Home Scenes, and Home Influence | Page 5

she said, in a hesitating voice--
"We can do without that." And she pointed towards the piano.
"Without what?" asked Brainard, quickly.
"The piano. It cost four hundred dollars. Sell it."
"Never!"
"Why not?"
"Don't mention it, Anna. Sell your piano! It shall never be done."
"But, George"--
"It's no use to talk of that, Anna; I will not listen to it."

And so the wife was silenced.
Little comfort had the young couple that evening in their finely
furnished house. Brainard was silent and thoughtful, while Anna felt
the pressure of a heavy weight upon her feelings.
How different was it in the smaller and more plainly attired dwelling of
Tyler! There was comfort, and there were peace and contentment, her
smiling handmaids.
On the next morning, Brainard found it impossible to conceal from his
wife the great anxiety he felt. She said very little to him, for his trouble
was of a kind for which she could suggest no remedy. After he parted
with her at the door, she returned and sat down in one of the parlours to
think. The piano was before her, and back to that her thoughts at length
came. It was not only a beautiful instrument, but one of great
excellence. Often had it been admired by her friends, and particularly
by a lady who had several times expressed a wish to own one exactly
like it in every respect.
"I wish you would let me have that piano," the lady had said to her not
a week before; and said it as much in earnest as in jest.
"I wonder if she really would buy it?" mused Mrs. Brainard. "I don't
want so fine an instrument. My old piano is a very good one, and is
useless at father's. Oh! if I could only get George the four hundred
dollars he wants so badly!"
And she struck her hands together as her thoughts grew earnest on the
subject. For more than an hour the mind of Mrs. Brainard gave itself up
to this one idea. Then she dressed herself and went out. Without
consulting any one, she called upon the lady to whom reference has
been made.
"Mrs. Aiken," said she, coming at once to the point, "you have often
remarked that you would like to own that piano of mine. Were you
really in earnest?"
"In earnest? Certainly I was." Mrs. Aiken smiled, at the same time that
a slight expression of surprise came into her face. "It's one of the finest
instruments I ever touched."
"It's for sale," said Mrs. Brainard, in a firm, business-like way. "So
there is a chance for you to call it your own."
"For sale! Why do you say that, Anna?"
"It's too costly an instrument for me to own. My old piano is a very

good one--quite good enough for all my purposes."
"But this is your husband's wedding-gift, if I remember rightly?"
"I know it is; but the gift was too costly a one for a young man whose
salary is only a thousand dollars a year."
"Then he wishes to sell it."
"No, indeed, not he!"
"And would you sell it without consulting him?" said Mrs. Aiken.
"Such is my intention."
"He might be very much displeased."
"No matter; I would soon smooth his frowning brow. But, Mrs. Aiken,
we won't discuss that matter. The instrument is to be sold. Do you want
it?"
"I do."
"Very well. Are you prepared to buy it?"
"Perhaps so. It cost four hundred dollars?"
"Yes."
"What is your price?"
"The same."
"Then you make no deduction?" said Mrs. Aiken, smiling.
"I wouldn't like to do that. It's as good as new. If I can sell it, I want to
be able to put in my husband's hands just what he paid for it."
"Oh, then you want the money for your husband?"
"Certainly, I do. What use have I for four hundred dollars?"
"You've come just in time, Anna," said Mrs. Aiken. "I arranged with
my husband to meet him this morning, at his store, to go and look at
some pianos. But if yours is really for sale, we have no occasion to take
any further trouble."
"It is for sale, Mrs. Aiken. Understand this."
"Very well. When do you want the money?"
"This morning."
"I don't know about that. However, I will see Mr. Aiken immediately."
"Shall I wait here for you?"
"You may do so, or I will call at your house."
"Do that, if you please."
"Very well. In an hour, at most, I will see you."
The two ladies then parted.
When Mr. Brainard left his house that morning, he felt wretched.

Where--how was he to get four hundred dollars? To go to the party
from whom he had bought the piano, and