Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-10-13
MY SCISSORS.
BY FRANCES DANA GAGE.

"Good morning, Mrs. Wick; | see you
well this, morning"
"Well, yes, pretty well, all but my
hands"
"Your hands! what's the matter with
your hands; not been scalding them /
hopep'
mo! worse than that, I got them all
blislered up trying to cut out the chill.
dren's fall clothes, with my old scissors;
I've had'em these ten years, and they're
just as dull as hoe, and every time cut
a roundabout, shirt, or pair of pants, |
have Just such time of it. Susan Will
lard is sewing for me now, and wanted
TO get my cutting done while my hand
was in, so | just wanted 10 see if you
would not lend me your large nice tailor
shears, day or two, for | won't do anoth-
er thing with miGe for week to come"
"Really, Mrs. Wicks. I would like 10
accommodate you, but | am very busy
with mine jus, now, cutting rags for my
carpet, and could not possibly spare
them without great inconvenience.
Well, don't know what I'll do; |
can't cut out any more with mine, and
Susan has only two weeks to stay. Do
you know of any one that has a good
pairl"
s'No, do not. Wouldn't it he better
for yous TO purchase pair? ! could
hardly get along without mine for a
single day, without feeling the want of
them"
"What did yours cosir'
"Two dollars and half"
1.-Two dollars and a half-goodness!
Mr. Wicks would no more let me have
money TO buy such pair of scissors,
than he'd Ay."
"Oh, | think you are mistaken, l have
always thought Mr.. Wicks very indul.
gent"
"There's where you are altogether
mistaken. | hardly ever ask bim for
money but what he says something to
hurt my feelings, and | often do without
things that really need rather than have
any words. Why, yes, to-day | asked
him for money to get my fall trimmings
for my bonnet and Rosina's, and it was
all | could do 10 get out of him"
SHOW much did it require to fiji your
bonnets up for winter?"
''Only five dollars; il would cost Ten
you know TO get US both new oues.',
"And you have the five dollars in your
possession"
"Yes, and we thought we would get
trimmings at Grants. That beautiful
royal purple with the orange edge, it's a
love of ribbon, and Sc cheap, only sew
enty-fve cents yard"
''My dear Mrs. Wicks let me give you
a new idea. Would your husband COM
plain il you should trim your bonnets
with ribbon worth half. that sum, and
appropriate the balance to the purchase
of good pair of scissors2"
sNo, Of course he would not; but who,
I'd like to know, is going TO make them
selves the town talk for the sake ofgrati-
flying husbands whims.
"Do it to crafty yourself, to add to
your own comfort. My bonnet trim
mings and all will not cost over one dol
lar and half, and | don't believe the
town will trouble itself one Bit about it,
Town talk or no talk, you may be sure
I'll never run about with my fingers in
rags while I can save the price Of a pair
of scissors in one bonnet trimming
Now don't be offended, Mrs. Wicks;
know you really think you can't get along
any other way than just as you DO;
bu, if you will orly make the effort TO
economise in your items of dress. &C.,
you will soon find yourself amply sup
piled with all these little household con-
veniences, which You seem so much to
want, and my word for it your husband
viii not make half the objection to fur
nishing money for usefuls that he now
does for the purchasing of non-essen-
tials."
Now there is neighbor Pennyman's
wife, 1ourishing in fifteen dollar Grape
seawl, but her girl complains that she
has to borrow washtubs weekly, and that
Mrs. P. says that it is all Mr.. Penny
mans fault"
"Why, Mrs. Smith though, you was
Woman's Rights woman"
"And so am; but assure you am
no advocate for woman's injustice and
folly; and while feel that the law of
the land and common justice greatly oP-
presses woman, and also feel that she |
oftentimes greatly Expresses herself, and
lays heavier burdens upon her own heart,
than she herself is willing to bear, and /
to excuse her own weakness Of purpose,
her own foolish love of display, lays all !
the blame upon her husband, who would
willingly indulge every reasonable desire, /
and only frown when ungenerous de-
mands are made upon his means"
swell, don't know, Mr.. Wicks
seems more willing 10 give me money |
for dress than any thing else."