Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-24
ynterestinp Story,
THE
WlFE'S REV ENGE!
BY OLIVER OPTICS.

No strawberries What in the worlC
is the reason you didn't order some ," ex
claimed Edward Lester, as he entered hi.
pleasant home in the suburbs of Boston
{" You know, Maria, I am very fond Of
them, and you are determined to pucisE
me in some way if you can.
Punish you, Edward? What do you
talk so for p returned his wife.
You know like them very much,
added the petulant husband.
But they taste too strongly of the
money"
Come, come, Maria, no more of poor
Richards saws. | am heartily sick oil
them"
You would not have me pay sixty
cents box for straw berries, would you?'
" Why Rot?"
" 1t is too much"
+" No it isn't"
" You can't afford it"
Yes, can. Isn't my salary fifteen
hundred dollars year ?'
" | do not think that strawberries. at
sixty cents box, are very profitable re
plled the pretty wife, with a pleasant
smile.
Pooh |"
The brute! Edward Lester did not
deserve such beautiful, sweet-tempered
wife as Maria. What business had he to
fret and scold such lovely piece of wo
manhood as she was? 1t was wicked
and hardly can keep my temper while
1 record his wicked conduct.
But Edward Lester, in spite of his pet
ulant manner, was really an excellent fe
low, and loved the pretty little woman
with all his soul, though it is true he had
a very singular way of showing it. He
deserved thrashing for his hasty
words, yet he has eventually learned bet
ter, and it is mot worth while to dwell.
too long upon the dark side of his char
acter.
He was very smart salesman, and was
employed in large establishment in the
city, at salary OF ifteen hundred dollars.
F~r 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 house
keeping.
Edward would have hired a large
house at a rent of four hundred year, if
his wife had not persisted that such a
house would wear her life out. He then
lefs the matter entirely to her and she
found nice little cottage seven miles
from the city, alta rent of one hundred
and Fifty. The husband liked it very
well, and Maria furnished it in a very
plain but neat style.
Frey were at home now, and for a 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 sometimes little more.
Edward was out of huaer because he
had no Strawberries, and when he sal
down to the table, the tea was too weak
the bread tasted Of salaratus, and the
butter was strong. He snarled and
growled, FIRST at Maria, and then al
Bridget, till the wife was almost discour
aged. But she did not yield to the i'm.
pulse OF the moment. and getting out OIL
temper, however cutting and severe came
the criticisms of her husband.
After tea he was little modified, for
there seemed to be nothing more to grum
BILE at, and even eondescended to smile.
Edward, want fifty dollars to NOR.
row, said Maria.
This was rather remarkable request
tor the careful little wemam to make. for
she was very prudent in regard to her
private expenses.
Certainly, Maria" replied Edward
" l hope you are going to buy new silk.
Il am.'
He handed her the money, and hoped
she would dress herself a great Deal bet
ter than ever before-he could afford it
! ana going to spend as much money
as cam she replied.
mat is right, Maria, do" added The
reckless husband.
And Edward soon had reason to repent
tins advice, for Marie now seened f.
sPena all her time in asking for money
he was too reckless, too magnauimiouus
70 oeny her, or to suggest that she wa,
exceeding the bounds of reason.
she was merciless in her drafts upo,
him, and to supply hen demands, for b,
had not the courage to refuse her modes
requests, ne was obliged to curtail hi
own private expenses. On several occa
slons, ne had been obliged to borrow
money to- meet her acquisitions upon hi
purse; and being an honest man, he hat
cut of many Injuries in order to pa,
these leans..
i What had got into Marian She wa
extravagant, and yet she did not seem Il
be dressed much Better, or his house t
be supplied with many additional luxu