A Domestic Chat

'This is pleasant!' exclaimed theyoung husbandj taking his seat cösily in ihe rocking-chair, as the tea-things were removed. The fire glowed in the grate, revealing a prettily and neatly fürn'ished sitting-room with all the appliances of comfort. The fatiguing business of the day was over, and he sat enjoying, whát he had all day been anticipating, the delights of his own fireside. His pretty wife, Esther, took her work and sat down by the table. It is pleasant to have a home of one's own,' he said again, taking a satisfactory survey of his snug little quarters. The cold rain beat against the windows, and he thought he feit really grateful for all his present comforts. 'Now, if we only had' a piano!' said the wife.'Give me the music of your sweet voice before all the pianos in crealion,' he deelared, coniplimentarily, despite it certain secret dtsappointment that his wife'sthankfulness did not happily chime with his own. 'Wel!, but we want one for our friends,' said Esthep, 'Let our friends corne nnd see us, and not to hear a piano!'" exclainred the husband. 'But, George, every body has a piano now-a-days-- we don't go anywhere without seeing a piano,' persisted the wife. 'And yet I don't know tvl'mt we want one for,. - you will have n o time to play on one, and I don't wantto hear it.' 'Why, they are fashionable- l think öwf room1 looks really naked without one.' 'I think it lboltsjust riglit.' 'L think it looks very nakcd - we wanta piano, shockingly,' protested Esther, emphatically. The husband rocked violently. 'Your amp srnokes, my dear,' he said after a ong pause. 'When are you going to get an astral amp? I have told you a dozen times low much we need one,' said Esther, )ettishly. 'Thosenre very pretty lamps - I never can see by an astral lamp declared the íusband. 'Those will do but you know every ody now-a-days wants an astral lamp.' 'Those lamps are the prettiest of the eind I ever saw,- they were bought at Boston.' 'But, George, I do not think our room s complete without an astral lamp,' said the wife, sharply; 'they are so fashionable,- why, the D - s, and B s, and A s, all have them; I am sure we ought to.' 'We ought to, if we take patterrt by other people's expenses, and I don't see any reason for that. The husband moved uneasily in his chair. 'We want to live as well as others live,' said Esther. 'We want to live within our means, Esther!' exclaimed George. 'I am surel should think we could afford it as well as the B s, and L ■ - s, and many others J might mention, - we do not wish to appear mean.' George's cheek crimsoned. 'Mean! I am not mean,' he cried angrily. 'Then we do not wish to appear so,' said the wife. 'To complete this room, and make it look like other people's, we want a piano and an astral lump.' 'We want - we want!' muttered the husband; 'there is no satisfying woman's wants, do what you inay,5 and he abruptly left the room.How many husbands are ín a similar lilemma! How many homes and husjands are rendered uncomfortable by the :onsiant dibbausiacuon oí a wne wun present comforts and present provisions! How many bright prospects for business have ended in bankruptcy and ruin, in order to satisfy this secret hankering after fashionable necessaries. Could the real cause of many a failure be made known, it would be found to result froir. useless expenditures at home - expenses to answer the demands of fashion, and - 'what will people think?' lMy wife has máde my fortune,' said a gentleman of great possessions, 'by her thrift, prudence, and cheerfulness, when I was just beginning.' 'And mine has lost my fortune,' answered his companion, bitterly, 'by useless extravagance, and repining when I was dóingwell.' What a world does this open to the influencewhich a wife possesses over the future prosperity ot her family. Let the wife know her influence, and iry to use it wisely and well. Be satisfied to commence small. It is too common for young housekeepers to begin where their mothers ended. Bu all that is necessáry to work sküfully with; adorn your house with all ihat will render it comförtnble. Do not look at richef homes, and covet their costly furnilure. If secret dissatisfnction is ready to spring up. go a step farther and visit thehomes of the poor and suftering; behold dark, cheerless apariments, insufficient j clothing, an absence of all the comforts and refinements of social life, íhen return to your own With a joyful spirit. You will then be prepared to meet your husband with a grateful heart, and bé ready to appreciate that toil and self-denial which he has endured in his business world to surround you with all the delights of home; then you will be ready to co-operate cheerfully with him in so arranging your expenses, ihat his mind will not be constantly harrassed with fears, lest family expenditures may encroacn upon public payments. Be independent; a young housekeeper never needed grealer moral courage than she now does to resist the arroga nee of fashion. Do not let the A s andB: s decide what you must have, neilher let them hold the stringsof ypür purse, You know best what you can and ought to aíford; then decide with a strict integrity, according to your means. Lef not the censures or the approval of the world ever tempt you ta buy what you hardly think you can aflord. It matters liltle what they think, provided you are true to yourself and' your family. Thus pursuingan independent, strahtforward, consistent course of aclion, 'there will spring, up pence and joy all around you. Satisfied and happy y'oursein you will mnke your husband so, and your children will feeïfhe warm and sunny inffuence. Happy at Viome, jour husband then cxïn go ouf into the world witlr a clear head and self-relying spirit; domesfrc bickerings will notsourand sully bis heart, and he will return to you again with a confíding and' unceasingove. Depend upon it, beauty, grace, wit, aqcomplishment, have far less to do with fami'y joys and familycomfürt, than )rudence, economy, thrift, and good sense. A husband may get ti red of admiring, but nevcr with ihe comfortable consciousness that his receipts exceed his 'emands.