Pittston Gazette and Luzerne Anthracite Journal

              * f/ Luzerne Anthracite Journal. PUBLISHED WEEK 1^V BY RICH ART, BEYEAylj, THOMPSON, Thompson's BrioWjjulldina. 3t Df eurly the Bunk. The GAZETTE is pul every Ihumlayr at Two Doll a lis i»er am •trictly in adVance, |3F"No Mfttage charged within the coui . RATES. 3w. I 1 111. I 3 IU. I U 111 I . - . 1 00 | 1 25 | 3 00 | s no | f J* aqUHrM, . . 1 00 | ~ « 00 | 5 00 | 7 0U | g v Column 4 «i | 5 00 I 7'» i WliVTl1 M j( oollimn, - - • IW | T 00 | in ml i 18 mi | 5 » wlm ' • • I — 110 m I no 'to | i.i no | « The" PITTSTON 1 floor a i lished mm, AND LUZERNE ANTHRACITE JOURNAL v W ,, craiure, Agriculture anb (itntral Jntcllijjtncr. C1 (HI ND -K. ,WD £)cl)OtciD to tjjt (Coal Jitlcrtsls, politics, flctos, JS RafttUr yearly iwlrrr l«-r«. mil to fucmkI *HK mini hree rju»r». «l»uf ilm-.»l1. Buaiueu notices, wllh•ul •dnillHiml. • C etch. gy ft* atiatr* mire will be ■Irtecljr edhered to PITTSTON, PA., THURSDAY, MARCH 29, I860. VOLUME Z. -Fo 3. j \ WHOLE Wo. 494. "We miwt do a great deal better, though, next year. What's a hundred dollars ?" "Nothing to spend, that is true, but a great deal when it was spared from twenty things that had always been held as absolute necessities." Mrs. Cooper experienced that cheerful glow of satisfaction whieh arises from the consciousness of moral exertion successfully put forth, and feltequal to writing an appeudix to Mise Beecher's "Domestic Ecunomy." Indulging in this mental self-glorification, she submitted to the silence always imposed on the female part of th: community from the moment the newsboy macks his appearance in the ears with the morning papers, and was handed out at Chambers Street, with the settled opinion that very few women were more entirely devoted to their husband's interest than herself. "Yes, indeed; but you know as well as I do that—" "Oh, don't let's talk any moro about it 1 I know all you intend to preach; and I've been a devout hearer for so long, 1 had to break out to be sure of my own identity. I set out to make you a present for the first in the year; and I wunt.d vou to be sui'ed; if you are, it's all right. I wouldn't give any of those other things house room." Tftey ae- arated at the corner; and Mrs. Cooper went her way, half pleased half sorry, but thinking, afW *11, that it was not such a very enormous ••lapsus" into past offences, as it mignt have been, and oommitted solely to give her pleasure; while some men would have wasted twicc as much on selfish gratification. 8he hat her own little secret, that morning, plai to surprise Murray with a Chrintmas gift ■ . . .J. 1 . . U—L 1 J •  then, sbe Mid quickly, bo it does not make after; and Lime wu mIImk her to admin ita way, the workmanship exquisite, but B * it too expensive. the effeet. She could seareely force a smile the misoonception of her purpoae and her n "Oh. no, she could depend on that 1" in reply, or wait until her friend had gone order absolute. Itwould hare encircled the . ; And, wishing she could, she left the store up stairs to renew her toilet for dinner, to brawny arm of "the village blacksmithAboht ? with an undefined apprehension of loss or say: Oh, Murray how could you! Oh, I and, as for all sentimental associations, the *7. . disappointment. It went with her as she shall never want toseethemor hearof them "dog-collar" nipped them in the bed. kept her cngairemeutat the dress-maker's, t again 1 Mrs. Cooi)er Loean to explain, but tho't , , ' before the low * It followed her home, where she arrived Mr. Cooper had meditated the gift so of the bill, and her great worry and disap- J1®* •titejted, nv weary and jaded with the effort she had long, and had even involved his dwn con- pointment after all. She could net get on. k ii made to keep up to the timtfof the train.— science U. gratify his wife entirely, that he Her husband laughed till the tears stood in ""f?". - ° 7^ Even in ice tare November sspeo, the qui- felt aggrieved, naturally enough, at this hi, eye,, when he at last began to have ***• "J* et of the vilago was a relief after the hur- reception of it. When Miss Grant came some glimmering of the troth, and then conversation, f ess ry and jostle of the. city. All the gay down again, she rallied them both on their checked his mirUi, and tried to console her, •w,Jr » iopP'T •P'A elasticity with which she left homo that long faces, and secretly wondered whether finding how really distressed she was. r 4 e "V"* l. morning had vanished. I don't oare if it's it was flour or soap out this time—coal,poe-j "Can't you wind it around with something, ? p,C^.