Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/164

156 she said, opening a closet, where every thing was stowed as neatly and compactly as honey in a hive; "we could not do with an open dresser in a room where we ate and slept; and here," opening a door into a little dark room,—"here is a comfortable place for the children." Comfortable it was, though dark and small, by virtue of the most exact order and cleanliness. "Then, sir, we have the whole of the second floor, which gives us a large comfortable room for my sister, another for father, and a little room for the children. We make out very well, sir."

"I know, Mrs. Aikin, there is a great virtue in this making out^ but you must suffer inconvenience when you have sickness in the family?"

"Why, sir," she replied, with a smile, "we take care not to get sick often; but, when we have needed a room for sickness, father has turned in with the boys;—father has such a contented disposition, nothing puts him out. Harry—I mean my husband, sir—says such a disposition as father's is meat, drink, and lodging."

"Pardon my making so many inquiries, Mrs. Aikin; believe me, it is not from idle curiosity. By what contrivance do you" (turning his eye to Mr. Barlow) "get a spare room?"

"A spare room, sir, is a blessing I never expect to have; but father has a sociable disposition, so we call his the spare room, and put a friend there when we have occasion."

Mr.Beckwith was reminded of a certain system of philosophy which teaches that there is no material world—no actual houses, furniture, &c.,—that these things are only shadows of ideas. "Ah,"