Year: 1859

know who had been his stepping.stone to
social position. He claimed to be quite init.
mate with may of the first families, and if not
liked was at least tolerated had called on
Mrs. Sage; professed great admiration for
that lady, and borrowed largely of her hus-
band. And he was not the only man who
had played the game successfully. Many
others borrowed, and not one of the number
appeared to have the least intention Of paying.
Mr.. Sage told bis wife all this and more call
ed the society Of which she was so fond
"rotten SYSTEM and "humbugi" pulled
her idol down before her very eyes, and broke
it in thousand pieces. And then he told
her how great sufferer he had been by her
changed manner toward himself; her neglect
and coldness her blindness to the falsity Of
the society of which she was votary and he
victim. And ended by saying, g. wish my
uncle had left his money to some one else
we were great deal happier before our &C.
cession to wealth. We lived much more
pleasantly with poor Mrs. Mervin and her
pretty children; there was but one shadow
between US then, darling. and that was that
we had no little ones of our own"


Chow horribly you do talk. You know l
cannot endure children am really very thank.
full that have none."





~ love children, Minnie, and would gladly
take one of Mrs. Mervin' little black-eyed girls
to educate you were only willing"


swell, am not. I wish that to be dis,
tinctly understood. l don't see how you can
afford to take children to educate, when yon
complain about not having money to lend to
one of my most particular friends"


"They are but summer friends, Minnie.
Every one of them; nothing but summer
friends. They would desert you in time OF
need and were yor to become poor and des'
titute, not one Of the many gaudy butterflies
who now autter round you would know you,
though they we're to meet you face to face IN
open day."


"What false ideas you do take up; so un.
charitable too, am truly shocked to hear you
talk as you do. And you have grown SO cross
and strange, and so careful Of your money
that am almost afraid to ask for sufficient
to enable me to make proper appearance at
Mrs. Brevoort's party; or you may even wish
me to remain at home" And Minnie spoke
with bitterness.


"No, darling; I do not wish to prevent
your going. Irather wish you to 60; and
have always money sufficient for all necessary
purposes, and some to spare in charity, but
not one cent to lend. Here are three hun.
dred dollars-will that be enough? And
here is hundred more that must send to
Mrs. Mervin. l had almost forgot to tell you
I called this morning and found her quite i'll |;
/ do wish you could 60 down and see her,"
- q EPerAapa4 will, aoma time, !yhsusl amin
that part of the city; yet I cannot imagine
why you should send mosey to her."


"I send money to her because she is needy
and worthy; has family of children to sup
port, and is i'll, am glad that have money
that can spare as we'll as not. l would
divide my last dollar with her, for she has
been as sister to me at a time too when
friends were not over plentiful. ] have been
destitute myself, homeless and without money ;
it was at such time that Mrs. Mervin gave
me home in her family, and trusted me
until | could make the money to pay her.


81 don't see why you should revert to those
things now. You cannot suppose them to be
at all pleasant to me; and besides such allu-
sions are positively vulgar"


And Mrs. Ssgo went to her chamber to
make out list for to.morrow's shopping.