^*ooine famous »»ongh the last time I fehall see New York this ibly, by their extreme gravity and mutual M that I could wear it after all, Matty, or T* J*4*1, ®«de free with everD winter, she said to herself, as the gar- politeness. (pad it?" And then he slipped it up over TOT7 •oon» * oompnny, oomk den-gate swung to behind her. She felt j If the purpose of a gift is to make both bis coat-sleeve, quite to the elbow. No; , p*ondest names of Home, came as if Lcr holiday had been filled with vani- parties happier, neither .the Cjne received that would not do. "l'erhaps the man learn the newt ofthe day, which, ty and vexation of spirit. It was the best nor premeditated had its due effect on Mrs.can make a reef in it somehow. Neven , talent of obtaining without ever thing that could have happened to restore Cooper. She avoided the parlor as much I mind; there, 'the will for the deed,' you shop, and which he analysed the tone of her mind, the sight that greet- ' as possible, for she was continually compu- know, little one." ' piquant originality. Meanwhile, nut D cd her as she went up stairs, und oped ting what might have been doneforit by But u in another mm, this wu JJ-JJ? " wwUr Whe the nurse; y door sof tlv, lest she should he lorty-five dollars stiffly transfixed on no consolation whatever ; and Mrs. Cooper tTis miTalepTTn wL disturb either of the children in a nap- the corners of the mantlepiece; and as she went to bed with a fufit increMing nervJus ! iL^tnear £ P JacTdM SSlS Johnny was ttilf tucked under his trib , had said h» Murray, no one thought,of look- headache, leaving the "dog-eoliar" on the i B^hUdiUni^uS banket, tired with his long mornings ing for the real thing, so they should never uble with her untasted dinner. She pass- But been a tv^T play; but the baby was up and as quiet as , havethe cieJitotpossession. ed a reBtl migerable „ ght( fun 0™. h.d But diT LmTtiml aftei^ a kitten, loo.iog up, with rou.d astonished Bet er hunt up the shop ticket with the Hicnts t0 clear hcn)df- J the obligation the KroMd xt the sprt eyes, iMr the laec of her new nurne, u8 tf price in full, and hang on one of the branch- to Miss Gant, without applying to befhus- SL had formtrfr !told . she h -d sense to comprehend and i e ast -n- es, said Murray tired of thebewailmg that baodj all „ aud yi8ionary _ JJJJJ JSd* lhhel at the fact that Lirzie (j rant was of would bnwktorth, now and then to him. She slept heavily towards morning; and, a pedestal was made for it" and it WM her own free will, actually holding a baby. A ices amiable man, under the circuinstan- wkftI1 Ki10 ftWnLft Murr&v hud irone to pedestal wu maae xor it, ana it was "Horrid little wreteh ! 'there !* take it 1 ces would have retorted with the threat of ™ jSvinlanote ol L7 alio called out, her face flushing at the dis- thin being the last time lie would try ftograt- jn ' chec|r for the amount ' Henceforth, the spirit of the j°y°u* butcovery. Of course, I could not let it scream fy her, or that she had no one to blame but *• Dnn't «,nrrr anv M ... s«tltiloirn l corner o the Palae* itself into eonvul,ion while Katywe.it to herself. Don t worry any more Matty. Set it down Orsim. The statue became animated like the kitchen for some milk and water to '1 hen there was the uncertainty about opposite th* candelabra, and balance th. ac Memnon. Every day, jealous, witty, pomake up for th.% detention of its unnatural the bracelet—whether it would be done in COQnt Next time, we will consult each other pencils were exercised on the broken mothej*. l're ty story for Mrs. Henderson tim.