The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-08-25
From Americas 0y
Gloves and Cigars.


husband, as they sat together after tea
Mr.. Morris had been reading the eve-
ming paper, but he laid it down and
looked Grossly up. Really" he said,
"you seem to me to waste more money
on gloves than any woman | ever knew.
1t was only last week gave you money
to buy new pair"
The wife colored, and was about to
answer tartly /; for she felt that her hus-
band had no cause for his crossness; but
remembering that "a soft answer turn
eth away WRATH" he said, "Surely you
have forgotten, James. 1t was more
than month since bought my last
pair of gloves and | have been out a
great deal, as you know, in that time"
"Humph !" said Mr.. Morris, taking
up the paper again.
For several minutes there was silence.
The wife continued her sewing, and the
husband read sulkily on; at last, as if
sensible that he had been unnecessarily
harsh, he ventured a remark by way of
indirect apology.
"Business is very dull, Jane" he
said, and sometimes | do not know
where to look for money. can scarcely
meet my expenses"
The wife looked up with tears in her
eyes. 81 am sure, James," she said,
l try to be as economical as possible. l
went without new silk dress this winter,
because the one got last spring would
answer, thought, by having new body
made to it. My old bonnet, too, was
re-trimmcd. And as to the gloves, you
know you are always particular about
my having gloves always nice, and scold
me if | appear in the streets with a
shabby pair on"
Mr.. Morris knew all this to be true,
and felt still more ashamed of his con-
duct; however, like most men, he was
too proud to confess his error, except
indirectly. He took out his pocket
book, and said, "How much will satisfy
you for year, not for gloves only, but
for all the etceteras ? l will make you
an allowance, and then you need not ask
me for money whenever you want pair
of gloves or new handkerchief"
The wife's eyes glistened with delight.
She thought for moment, and then
said, I" l will undertake, on ten pounds,
to find myself in all these things"
Mr. Morris dropped the newspaper as
if it had been red-hot, and stared at his
wife. "I believe" he said, "you
think that we men are made of money
I don't spend ten pounds in gloves and
handkerchiefs in half dozen years"
Mrs. Morris did not reply instantly,
for she was determined to keep her tenn
per; but the quickness with which the
needle moved, showed that she had some
difficulty to be amiable. At last she
said, "But how much do you spend in
cigars :"
This was a home-thrust, for Mr.
Morris was an inveteratc smoker; and
consumed twice as much on this need
less luxury as the sum his wife asked
He picked up the paper and made no
reply.
81 don't wish you to give up smoking
since you enjoy it so much," she said /;
"but surely cigars are no more nccessa-
ry to gentleman, than are gloves and
handkcrchiefs to lady; and if you cx-
pend twenty pounds in the one, l don't
see why you should complain of my
wishing ten pounds for the other"
"Pshaw!" !" said her husband, finally
81 don't spend twenty pounds year in
cigars. 1t can't be-"
I" You bring home a box every three
weeks; and each box, you say, costs
about twcnty-four shillings, which, at the
end of the year, amounts to more than
twenty pounds"
Mr.. Morris fidgeted on his seat. Hi.
wife saw her advantage, and, smiling tc
herself, pursued it. off you had counted
up,as Ihave, every shilling you have giver
me for gloves, handkerchiefs, shoes, and
ribbons, during year, you would find
it amounted to ten pounds and if you
had kept a statement of what your cigars
cost, you would see that am correct in
my estimate as to them"
Twenty pounds 1t can'tbe," said
the husband, determined not to be con.
vinced
"Let US make a bargain" replied
the wife. "Put into my hands twenty
pounds to buy cigars for you, and ter
pounds to buy gloves, &C., for me.
promise faithfully to keep both accounts
correctly, with this stipulation, that, a
the end of year, am to retain all
can save of the ten pounds, and return
10 you all that remains of the twent,
pounds"