Trials and Confessions of a Housekeeper

ed to the practice of this virtue, or incur debt, of which both of us had a natural horror. For a few years we lived in the plain style with which we had begun the world. But, when our c

lly, with our friends, the contrast between home

me, one day, "that it is time

ford the outla

a great deal,

ee hundred do

swered: "Half that sum ought to b

begin with," I replied. "T

llars a-piece for chairs?" said

you can get goo

ay; and the man only asked four dollars for them. I don't in

is poor economy, Mr. Smith, to buy cheap furniture. It costs a great deal

to look at. The man said they were from one of the best s

of the case any farther. It was settled, however, that we could afford to re-furnish our parlors in a better style, and that in the c

seeing that he was beyond our mark, offered for five dollars. They were cheap at that price. But Mr. Smith could not see that they were a whit better than the set of chairs just mentioned as offered for four dollars; and which he was satisfie

d my husband. "To me they are quite as handso

e question with various convincing arguments, among the strongest of which was an abatement in the price of

e and a-half," said

and three-quarters. They are fully equal, in every respect, to the chairs you were

bargain," was the only reply mad

cline this offer; but, was disappointed. He

u live to be as old as Mathuselah. But, now, don't you want something else? I can sell you cheaper and better article

him out than I wished to make. So, I yielded with as good a grace as possible, and aided in the selection of

morning, about two weeks after all had been fitted out so elegantly, while engaged in dusting the chairs, a part of the mahogany ornament in the back of one of them fell off. On the next day, another showed the same evidence of imperfect workmanship. A few evenings afterwards, as we sat at the centre table, one of our children leaned on it rather heavily, when there

ture," said I, in a tone

e half reproachfully,

other imperfections, and gave us the consoling information that our fine furniture was little above fourth-rate in quality, a

ng for a time, both he and my husband took up books, and commenced reading, while I availed myself of the opportunity to write a brief letter. Our visitor, who was a pretty

upon our new carpet! An instant more, and we were in total darkness. But, ere the light went out, a glance had revealed a scene that I shall never forget. Our visitor, whose weight, as he tried his usual balancing experiment, had caused the slender legs of his chair to snap off short, had fallen backwards. In trying to save h

of its unpleasant reality. As for our visitor, when lights were brought in, he was no where to be seen. I have a fa

ought less than half its first cost. It was then replaced with good articles, by good work

hundred dollars for re-furnishing purposes; but, as his business absorbed nearly all of his time and thoughts, he le

be good. It is che

wash-stand, for her chamber, besides a new chamber carpet. Her first visit was to the ware-rooms of one of our best cabinet makers; but, his prices completely

y cheaper,

y dearest in the end," re

ot take in the meaning of the man's words. "All I know is, that I

No; her heart covered the whole inventory at first made out, and nothing less would answer. So she went to an auction store, and bought

sing-bureau; and, as she spoke, she took hold of the suspended looking-g

ng-glass broke away from one of the screws that held

was not all-over thirty dollars were paid during the first

ear or two, than the difference between its price and that of first-rate articles; to say nothing of the vexation and want of s

like Mr. Smith, and, as will be seen in the story about to be given, my sister's ideas of things and my own, run quite parallel to each other. The story has found its way, else