Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-13

get whatever will crafty your own vanity and
make display. But never have one cent at
my command, save what is doled out in driblets
and often need things, the want of which you cam
not appreciated and furthermore, don't want to
trouble you with them. But the children and my
self have almost suffered for the want of shoes
and Charlie has had the cramp more than once
in consequence. l never have a shilling to be-
stow on the poor and 1 am often so reduced that
L cannot bespeak carriage, or pay for an omni-
bus ticket in a shower. Many time have l had
to wait for hours for your return home, that l
might get q dime to send for medicine for sick
child and when Willie died. but no matter
now"
The wife was convused with powerful emo
tions, every nerve throbbed with fear and agony.
at is a desperate game" thought she shut have
been beggar long enough" And she continued
d have had to abuse myself by higgling with
fish-women and jewing market-men What is
expended upon my own dress is abundantly slifi-
cient if could have it under my own control and
exercise my own Judgment. But now, while l
wear fifteen-dollar hat and hundreddolar
shawl, | am sometimes unable to buy psper of
pins or pair of boot-laces. Unless | can be made
a little more independent, l shall sell any valua-
bles may have in possession that can be lispos-
ed of. AS for coming to you for every fsrthing
that have TO use, and rendering an account of
its expenditure, I shall not do 1t. You my de-
pend upon that"
The face of her "lord and MASTER was livid
with rage. His eye gared with the ferceress of
a tiger, and4rom his thin, pale lips proceeded such
a volley of oaths, that she trembled and Utmost
shrieked under the fury of the storm she ha rails
ed. He cruelty upbraded her. called her fool,
and said she was guilty of the basest ingraitude.
"hgratitude| exclaimed the wife-"if We arc
going to settle accounts, will 90 to the pas, and
bring in bill that you seem to have forgotten.
Who struggled with you in poverty? Whooed
early and late for the comforts that you wef9 UNI
able to procure? When ourrirst born cried for
bread, and there was none to give him, whose
hands earned it? When you yourself was tread
ing the downward path to ruin, who arrested your
steps, and won you back to temperance? Who
gently drew you aside from the gaming-table, and
procured for you honorable employment? Who
practiced trugality and encouraged you to lay up
the first fruits Of honorable industry? Who la
bored in every way to promote your pecuniary
interests? On whom did you rely for counsel ?
Who cheered and sustained you? And again,
when the dark cloud of adversely seemed ready to
overwhelm us, whose vigilant eye saw the danger
and whose prompt action dispelled the darkness -?
Who on Bonded knees has daily sought wisdom
from on high to aid her in becoming a faithful
mother to your children? Who has made it her
study, for the last twenty years, to be to you a
help-meet, a true and loving companion"
Enough enough cried the husband, "say
no more for Gods sake Tell me what you want,
and will give it, though it be the half Of my for
tune"
Mr.. Deans anger had subsidized. The Past
oh, he had almost forgotten it. Strange that men,
DRY should be so treacherous, especially about
those things that ought to be remembered. The
Past it brought associations that humbled him,
Never before had his wife limited at his obligations
TO her, but now her every word burned into his
soul the conviction Of his own ingratude. Noble
woman that she was. He ought rather to wor-
ship than to upbraid To her he owed every.
thing-she made him what he was, and he knew
ii.
Do not suppose, dear reader, that there wa
any Intentional wrong on the part of Mr.. Dean
Far from it; few men love their wives more THAI
he loved his, and few have as much reason TO do
so. lie thought the provision made for his fami
" was abundant and the smalness of the SUM
given to his wife would be a wholesome check t.
any propensity to extravaganza she might acquire
He was somewhat tnctured with the very com.
mon idea that women are reckless of expenditure
whenever they have the means, and it cannot b
denied that too many of them are but there are
many exceptions, and Mrs. Dean was one
A person who has never been placed in the
position of dependent-who has never received
as grauty what is his rght--who has never
had funds doled out to him as grudgingy as they
are put into contribution boxes can have no idea
how often the spirit is chafed and fretted and re-
bells at such a condition.
AT length matters were amicably adjusted and
a certain amount was handed over to Mrs Dean,
in regular instalments, for family expenses, and
another sum for her own wardrobe and that of
the children, She was abundnnhy satisfied with
the apporionment, all their necessities were sup
piled. She had not as much expensive clothing
as before, but was infinitely more comfortable -;
and Mr. Dean found that this arrangement had
not increased their expenses twenty-f dollars
per year.
The clerks and market-men and teachers never
accused Mrs. Dean of penuriousness afterward ;
and in promoting any object Of benevoence she
was never backward. The happiness of the fam
lily was greatly increased, and on the first holiday
that occurred after the scene related, MIR. Dean
presented his wife with the bartered bracelet, as
a Christmas gift. The sweet smile with which
she thanked him, the heightened color, and the
tear she silently dashed aside, showed that her
womans heart was touched by this indirect ac-
acknowledgement of his error.
Now, reader, do not say this is an untruthful
picture You may not be able to recognize the
portrait of Mr. Dean, but others may 1t is as
serted by half the world that there never was
Pecksniff; and the other half say that Pecksniffs
are very common. We Judge of mankind by our
own experience and observation and although
you may never have seen James Dean, ESQ., vet
l affirm that he is real live man, and his resi-
dence is on State street. No. - but will not
give that. For particulars, inquire of
LIZZIE LINN.