—whetherLiuie Grant to whom the you in word, and I in doed." marble. There were distichs, rebuses, to hear, so soon after her too, commission had been intrusted, would re- The generous forbearance made Mrs. Cooper de* mott, and scandalous chroniclM. that I camc out to console you, and found member to call for it—and, above all what fcr happier than the costliest gift could have All the wit of Home vented ltMlf in paiyou dancing off to the city after Murray, would be the amount of the bill. Fivedol- done. But the next train found her speeding _ _ and leaving the baby to its fate!" lars was the utmost limit she had first in- to town, with the parcel and the check, anima- In 1815, Home, or rather entire Italy, "If you only knew how interesting von tended; but gradually she tried to accus- ted by the most courageous resolutions, and T*?. J?. looked! Oh, if Murray was here t How torn her mind to the idea of ten, though it nustained bv them when sho entcrcd-WffT daysof Caesar and Fompey. One was foi gop—, 'Take this monkey first. There! she's annoying, cons dcring the circumstances. Tk X-  going to cry, of course. I never touched Christmas week came, and no package P«bendcd the l*dy« order ; but he had taken The partisans of the youthful Raphael i child in my life that didn't scrcam im- from Miss Giant. She did not like to gre*t credit to himself for its execution. The were the most numerous; those of Uu uediately. (Jo to your mother, you un- writ»» to her, for fear Murray might chance mistake must assuredly lie with herself, and of great Michael Angelo t be most sealous. grateful little thing!" to receive and open the reply, so spoiling course the loss. Such a trinket could never All these were now engaged in aiscivsmj But when did you come? asked Mrs. the surprise; and a message, if ever so find sale, would be perfectly useleu in his the relative merits of their favorite mas 'ooper, as Katy appeared to the rcscuc, carefully worded, might lead to the same stock. ters, on the oeoasion of the giganuo vhile nhc laid aside her things. result. Going in herself was out of the " Is there any way of alteration, then ?" in- Vatican in w The Sums and Stars of Kirch. It jahm nil. Mint iro* «. Hnr*h in the rolie and loud the war tDr •torms In that ungentai time. When leaving southern land* afer. The Snn wukes up our noithern clime The long white ("urge* irf the deep Then break on oiery waillnff iihore. Ami. foaming down eiu-h rocky Kteop, The mountain torrent* rage and roar. I,Ike rapier* driven with Tengf*cil thrunt, tin breast and brow the cold winds beat, And rushing hail, or troubled dust. Sweep* the rough rowt and echoing street, The groaning wood» are ble.ik and bare, The violet slumbers yet unseen. And those wide fields and pnsturet wear. Mo welcome tint of early green. But God. with *11 a Father's lore. When earth thus reft of boouty lie*, Reveal* in biasing pomp abore. The wonCtor of hi* radieiit ekies: Look tl:r ugh on Night's ref ilgent nrch, When thai rurle hmir thy glafta*«M mar®, And thou shalt find; in raring March; The month a* once of storms and stars. For to I the irMt Orion burn*. DtiHcendlng in the eloadloHs west. And red Aroturua now return*. Beaming at eve.a wwred Far up in circle* broad and bright. The Hear and lion more and ahina. While rtiriu* lifi- hi» orl. ..flight, And 81U our h"iDrDs with thought* divine. ''Wo will take the candelabra first," said Mr. Cupper, as they walked op Chambers Street; for I must be at the store by half past ten. Where shall you go ? I believe there's an establishment near the Park." lirople and inexpcnim e. Yes indeed, she must be more prudent than ever, now— but something that he had once expressed a wish for. "Lonjr ago in the days of their court ship, they had read an Italian story togeth C• . - I 1 _ J 1 . • 1 * "Hadn't we better go to Haughawout's, where we had our china things (" "That's so tar up town. Here this place is as good as any other, I suppose. Yea; there are cundeiabras. Now don't be ail day ehoofing, but suit jourself." Sir. Cooper had been perfectly innocent I in her decision—innocent of auy extravagant in ten tiouH, that ik. She thought a pair of low, plain in imitation , bronze, could be hud for about twelve dollar.', and asked to havo some shown her; but thiTo were none at that price ; some below it, dwarfed and inelegant in shape; other* ranging higher, but with a mixture of gilt, or painted porcelain, which did not please her at all. '-There, something 'ike those," she said, pointing to a pair of single » » + ✓ - - o - - ( t, ofsmnc husband lost in a shipwreck, ind washed ashore dinging to driftwood, vith a band of bair, braided and clashed rith gold, about therigid arm. Urn wife's lair it proved to be when indentified by he clasp; and it h.d never left his arm ince the d Cy she fosteued it there. It ros decidedly sentimental; but Mr. C'oopir had an unsuspected vein of romuuee nidden under his careless manner; and he liked the fancy