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

past her, as, with the most complacent air
Mr.. Cooper possessed himself of the missive
His wife's spirits had gradually been sink
ing since the opening Of her work-box. She
knew perfectly well that she was considered
as responsible for every item Of the account
as if each barrel Of -four and pound of coffee
had been purchased for her sole individual
benefit. Mr.. Cooper's face clouded with the
direction of the letter, darkcned with The
breaking open Of the envelope; the storm
burst with the first glance at the sum total.
"A hundred and fifteen dollars did you
see that, Marthas hundred and fifteen dol
lars and over when it ought not to have been
thirty-fve, with all paid in July What in
the world did you order when was away in
the fall / never had these things charged.
"Only what was necessary"
Necessary. | should think so, with all
the waste that goes on in that kitchen
wish you'd see after your cook. Martha, as
I've told you hundred times. 1t would be
great deal cheaper to put out this everlast-
ing sewing, and attend to your house a little
more"
81 try to do both, said Mrs Cooper. mild
ly, bending before the gust, as it were, know
ing it to be inevitable
TRY yes, | dare say it looks like IT,
with all the bread see thrown out, enough
to feed dozen poor families. Three barrels
of -four no wonder"
There half Of the last one yet"
And sugar and coffee; don't tell me
There's Lawton says they use only half bar
rel of white sugar every year His wife does
her Jelly in coffee crushed
So had Mrs. Cooper until she found that
it was cheaper to use that which did not need
refining, and her husband never thought he
could touch mutton or game without currant
jelly, and had almost juvenile fondness foi
sweetmcats of every description. She knew
perfectly well what became of the sugar
And butter-yes, its butter. How much
do you think we've had since October:" said
her husband presently, with the air of vir.
tnous Judge condemning a criminal found
guilty in every point of an indictment. 81
told you Ann wasted butter from the first
How can you expect we can ever get along il
the world, Martha, if you can't see after YOU
servants What's the use of my denying
myself everything" Mr.. Cooper her,
recollected cane, pair Of fur-lined gloves
and a fancy travelling cap, that he had sever.
ally dismissed from his thoughts in the mos
resolute manner-"everything may say, fol
your sake and the children's, if this is the
way you are going on -
1t was certainly an unexpected amount &c
Mrs. Cooper, who, invariably economical
thought she had been especially careful tn,
last six months. She was very sorry.
was hard, when she, too, could enumerat
selt-denials Of time and patience, and had en-
dured cross looks, and spoiled dinners. ant
warnings, with house full of company, il
the inspection of AIMS closets and safes, an,
repeated rebukes and corrections of her care
lessness. Though economical to the last de
gree, there was nothing she shrank from S,
much as an approach to meannesS, or bein,
considered so by others. Perhaps it was he
own special weakness, this dread but evel
that she tried to put down in trying to do
housekeepcr's duty faithfully.
Her husband, not in the least pacifed b,
her admission that lit nigh have been tn
butter, replaced the bill in its envelope witt
the air of a man whose substance is waste,
by riotous living" and sent it skimming Oh
the table--to the foor-indeed under th
lounge, where his wife found it, in dustin.
the next morning. She was rather heavy
hearted. for the evening which promised ST
much closed uncomtortably; she stitched
away in silence, and her husband, decinin,
to amuse himself or be entertained. gloame,
over the fire after his cigar was finished. an,
stalked off to bed an hour earlier than usual
Really, | cannot understand it. | though
had been very careful. | don't wonde
Murray is discouraged and yet | don't SCI
how | could have done without anything W,
have had"
Mrs. Cooper laid down her duster. ant
opened the uncomfortable account. 1t was
very long face, and very perplexed one, tina
the opposite mirror reflected but it bright
ened visibly before she had finished her in
spection of the various items, and her cheer
iulness had entirely returned, even to CAVITY
before she had finished copying off some o
them on sheet by themselves. If she hat
made any discoveries, she kept them to her
self that evening; but when her HUSBAND
hung up his overcoat in his office the mex
day, and felt in the outside pocket for clear
handkerchief, he found with it a note. in hi
wife's handwriting, addressed to himself
1t was odd. Perhaps he had been too hast,
in condemning her, or too severe, rather
considering how very fond she was of him
and how she felt every word. Poor child
lie would overlook it this once and so n,
broke the seal.
He thought it was another bill at frs
glance, and that she had been afraid to Civ,
it to him after his late outburst; but it wa,
his wite's handwriting, and headed
"Wdste' for 1856
I hottlo of brapdy al o.