Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-06-10

that. These private purses make a wife alto
gether too independent They are the very
| ! beg your pardon--the mischief you know"
"But suppose" said Mrs. Cooper. 81 should
wish to make my husband birth day pres
ent; how unsentimenta it would sound, My
love, please give me ten dollars to buy you a
gold pencil ! or TO have my nice little sur
prise spoiled by the bill being presented be-
iorehand at the office or having to manage
Mrs Green's fashion, and take what | wanted
from your pocket, little by little after you
were asleep at night To be sure, you never
would miss H."
Now, that's rather hard on fellow, Mar
tina, after all my reforms. Don't ! even stop
in an omnibus to count change. Haven t
| done wonders in not bringing home-all
sorts Of things, you know; I'll bet you two
to one
II never bet recollect" interrupted Mrs
Cooper, in grave tone, that beled the mis-
chief Of her smile at the idea Of her husbands
reforms
"Well. I wouldn't be afraid to bet. that
can tell to a dot every cent I've got about me
to night"
suppose ! agree to give up the allowance
| If you can, suggested the unbelieying help
mate.
Done =! and the portmonnaie was drawn
| forth triumphantly. 1t so happened that
/ little boot bill of two or three years stand
/ ing had been presented that evening, which
had caused an inspection Of cash on hand,
ending in an invitation the collector was per-
| iectly accustomed TOTO call again.
There's two hyes-Butcher and Drovers
do you see and ten, Rhode Island money.
a three, and a one, and seyenty-fve cents in
change No allowance carries the day, mad
am"
Not quite so close. can see and bank
notes never are quite Cologne. Now, sup
pose you look in your pockets -
"Oh, I'm quito cured Of that no more
change lying around loose
Two Of these convenient receptacles emp
tied presented only knife, pencil, two small
screws, and box Of leads. In the breast
pocket Of his coat he made a sudden pause.
Mrs. Cooper was in turn triumphant, as she
saw flush of discomposure rise to her hus-
bands face.
Stupid oh, remember now the change
at Delmonico's for my lunch you know -
And the discomftted man drew forth two c-
gars, gold dollar, bill, and some small
change.
This was the history of the allowance, inn
portant. since, from it practical working, Mr.
Cooper first began to understand faint gim-
mer Of the important truth, "a penny saved is
two pence got - and as is often common with
enthusiastic minds, he plunged into reforms
on his own account to a most alarming ex-
tent.
This was, after their essay at housekeeping,
Mrs. Coopers plan again though he often ig-
nored that fact, and congratulated himself on
the brilliant idea.
He gave up smoking for two months and
half; then had few cigars some one had
given him down town. afterwards bunch
Of some choice brand Loper, a friend of his,
who had just gone into the business, desired
him to try and finally half box was SNUG
gled in quietly, and replaced at intervals. lie
wore really shabby clothes through the hot
weather, but brought home choice assor,-
ment Of white jean, Marseles, and fancy
check suit. the very last three days of Sep
tember heat He undertook self-shavng in
the most virtuous manner and annoyed Mrs
Cooper three days in a week by forgetting to
do so, and presenting quite too stiff an upper
lip to please any one neat almost to fastidi-
business He talked n great deal about table
economy, inspected the ash-heap to see that
the cook threw away no available lump of
coal, and even was accustomed to inquire
what had become of that beef lone, having
heard accdently that good family soup
might be made of beef bone with few veg
etables. In fact these last symptoms had
grown very troublesome, and Mrs Cooper be-
gan to wish most deyotedly that Murray would
"let her keep house, as was her lawful right.
and even suggested that if he would give the
reins entirely into her hands, she would ul-
dertake to drive safely through the years
losses and expenses. She had failed in con-
verting him to one of her principal doctrines,
however - that of paying ready money for
everything. July and January were still rem
dered miserable by the successive arrival of
yellow envelopes, known at once by their
having no post mark, and the extreme brief
ness of their address. They always gave her
a headache for she knew precisely the effect
they would produce when her husband caught
sight of them, no matter how amiable or cheer
ful he might be at the moment. This very
evening, when Mr.. Cooper so emphatically
pronounced "home to be home'-and indeed
1t looked so in the bright neatness of her
household ways, and especially in contempla-
tion of the Widespread supper-tabe, at which
they were seated-his wife was inwardly dis
quoted by knowing that her own hands
would be obliged to put rancor in the yes
sci of his peace by bringing forth the gro
GERS half-yearly account at the amount of
which she had not ventured to glance.
"Now, what shall do for your comfort or
amusement this evening, old lady :" inquired
this really devoted Benedict, as he bit off the
end OF a cigar, and fumbled behind an en-
craving by Landseer for the match box, that
he always insisted on having there, just
where he could reach it,
There's the paper but that I've read
and | looked through Harper as | came
along. Shall / crack some nuts That re-
minds me that | must get one of those patent
lever nut crackers. ! saw one at Smiths. to-
day, and grdiron the most complete ar
rangement you ever saw for doing steak
catches the smoke and gravy at the same
time
"How much was it You know ours came
with the stove, and isn't two years old yet"
"Oh, dollar or so, suppose--a mere
trihe. Must you sew tonight; Always
that everlasting work-basket How much
would it cost now, to have all that pile sew
ed up for once ?"
"a dollar or So, retorted Mrs Murray
7 nj and No ho drauy o,t bor ia, blo