very much, and had spoken at it i-everal times since. "Only! should want you to braid it yourself," he said, in one of these love-like outbreaks. "It would destroy all the poetry to have it go through the gum and bobbins of those hair-workers."Thn», ercr thu», when «tornw arias, Auii all i« dark oadJoylws here, He net* botDr« oiu- loiining C ye» The glorie* ofihat lolty sphere :— When sorely tried we grieve alone, Or mnk beneath OppfMetoo'n rod He whixp-'rs from Hi» «!arrv throne, -Ljoc up,Dm! ma trustix Ojd." GIFT MAKING. BT A MCE B. REAL. "It lf» bjr no mean* a mi-f ntttnfl to be born in that station of life wuero we caauot oat oar cake, and liate it too." Mr» Cooper had made a grand discovery. Somebody otitis itout every duy for themselves, snd imagines it to be a perfectly original theory, Ii is this, that we enjoy doubly what we strive for, and that the pleasure the find in the gratification of every fancy is made up to those in moderate circumstances by the attainment of some single long-desired object. "Don't you think so, too, Murray?'' she said when sho had stated her proposition as clearly as the jar of the train and the hiss of the locomotive would allow. She was going to town for the first time since h IF little daughter's birth; and it was quite an event to her— going on a very pleasant errand, too—the fitting of the silk she hsd shown Mrs. Henderson; and, though every woman exclaims against the annoyance of being fitted, every soul of them enjoys the near prospect of wearing a new and becoming dress. Besides which, she was to choose her birthday present from her husband, according to his promise on the day of her dinner-party. After much grave deliberation, it was to he something for her house. Sho had decided on a set of eundela'oras. She found after being accustomed to gas and a clundelier, that it was almost impossible to light their parlor for anything like an evening gathering with a solar lamp "If there's anything more than another which makesastiffevening, it's an ill-lighted room. When I came down that night, I noticed at once how forlorn it was." Mrs. Cooper was rather touched by this figures on marble pedestals, upholding a branch. They came very near to her ideal, simple, chaste, and elegaut. Those arc the real thing, said the shopman. You can't fiud auytbing like those in immitation. manifestation, and secretly resolved to get up a bracelet, according to desire, and uiauage to place it on his irm v hristuias morning. She had the braid with her, havi g shorn an ample tress of her wavy black hair;and a clasp would cost but u little, "That's what wo want said Mr. Cooper, speaking for the first time. Let us see some more." as inexpensive us her most rigid resolutions required. i he principal of a l irge Broadway os- "Oh !" And the man's manner instantly showed an increase of animntiiin as if it were uousidetable bctUtr worth his while to attend to them. Much cheaper in the end sir. Those are always the same, firm as iron, you see—heavier. Just try to lift it ma'am. "I should think they would break more easily, then," said Mrs. Cooper studying the figures and admiring them more every moment. r ( C t - ■ - * ablislinicnt which she turned to happcuei .o wait on her himself. lie required a .it tie explanation. The bracelet would bi so veiy large ; she must have been mistaken in the size. No; she was positive, and to convince him, she produced the tape measure she had cleverly contrived to slip around Murray'surm without his detecting her. "It was to be wC_rn very high up, quite out of sight," she explained—a gentleman's arm. She felt her fUce flush. Since you left, of course. As a special act of charity, to find you comforting yourself otherwheres; next time I shall keop my condoleucc to myself. Aud, though greatly woniieriug what was the real motive for this unpremeditated but most acceptable visit, .Mis. Cooper failed to discover it in' the chat which ensued. Lizzie persisted that she bad come to comfort her after Mrs. Cooper's eulogiuui, considering how little she fancied good people, and that the son of this''best of women" washer especial aversion. She managed to inform herself ot the whole domestic history of the family, hvwever, of Mrs. Henderson's widowhood, her struggles to bring up her children, thu names and of the girls, aud the etjry lephen's selMeniul for their sakts. Mrs. Cooper talked away ou this favorize home very willingly, with a few leading questions, aud thought Lizzie extremely aiiuab*e to listen. , The passed rapidly; and Mrs. Cooper, rested and diverted from her morning's adventures, was quite herself again by the time her husband eauie. So Matty imported you fir the purpose of a .miring her birthday present, did she? was Mrs. Ccoper's salutation. i)id you run ovor each oiherat Stewart's or Thompson's '( Here they are Matty. The individual positively kept his word for once in his life. 1 hope thoy are all right.