Year: 1869

PETER CRISP'S SPECTACLES.


PETER CRISP had something the matter
with his eyes: he needed spectacles to
help him to see. But this was no uncom-
mon misfortune hundreds ofpeople, who
do ten good hours work every day OF
their lives, use glasses and cannot get
along without them. No; the chief
trouble in Peters case was not in wanting
glasses it was in the particular sort Of
glasses that he used. he had several
pairs, which he always kept on hand, no.
body knew exactly where they seemed
to be hidden somewhere about the head
of his bed, for he often got them on before
he was up in the morning.


One pair was what should call smoked
glasses, such as persons use in looking at
the sun they do very well for that pur-
pose, preventing the bright rays from
hurting the eyes. But Peter did not put
them on to look at the sun with he looked
D everything through them. Aud this
uSie every thing look dark and ugly, he
w.,'s made to feel accordingly.


could iron these collars better N.Y.
selfip he exclaimed one morning as he
was dres sing, after getting up with those
glasses ON. And few minutes later,
mot q pin in the cushion as usual Z"
and presently again. "Who has taken my
comb and brush Z"


Had any of the children CHANGED to
come into the room about that time, it
would have been worse for them


When he sat down to breakfast there
was deep wrinkle between his eyes,
caused by the weight of the glasses upon
his brow.


THAT Polly Ann never did make good
cup of coffee in her life," he remarked.
80 My DEAR" turning to his wife, / do wish
you would take the trouble to go down
once-just once, only once-and show her
how"


Mrs. Crisp ventured to say in low
voice that she went down every morning
Peter had no reply to make to this, but he
puc ckered his lips as if he had been taking
ouinin.,, frOwned yet more severely and
pushed the cup away from him.


After his cheerful breakfast he put on
his hat to go to the store, but turned back
from the front door and came to the foot
of the stairs, w here he stood calling out in
a loud voice that he really felt ashamed Of
the black around the door-knOb and bell
handle. In the street few moments
afterward. q gentlssnan joined him, to
whom he was as pleasant as possible. But
when he got into the cOuntiDg-rOOm, it
wss plain he had the smoked glasses on
still. Not one person about the concern
worked as he should do, he said--none of
them were worth a cent. 1t used to be
different when he was boy. Then he
went out with look of general disgust.
as soon as he was gone the boOkkeeper
was cross to the clerk, and the clerk
saalded the boy, and the boy went out and
abased the porter.


A few mornings after that, Peter had on
what might be called his blue glasses. He
was in q milder frame, but low in spirits.
He was sorry to see the chamber CARPET
wearing out, for he did not know where
another would come from. At breakfast
he watched all the children taking butter,
and took scarcely any himself. He
begged Mrs. Crisp to put less sugar IN his
q Hffee. The frOwn was gone from his face,
hu, q most detected look had come in its
nlace Spying hole in the toe of MS
bov's hoe. he took long breath, and
hearing hat the dressmaker was engaged
a dav next week for his daughters he
sighed aloud. Walking down the street,
he looked az ,'f he had lost near relative,
and At the stor all day he felt ike one on
the eve of break ing.


He had one m ore pair Of glasses. the
color of which co'u.d never be distinctly
made out they seemed inors OF q muo.
color than ANYTHING else de did not
wear them 80 often as either of tie others'
but when he did they had a very s.oguisr
effect. 1t was thought by many that hey
befogged him, rather than helped him sc 9;
for after putting them ON of a morning he
would get up and dress hardly speaking a
word. Atbrcakfsst he would say nothing,
and not seem to want anybody else tn !:
nfIxr ho xuhn q ilxy
a I'D MUNICH in silence; then he would rise
fro IN the table and walk out of the front
doc, as If he was dumb and although it
was a relief when he had gone and made
matters' something better, still q chilling
influence remained behind him the whole
morning.


Peter h. I'D been wearing these glasses
good man y years, when it occurred to
him one day that things never looked very
cheerful in Gis eyes, that he was never
very happy, anC that perhaps his specta-
cles had something to do with it.


"I wish could get another and bet
ter pair" said he Then he remembered
that his neighbor, Samuel Seabright, had
to wear glasses also, but he always ap
peared 70 see well and to have pleasant
face on Meeting him the next morning
ne said,


aNeighbor, if it is not making too free
may ! ask where you get your specta
cless"


Certainly" replied Samuel. IL an
glad to tell you. They are good ones. ant
wish every man with poor eyes had
pair like them"


al would be willing tn pay good pric'
for pair" said Peter.


"That is not needful," replied Samuel
"they are the cheapest glasses you Cal
get"


spray tell me where / can find them,
said Peter.


81 got mine," said Samuel, "by tn