the circles of
wealth and fashion.


Richard and Isabel were married, and ta-
king half of good house at rent of one
hundred and fifty dollars, they went to
housekeeping in preference to boarding.
Richards accumulated fund enabled him to
furnish his rooms very prettily, though not
very elegantly or fashionably; but Isabel
was satisfied, was delighted with her new
situation.


For year they were as happy and con-
tented as they could be, nor sighed for any
of the luxuries or vanities which Richards
small salary did not enable him to buy. At
the beginning of a new year, the young hus-
bands employers voluntarily raised his sala-
ry to seven hundred dollars a year.


Now Isabel you shall have piano. said
Richard, after he had announced the graft
flying intelligence.


sOh no, Richard we cannot afford to keep
a piano. Isabel demonstrated.


Il think we can know firm that will
trust me for one-will give me six months
credit


But Richard, you cannot pay for one in
six MONTHS


Il can pay a part of it, and they will wait
longer for the rest. can pay hundred
dollars, at least, towards it,


Il fear not. Why, look at your account
book. Our expenses for the first year we
have been housekeeping are little more than
six hundred dollars. If you had not had
some money, we should have been in debt
This seven hundred dollars will just enable
us to live as we have lived, nothing more


There were great many extra expenses
the first year. 1t will not cost us more than
$500 this year.


Then we will have the piano at the end
of the year. 1t will be much better to pay
for it than run in debt for it,


This was excellent philosophy on the part
of Mrs. Lane, and it would have been wise
in her husband to have adopted it.


Don't you want the piano, Isabel?' he
asked somewhat astonished at her earnest
ness.


soh very much! have often thought how
pleasant should pass away my leisure hours
when you are away, if I only had a piano.
But really, Richard, never thought of such
thing as having one. I can do without it
very we'll, and I beg you will not run in
debt for one.'


'Just as thought, know one so fond
of music as you are, must need piano very
much, and you shall have one, Isabel, and
the devoted husband kissed her tenderly.
he was very fond and very proud of her.


i will not consent, Richard. I am afraid
if you run in debt, some terrible thing will