— There! that will do, my man. Put it down in the hull. What a large box! said Mrs. Cooper, walking around it, a little uneasily. Presents. Oh, I'm always ready to inspect and admire! Let's unpack. Where's a hammer or something Tiny. Collanueres! Oh, a French china tea-set! I might have h d one tor the same money; said Mrs. C ooper, a little regretfully. Still there was zest in the unpuckiug, which all three assisted in, making a great litter of Tissue pa;.er and straw for Tiny to clear away at her leisure. Mrs. Cooper dusted, and her hsuband set up the very handsome addition to their littlt parlor.You extravagant people! said Miss Grant, dispatching Tiny for the candle-box to see h m they would light up. But bronzes are iujt quite so as they - were. I chose a set for Jane Lawton when she went to house-keeping, you see, and happeu to know. "Oh, these were u tremendous bargain 1" Mrs. Cooper was very willing to belli ve it as she looked around therotui. and thought how much more she could have done with the same amount to add to its decoration and comfort—only twenty-five dollars. You eo ildn't get them for th it. I know, said Mrs. Grant, cssuyiug vainly to liftone. But we did! And Mrs. Cooper appealed to her husband who hod gone for the can dies himself, delighted at this confirmation t the shopman's assertions. Lizzie wont believe that we only paid twenty-fire dollars for them. Forty-Jive I said Mr. Cooper, with emphasis.No Lizzie he's enly testing you. It was twenty, not forty. That's bad enough. We have not quite lost our senses. Hut it was forty-five, said Mr. Cooper, seriously. I thought you understood it.— There's the bill, any way, aud that's what 1 paid him. A fitiut, siek fteling made Mrs. Gouper •it down in the nearest chair as the came to rnderstaud that her incautious admiration had really cost them so much. The room waa a blaze of light, a aoiMaft question, iu a week so busy to all housekeepers, and with no ostensible excuse.— But her suspense was ended at last. " There's a package somebody left at the office for you, said Murray, one evening. There was only three days to Christmas ; and Mrs. Cooper had been resolving to go in at all hazsards, if she did not hear that night. " It's Litcie Grant's direction—a Christmas box for you or the children, I suppose; so I thought I would give you the pleasure of opening it." Mis. Cooper caught at the neat little parcel. It was evidently and a note was slipped into the cord whieh secured the wrapper. " Read it first," suggested Mr. Cooper. "That will tell the whole story." It did I * Mr »lD Matty:—I diepair of galtiag this to 70a by any uue but Murray. Your friend. Mr*. Phillips, had left before 1 received it. So w* mull truat to torture and the Evening Pml an to the chance ef a premature dlaclo- Mira. I tend tba bill, wtucii I paid at oooa, aa I auppoae yon wished me to. My devoted lore to the anraery department. la bade, LIZZIE." The bill indeed. Mrs. Cooper opened it desparutely, auite oblivious, in her agitatio , of her nusband's movements. Unsuspicious that he was, in any degree, verging on forbidden gronnd, Mr. Cooper occupied himself in unloosinga parcel ou the other side of the lamp. Mrs. Cooper gava a little sigh of relief as she saw the sum total—three dollars and seventy-five cents. She might have spared herself all that worry for such a pitiful sum, far less than she expected at first. But no ! as she looked again, to be sure it was all right. The figures danced before her eyes, while the blood rushed to her face with fright and a mortification.