St. Cloud visiter [sic]. [volume] (St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1857-1858, 1858-05-20

AAo~A@S
at a rent of four hundred dollars a year, If
his wife had not persisted that such dwell
ing would wear her life out. He then left
the matter entirely to her, and she found a
nice little cottage seven miles from the city,
at rent of one hundred and fifty. The
husband liked it very well, and Maria fur
nished it in a very plain but neat style. q
They were at home now, and for time
the novelty of the thing kept Edward in ex-
cellent humor; but he was reckless fel-
low, and had no idea whatever of the value
Of money. He always spent all his salary,
and sometimes little more. > ..--...-. :. z55ss,
| Edward was out of humor because he
had no strawberries, and when he sat down
to the table, the tea was to weak, the bread
tasted of saleratus, and the butter was
| strong He snarled and growled, first at
Maria, and then at Bridget, till the wife
was almost discouraged. But she did not
yield to the impulse Of the moment, and get
out of temper. She kept smiling, however
cutting and severe came the criticisms of
her husband. ....-. ....-......-. o.. sc
After tea he was little modified, for
there seemed to be nothing more to grum-
BILE at, and even condescended to smile. .
edward, I wantffiy dollars tomorrow" j"
said Maria. :ss,.
This was rather remarkable request for
the careful little woman to make, for she
was very prudent in regard to her private
expenses. -u... :.~. ....
"Certainly, Maria" replied Edward, II
hope you are agoing to buy you new silk" !"
81 am" . -....sr
He handed her the money, and hoped
she would dress herself a great deal better
than ever before, for she could afford it.
II am going to spend as much money as
can," she replied. s.4z VII -. !. .#a..~.-..
sThat is right, Maria, do," added the
reckless husband. ... ~
And Edward soon had reason to repent
his advice, for Maria now seemed to spend
all her spare time in asking him for money.
He was too reckless too lragnanimous to de-
ny her, or to suggest that she was exceeding
the bounds Of reason. -. ~.. .s....- -. -.
She was merciless in her drafts upon
him, and to supply her demands, for he
had not the courage to refuse her modest
requests, he was obliged to curtail his own
private expenses. On several occasions,
he had been obliged to borrow money to
| meet her acquisitions upon his purse; and
being an honest man, he had to cut off many
luxuries in order to pay these loans.
What had got into Maria? She was ex-
trayagant, and yet she did not seem to be
dressed much better, or his house to be
supplied with any additional luxuries.-
But he was too proud to complain. He did
hint, but she would not take hint. -,
A; year passed by, and there was no i'm
provement in the reckless woman. Fortu
nately for him, his salary was raised to two
thousand, but it was scarcely done, before
Maria demanded a fifty dollar bill: s,=ssss;
"You spend more money than you usee
to spend, Maria" he suggested
"What is the use for me to pinch my
self, if you spend all you get ?" smiled Ma
ria, so sweetly, he could not say anothe
word. Il want to have. the good of tn
money while it is going, as well as you"
All right, my DEAR" he replied: s-@... j
I There was no improvement in the woman
and Edward had some doubts as to the con
! sequences, but what puzzled him most wa
to know what became Of the money. ys
! s=s.~ :. CHAPTER II. *@ @
Another year passed BY, and the DANCE
, Of running in debt stared him in the face.
"Maria, we are living too fast, | an
afraid >" he observed, in melancholy mood
II am afraid we are; for yesterday yo1
: brought home pair Of chickens for Whic]
f you paid twenty cents pound, " replies
4 Maria, with her usual smile. =.
s "Pooh, Maria, I don't mean these littl
things. We mnst have something to cal
and while my salary is two thousand do
lars ayear, I mean to i've well. !" i.
Z "Great trees from little acorns grow,
added the wife. ..4..'.- S'..,.> : s,zS'
q "Let us stop the bung hole first, :" cor
tinued Edward desperately. "WouM 20
J believe, my dear, that 1have given you 81
4 hundred dollars year for the last tw
years" .a'. - -. T. :. : =
"What is six hundred dollars year fe
: lady? You were reading the other da
e that 4 great many ladies in New York spen
i two thousand dollars a year for dress alon,
7 You certainly cannot complain Of SIX hui
I dred." =. ..@.< t5e1 y.
a 40 no; BY no means. I don't mean !
complain" J" replied Edwaed. F
+ .f knew you did Mt Whatever I spen,
L goes for ! good cause s S..Ss q !
h 81 suppose 50; but I don't care snythin
y about II, only that ! am getting : hit
d short. There Is Doctor Smith . bill Of 81
is Il dollars; I dom see how can pay" I
b aLet It rest, then. He will never Z
le you for II = .'=sssssss !. .. g =. -
aBut ]. don't HE th.t way of doiu
. things. I don't want 10 get ID debt. q
= s'vm eeaudsss him. sss