Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-16
THE wIFE'S REVENGE.
By OLIVER OPTIC.

He entered MS pleasant home IN the suburbs OF Boston
' Ou know, Maria, I am very fond of them and Won
are determined to punish me in some way if you can
Punish you, Edward? What do YOU talk so for ?"
returned the wife, sweet little woman, full of beau
ty and grace.
=" You know | like them very much," added the
petuent husband
But they taste too strongly of the money!
Come, come, Maria, no more of poor Richards
saws. [ am heartily sick of them.'
1ou would not have me pay sixty cents box
for strawberries, would you p
Why not ~
" 1t is too much'
"No, it isn't"
on cannot afford it,
Yes can. Isn't my salary fifteen hundred dollars
year,"
q do not think strawberries at sixty cents box
are very profitable" replied the pretty wife, with
pleasant smile
Pooh p ..
The brute Edward Lester did not deserve such
beautiful, sweet-tempered wife Maria What bus-
ness had he to fret at and scod such lovely piece of
womankind as she was It was wicked, and I can
hardly keep my temper while I record this wicked
conduct
But Edward Lester in spite of his petulent manner
was really an excellent fellow and loved the pretty
little woman with all his SOUL though it is true he
had very singular way of showing il. He deserved
thrashing for his hasty word, yet he eventually
learnt better it is not worth while to dwell too long
upon the dark side of his character
He was very smart salesman, and was employed in
large establishment in the city, at salary of fifteen
hundred dollars. For the first year after his marriage
he had boarded but desiring to have the comforts of
home in all their purity the young couple had decided to
go to housekeeping.
Edward would have hired large house at rent of
four hundred dollars year. if his wife had not persisted
that such dwelling would her life out. He then
left the matter entirely to her, and she found nice little
cottage seven miles from the city, at rent of one hun
flra1o opI Nbo h1,cbo IlzoJ
Maria furnished it in a very plain but neat style
They were at home now, and for time the novelty of
the thing kept Edward in excellent humor but he was
reckless fellow, and had no idea whatever of the value
of money. He always spent all his salary, and
times little more
Edward was out of huraor because he had no straw
herres and when he sat down to the table, the tea
too weak the bread tasted of saaraus and the butter
too strong He snarled and growled, first at Maria
and then at Bridget till the wife almost dscour-
ed But she did not yield to the impulse of the moment
and get out of temper She kept smiling however cut
ting and severe came the criticisms of her husband
After tea he little mortified, for there seemed
nothing to grumble at, and condescended to
smile.
edward, ] want fifty dollars tomorrow said
Maria.
This was rather remarkable request for the careful
little woman to make, for she very prudent in re-
gard to her private expenses.
Certainly Maria" replied Edward. II hope you
are going to buy new silk
q am
He handed her the money and hoped she would dress
herself great deal better than before for he couC
afford it.
Il going to spend as much money as I can, sho
replied
THAT is right, Maria, do" added the reckless hus
band.
And Edward soon had reason to repent this advice
for Maria seemed to spend all her spare time in ask
ing him for money. He was too reckless too mag1an
imous to deny her. to suggest that she exceeding
the bounds of reason.
ply her demands for he had not the courage to refuse he
modest requests he obliged to curai his pri
vate expenses. On several occasions he had been oh
ged to borrow money to meet her acquisitions upon hi
purse and being honest man, he had to cut off many
luxuries in order to pay these loans.
What had got into Maria? She was extravagant
and yet she did not to be dressed much BETTER
his house to be supplied with many additional luXu
ries. But he was too proud to complain. He did hint
but she would not take hint
A year passed by, and there no improvement il
the reckless woman Fortunately for him his salar
was raised to two thousand but it scarcely done be
fore Maria demanded fifty dollar BILL
You spend more money than you used to spenc
Maria he suggested
..What is the use for me to pinch myself if you spen
all you get? smiled Maria sweety, he could not sa
another word. want to have the good of the none
while it is going as well as you.
"All right my DEAR he replied
There no improvement in the woman, and EdWar
had doubts as to the consequences but what pu5
zICd him most was to know what became of the money
Another year passed by and the dang of runnin
in debt stared him in the face,
Maria we are living too fast, am afraid" he OF
served in melancholy mood.
=" am afraid are; tor Yesterday you brought HON
pair of chickens for which you paid twenty cents
pound replied Maria, with her usual smile
Pooh Maria, [ don't mean these little things. w
must have something to eat and while my salary is tw
) thousand dollars year, mean to live WE'LL
Great trees from little acorns grow, added the wifi
Let US stop the bung hole first" continuhd Edwar
desperately Would you believe me, my dear, that
have given you six hundred dollars year for the las
two years?'
: "What is six hundred dollars year for lady p"
You reading the other day that great many |;
dies in New York spend two thousand dollars year fC
dress alone You certainly cannot complain OF SIX hui
dred.'
90 no, by no means I don't mean to complain" r
piled Edward.
Il knew you didn't Whatever spend goes for
good cause.
Il suppose so but don't care anything about
: only that | am getting little short There is d
Smiths bill of sixty dollars, don't see how am
9 pay it."
& Let it rest then He will never ask you for it,
But don't like that way of doing things, don
want to get in debt. l will 60 and see him.
And he did go and see him, The doctor ric
man, and offered to take Edwards note payable al
time he pleased which offer the latter eagerly accepe
promising to take it up in six months
No change for the better appeared in the affairs of tt
young couple Maria kept asking for money, and 81
was 50 pretty so sweet tempered and gentle, that
ward could never refuse. If he demurred, she cou
coax it out of him.
At the end of the six months the doctors note wi
due, and Edward could not pay it. He had borrow'
money till he was ashamed to do so any more But
had nice sense of honor, and instead of letting
creditor whistle for his pay, he went to him to pr