— "J87,75" were the correct figures. There was no gainnaymg it; and the only hope now was that the book keeper of Tait k Co. might have made an error. But this .dismal train of reflections, rapid aa they were, had sudden interruption. " Hallo, Matty 1 what's this ? a dog-oollaTrA dog-oollar, indeed ! The article whieh Mr. Cooper had just freed from its bedding of pink uud white cotten, and now. held up with wondering scrutiny, was, in sise and shape, to be compared to no other known invention. Massive and richly wrought, nearly an inch in width, and at least mue in circumferenoe, it seemed to her first amazed, disappointed, incredulous gaze. '• It must be a mistake. Oh, I'm so glad! lea, I guess it is a collar for y pet greyhound, or something of th Dt sort; aud they've sent it to me by accident. Let me see " And she reached out her hand with a little nervous laugh of relief. " Wait a minute. Here are the owners' initials, then: ' BJrs. 8. C. to Mr. C.' Why, what an odd coincidence! And here a this dark line I thought waa enamel.— Why it's hair, a braid ef hair! Bid yo* •ver see anything*) mysterious?" Mrs. Cooper had it in her own hands at last 'J here was a mistake, true enough, plenty of miotakee, but not the one sfc* bad comforted herself with. Tim fcpe quired Mrs. Cooper. " It might make a pair of bracelets for a lady." And, if the worst came to the worst, she could bestow them on Lizzie Grant, in return for some of her jiumerous gifts. "Mr. Tate smiled loftily. "Impossible to bend without injuring," was bis imperturbable reply. " What can be done with it f said hi* customer, rapidly losing every particle of interest in the unfortunate gayt Ctamour. The jeweller shrugged his shoulders. "It would be worthless to roe except Its intrinsic value as old gold." "How much would that be f" Happy thought! She might recover at least half her loss. " Was madam really in earnest f" Yes; never more so; not only earnest, but almost defiant. Half the amount of boldness that now came to her aid would hare saved her the dilemma. The scales were adjusted, with a manner the reverse of courteous. " Nine dollars and half is all I could allow," said a voice so cold that it might have been that of Sir Jahn Franklin waftedirom the Arctic region on the bleak north wind, that had given Mrs. Cooper's cheeks a glow. There was a little of her old spirit, too, in the flush. The man's demeanor was rude almost to insult " You oharged me thirty-eight, nearly. Im possible I" said Mrs. Cooper, at this revelation of business profits. The jeweller held out the bracelet, pointing to the chased work. " I explained that it would be expensive." Mrs. Cooper scorned an altercation, in which there was evidently nothing to be gained. " You may pay ma nine and a halt" " Just as madam pleases." The dark eyes glowedand the hand that counted down the money fairly trembled with suppressed anger. Then, before she could place it in her purse, he seised a heavy pair of iron pincers, and crushed the costly bauble hopelessly between them, as if it had been paper, sweeping the fragments into an open Irawcr. Whatever of foble may be inwrought with bis fcmily history, the scene thus ending is writable, and "trade profits" still are realized iver the counter which separated the negotiaore in this rapid transaction. made her appearaace at hel id's offlcn with a lighter heart, if s MHid laid down the tr - his hrif^^ — -- - — »ith which Michael, on his part, ra eniowing the Sistine Chapel. The illuatri- . jus family of the Piccolomini had been the first to perceive and greatly to enconrsg* the genius displayed by young San fid. Mow, at this moment, there was current at Rome, a sort of epigram against Buonarotti and his " Last Judgment," poor and wretched rhymes, which were attributed to a Count of the Picoolomini. Lorenco Franchi, a devoted friend and enthusiastic admirer of Michael Angelo, who had given him his foster sister in marriage, arrived at the Plasa Or* sini, and directed his steps towarda Pasquino. With hia hand on hia hip, hi« cloak falling off his elbow, his sword under his cloak, and his cap on one side, he ad* vunced with a negligent air, holding al* ready between hia fingers the delicate pea* oil whioh was destined to enrich, with some rhvmea, the pedestal of Phaquin. . Sftb, He traced there these four lines, in which he plaved opon the names of Piccolomini ana'Michael Angelo: Bmranf* A thM When the great Michael Angelo ehaU ehow Hia adverearjr,Stlu'i OTenhrow- This done, oar cavalier directed his steps towards the quarter of Pompey'e Theatre, and soon entered a studio where tour young artists were earnestly engaged in