Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-09-23
lie MIS- f RS WIFE e.
BY ELIZABETH CAKES SMITH.


Ii was certainly most provoking that The pretty
Mrs. CT. would parade often her little round,
handsome figure in the door Of their Iitle grocery
and fancy goods shop, TO the evident dlsquIe tude
Of her husband, and the annoyance OF sundry
beaux, who looked on her beauty and thought OF
Iesperian fruit, well was she guarded 10y Il
vlgilant husband and her own Innocent heart
Anna nearly thirty years younger than her
husband,a little thin, keen.eyed old man, suPpos-
ed TO be worth bank OF money, but as nobody
knew how much, every one gave the sum accord
ing TO her or his IDEAS In such matter. All,
however, agreed he was rich old man, and An
married him because forsooth the old man ask
ed her TO have him, aud because her little head
had got filled with thoughts Of gay ribbons, hand.
some shoes for her little feet, and handsome
dresses 10 show off her pretty shape. Though IT
puzzled her little BRAIN for while TO know why
he should wan, he for a wife, ct glance at her
looking glass solved the problem at once, and she
| smiled her prettlnesS. and the thought
tina, her influence would make him a generous
sociable being, capable Of loving and being loved,
and she would have his neglected house newly
! furnished aud painted, aud she would have little
! parties, and walk and ride, and have abundance
OF new and elegant clothing. Twas brilliant
vision, and she would have him by all means
Now ii SO happened, that no, of these things
/ had entered into the OCCUPATIONS of Mr. q. The
giri was well enough he thought; she had good
natured took that pleased him, but she had other
qualities that pleased him better He had heard
the schoolmaster say she was capital al figures,
and he had seen her penmanship and knew that
she wrote fair round hand So he calcuat ed
the expense OF keeping clerk and housekeep-
er, and he found wife who could help 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 nothing of this, md she married
him without hesitation. Week after week passed
on, and Anna was astonshed to End that she had
no more influence over her husha nd than over one
! OF his sugar casks. Every thing was locked as
snug from her any body else, and as for his
purse, she had not seen farthinp from it. What
was she 10 do2 Her wedding clothes had been
worn every where She had been told hundred
tunes how becoming they were, and she was sick
of the sound. And then they began to look a
little shabby She began to pou,, and sometimes
fairly cried with vexation. She might as well
have poued for an owl to see her. 1t is doubt
!. fu whether he observed il. She grew pale and
nervous, and went to bed one day and sent word
TO him that he must get a housekeeper, for she
! was sick. The old man sstounded. He
had just dismissed his clerk, hoping by the he 10
/ Of his wife in the shop TO get along without one
| thus carrying into effect his original purpose oil
dispe nsing with clerk and housekeeper too. And
The thought Of having to hire both again
went like da gger to his heart. What was he
to do? He FASTENED to her bedside. Poor Anna
was weeping bitterly. His heart was touched
He put his hand into his pocket. and taking a
fourpence- penny, pressed it, withou, speaking
into her hand Anna looked up, and suppressed
smile almos. played over her features. If she
was sick, the round fair cheek and little dimpe I'd
! hand looked strangely comfortable. She looked
at the fourpence and thought how little it would
! buy. and she burst into another flood of tears
Mr.. G. fidgetted and fumbled in his pockets; he
+ had never seen her act so before. Anna, I've
dismissed my clerk and there's no body 10 the
shop. thought you could help me 10 tend and
keep the accounts, SO that could do without on g
but if you going TO be sick. shall have TO &c
right off and hire another Her face frightened
II will be cheaper fer you to employ me than
other. said she. 0 yes, we could get along very
snug, If you'll help me in the shop Wei. III DO
the best can 10 the house and shop too. for two
dollars week. Two dollars a week. jacula ted
the husband, eyeing with wlshiui look the four
peuce-ha penny his wife was carelessly twIrlng
in her taper fiogers. Two dollars week 10 my
own wife. and support her into the bargain
Anna turned up her nose at the idea Of support
Well. said she, careiessly turning her head one
eide, you can get another; bis board will be