Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-11-09
[WHoLE No. 7O9
The Miser's Wife.
DY ELIZABETH oAKEs SMITH.

/ zen Hor IIiilc i"hnd, handsome hgure IN
The door of their little grocery x fancy
goods shop, 10 the evident disquieiude
of her husband and the annoyance Of
sundry braux, who looked on her beau
~ and thought of Iiesperian fruit, SO
wei! was she guarded by 2 Wig lant hus-
band and her own innocent heart. Anna
was nearly thirty years younger than
her husband, little thin, keen eyed old
man, supposed to be worth mint Of
money, but as no one knew how much,
every one gave the sum according to
his or her ideas Of such matters. All,
however, agreed that he was q rich man,
and Anna married him because her lit
lie head had go, filled with thoughts Of
gay ribbons, handsome shoes for her lit
tie feet, and handsome dresses To show
off her pretty shape. Though it puzzled
her little brain for a while TO know why
he should want her for a wife, yet
glance al her looking glass solved the
problem at once, and she smiled at her
own prettiness, aud the thought that her
influence would make him generous,
social being, capable Of loving and being
loved, and she would have his neglected
house newly furnished and painted, and
she would have little parties, and walk
and ride, aud have abundance of new
and elegant clothing. Twas a brilliant
vision, aud she would have him by all
means. Now il happened that not one
of these things had entered into the cog
itations Of Mr.. @. The girl was well
enough he thought ; she had good ma
tured lock that pleased him, but had
other qualities that pleased him better.
He had heard the schoolmaster say she
was capital a, figures, and he had seen
her penmanship,. and knew she wrote IA
fair round hand So he calculated the
expense Of keeping a clark and house
keeper, and he found a wife who could
tend his shop and look after his house
at the same time, would be much the
cheapest and he determined forthwith To
make the experiment Anna knew moth
ing of all this and she married him with
out hesitation
Week after week passed & Anna vas
astonished to find she had no mo,e in
\ huence over her husband than over one
of his sugar casks Everything was
locked as snug from her rs from any
body else, and as for his purse, she
hadn't seen fnrhing from it, What
was she TO do Her wedding clothes
had been worn everywhere. She had
been told hundred times how becoming
they were, and she was sick the sound.
And they begun TO look little shabby.
She began TO pout and sometimes fairly
cried with vexation. She might as well
have poutcd for an owl to see her 1t
was doubtful whether he observed il -
She grew pale and nervous, and went To
bed one day and sen, word to him that
he must get a housekeepcr, for she was
sick. Tie old man was astounded -.
He had just dismissed his clerk, hoping
by the help of his wife in the shop, To
get along without one, tbns carrying
into effect his original purpose Of dis
pensing with clerk and housekeeper too.
And now the thought Of having to hire
both went like a dagger to his heart. -
What was he to do He hastened to
her bedside. Poor Anna was weeping
bitterly. His heart was touched. lie
put his hand into his pocket, and taking
out four pence ha'penny pressed II
without speaking into her hand. Anra
looked up aud suppressed smile almost
PLAYED over hes features. II she was
sick, the round fair cheeks and lite
dinplcd hand looked strangely comIoria-
BILE. She looked at the four pence, and
thought how very little il would buy,
and she burst into another food ofiears
Mr. G. idgeted aud lumbled in his pock-
cts he bad never seen her act so before.
Anna I've dismissed my clerk and there
il nobody IN the shop. ] thought you
could help me tend and keep the ac-
counts SO that could do without one ;
but If you are going to he sick, J shall
have to 60 right off and hire another
Her face frightened. 1t will be cheap
or for you TO employ me than another,
said she. oh yes, we could get along
very snug il you'll help me in the shop
Well will do the best eau IN the shop
and the house too for Ss week. Two
dollars week calculated the husband,
cycling with wishful look the Tour pence
lha' penny his wilv was carclcssly twnl-