discussing the subject of theday. " No," said one of them; " your 8ancio has fine talents; but we may seek in vain in him that dignity and force whieh belong to g*C nius, and are manifeated so strongly ia Buonarotti." " Bravo 1 well said, fieneJottor eielaimed Lorenzo Franchi, throwing his eajpf on a tall, carved ehair, and laying aside his long sword. " Ah. here is a man who ten pcrteive no faults in his favorite," replied Stefano Palladini. "But tell me, are not the sublime pictures of ' Leo the Great stop* ping the progr .ss of Attih' and ' The Defeat of Maxentius' worthy to be compared with Michael Angelo f" '•No/' exclaimed Lorenzo. do not discover in these power of JKiohael; and, if I "Copies fnni celebrated antiques. There sir! observe tbe poise of that figure. Break, ma'am ? Oh, it's possible ! but bronze itself can easily be mended.' The imitation is quite useless, aftt r a hard knock; thats the great advantage." "What's tbe price?" said Mr. Cooper, shortly. The man spoke low. Mrs. Cooper, at a little distance, understood him to say •wenty-five dollars. They were quite out of her reach ; bul she liked them more thTii ever, even he unpracticed eye could see their purity and grace beside the best of the imitations"Ah, IuudersAnd!—a yaye d'unutur," said tbe jeweller, with a smile she did not like. Madame wishes a very handsome clasp with an inscription. "A single word and initials; that is all." "What kind of a braid ?" and lie produced several specimens of fanciful hair work lrom a drawer close by. "Ah, this! exactly as it is. I wish you to be very sure it is not touched. "It'will wear very easily in this Style" and the jeweller turned the braid over and over—fmy and fret out. I orhaps ui.-d .in hiwi plenty to re, laco it." Mr. Cooper had not thought of this con- "I thought it very cheerful tor my part," said her husbaud. "Oh, I had candlos set on the piano at once ! but we had nothing but the chamber candlesticks to put them in ; aud that wou.d never do with stringers." tingeucy. No, • n-leod; »■ he could not make up her tuiud to spare any more with the present style of broad braids. She knew the man was right, too. liven the closely woven bracelet ihe wore showed symptoms of tbe Ira ing he spoke of. "Is there no way to prevent it?" she said glancing at the clock over the show case, which ticked waruingly. lier morning was already half gone. The obliging jeweller suggested several expeuicut its she was entirely determined not to have a fancy braid, fhe 'had seen rings with the hair set in the ceutre of u gold band, perhaps ? That would be to heavy and inflexible, she thought. How would some little links highly chasc, which would make it more ornamental, do? He had an idea. And the dark eyes studied the tresses awhile, with his forefinger laid meditatively on the side of a fine prominent lloman nose. Perhaps he should not be able to make it very clear to her. Suppose she left it to his taste and judgment? It was all she could do, for her time was almost up, and she could not stop for a lengthy ccxplunatiou. She gave particular instructions as to tho time it must be done, the initials, etc., and turned to leave the counter. Hut what wD uld be the expense of this novel arrangement ? She ought to ask ; but she hesitated, and went towards thedo r Perhaps I e would th n'C "her very fussy and particular. She wished some of the clerks had waited on her.— she would not have minded th.ui so much. Hut she summoned courage to tuin back and make the inquiry, faltering a little, possibly as she saw the expression of those penetrating eyes, which seemed to read her economical motives through und through, though she had endeavored to put ou u careless manner, as though it were not of the least consequence. ' lteally it would be impossible to determine before the work is done. \Vo have never manufactured anything of the kind. As reasonable a* possible; madam may depend upon that." "A dismal foreboding flitted aoroes Mrs. Cooper's mind. Perhaps you had better leave oat the chasing, she said with a gicat effort. "Anything you fancy. It's nothing to me. I only want something useful, of course that will last; and things of that description are always economical, you know." Mr. Cooper took out his watch. Time wus precious to Mrs. Cooper as well as himself. She coulJ not leave her baby longer thun the mid-duy train. Have you any others, a little less, s mething this style ? No! Unfortunately, that was the only pair they had then at a medium price.t All the rest were larger, and still more ex'pensive. This pair was unusually low; but they had marked everything down ; it was so near the holiday season, and they wanted to make way for a new lot of goods they were just getting through the custom-house. "No,sir. Those area tremendous bar- They could not be imported for that ''Bat how came you to be able to afford to give them to me t" "That'ii my affair. Have you any idea what they cost 1" "Not exactly." "Going to get those dingle-dangles t" ' "Ohdear, no! They've been out of fashion these ages. 1 could have had a set of those, for that matter. Aunt Agnes has a pair set away in her store-closet, no use to any one; but they are so antediluvian. I want a pair of pretty bronze figares, Gilt always seems tawdry to ure; besides it always wears off; so bronze is really much oheaper." "I thought bronze ornaments were the moat expensive of any. I don't believe they will come within my limits." "Oh, not real bronze,you know! Everybody has imitations that not one in twcuty knows. Mrs. Phillips has, and Mrs. Otw*". Ww price." gam Mrs. Cooper knew enough of such wares to bo sure that this was true. Twenty-five dollars was little enough for anything so handsome. -They are certainly very low, Murrry. I wish we could afford it, she said, in a rapid aside ; white the clerk, accustomed to such little colloquies between customers, politely turned a deaf ear to the w! wper, and ap eared to be about replac ng tho coveted articles on the upper shelf J'rum which lie had produced them. "They suit me Bo exactly ; everything* else will secoi so shabby. I'm almost sorry we looked at them r. ut "None of your imitations, Matty. I don't go in for sham? in anyt ing." Bat this is quite another thing Everybody baa them. No one expect* the real thing. . -f'Beautiful consistency! I always did admire it. Didn't I h »r somebody d. tending mock diamonds with that very argument, and yon say that yDur own self-respect would't allow it? Se f-re«pect less stringent in bronze than diamonds }" And bo teasingly drew out his pocket diary, aa ' if to make a memorandum of it, but, in reality to set down his wife's fare to the "Do they suit yon ? are you sure?" said Mr. Cooper, hastily. "You are givip;; yourself very little time for the dress-maker i be ears leave ixactly at half past twelve, recollect. Are they joat what you wanted r 1U1VUW ne visit ' Oh, handsome! There isn't a single pair here X would have but those ; and, of course—" i'ut her criticisms was cut short by Mr. Cooper's abrupt call to the shopman : Yon may pack those. Have them at the depot in time for the fonr o'clock train.*' city. "You have a desperate memory, Mur- h er*m! S tnda __ _ II * "And you a very convenient one. No shams! Come, now 1" "But, Murray !" His wife looked aghast at the order ; but it too late for expostulation. The shopman was busy writing down the address; and she could not expostulate before him. It was so very extravagant ; but they were so very handsome. Tliey ought not to afford it; but it was just .Murray's old self when they we e flrgt married. He never could bear to deny her anything she had set her 'heart on. Perhaps tney would be the c eapest in the end, as the man said; and. she would not allow him to make her any Curistmas or New-Year's gift. "I'm so sorry," she began the moment they set foot on the pavement again. "But you just said you couldn't afford the real; you know you did." "1 suppose I ought to say then go without till we can But I don't intend to.— You've made yourself siek trying to save ftr me; and I've denied myself everything, tlis year; and it's a "great pity ii I can't indulge such a good woman once in a while. 80 she should httve her candelabra#; there!" "1 on't be nomeiwical, Murray. But : have'nt done wouders, thisyear '! Our expense* have been fully a hundred less • than last, and with the moving and two „ ffiidreu, too. I think we deserve a great of ftU a heavy hC so much tl twioo the ' "Oh, if madam wished it 1 bat it would quite destroy the effect we should desu e to produce. Certainly." Mrs. Coper, over sensative, imagined that she detected the faintest peroeptible sneer in tone and manner. Just as you please, — ' -.risk "Sorry for what ? Didn't you say you liked them?"