Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-02

1 VI lellOH eufelOpSy hLOWn d. OuCe Dy
their having no post mark and the extreme
briefness of their address. They always gave
her headache. for she knew precisely the eff
feet they would produce when her husband
caught sight of them, no matter how amiabe or
cheerful he might be at the moment. This very
evening, when Mr. Cooper so emphaticaIly pro
nounced "home to be home"-and indeed it
looked SO in the bright neatness of her house
hold ways, and especially in contemplation of
the well spread supper-table, at which they were
seated-his wife was inwardly disquieted by
knowing that her own hands would be obliged
to "put rancor in the vessel of his peace" by
bringing forth the grocers half yearly account at
the amount of which she had not yentured 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 cigar, and fumbled behind an engraving
by Landseer for the matchbox, that he always
insisted on having it there, just where he could
reach it.
''There's the paper-but that I've read; and
l looked through Harper as l came along
Shall / crack some nuts That reminds me
that must get one of those patent nut crack
ers. l saw one at Smiths to-day, and gridi-
ron, the most complete arrangement you ever
saw for doing stesk-cstches the smoke and
gravy at the same time"
"How much was it You know ours came
with the stove, and it isn't two years old yet"
"Oh dollar or so. I suppose mere tri-
erlasting work-basket Why don't you have a
seamstress How much would it cost to have
all that pile sewed up for once I"
"a dollar or so" retorted Mrs. Murray play
fully; and as she drew out her thimble and nee
die book, the grocer's communication was dis
covered on top of the work-box.
"Had any letters to-day! who is that from
1 say, Matty, suppose we should begin to think
ofa little place in the country, next spring l-
Lawton was talking about that lot on the bend
of the Bronx, you know, again to-day" And
two or three satisfactory pufs filled up short
pause, as Mr.. Cooper threw him himself back
in his own particular chair. "We must have
saved something this year towards it, you're
such an industrious little woman, and deserve
! to have a house of your own, and everything
nice about you, if anybody does. Whom did
you say it was from! It's time you heard from
your sister, isn't it!" And hand was stretch
ed past her, as, with the most complacent air,
Mr.. Cooper possessed himself of the missive
His wife's spirits had gradually been sinking
since the opening of the work-box. She knew
perfectly well that she was considered as res
ponsible for every item of the account as ifeach
barrel of -four and pound of coffee had been pur-
chased for her sole individual benefit Mr.
Cooper's face clouded with the direction of the
letter, darkened with breaking open the envel-
| op; the storm burst with his first glance at the
| sum total o. ..------
"a hundred and fifteen dollars did you sec
that Martha la hundred dollars and over, when
it onght not to huve been thirty five, with all l
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 1 should think so, with all the
waste that goes on in the kitchen. L wish you'd
see after your cook, Martha, as l have told you
a hundred times 1t would be great deal
cheaper to put out this everlasting sewing, and
attend to your house little more
81 try to do both, said Mrs. Cooper, mildly,
bending before the gust, as it were, knowing it
to be inevitable.
Try yes, dare say; it looks like it, with
a dozen poor families. Three barrels Of -four
no wonder"
There is quite half of the last one yet"
"And sugar and coffee; don't tell me. There's
Lawton says they use only half barrel of
white sugar every year. His wife does her jel-
vi in coffee crushed"
So had Mrs. Cooper until she found that it
was cheaper to use that which did not need
iuing, and her husband never thought he could
touch mutton OF game without current jelly,
and had almost juvenile fondness for sweet
meats of every description. She knew perfect
ly well what had become of the sugar
"And butter--yes, it's the butter. How much
do you think we've had since October I" said
her husband, presently, with the air of a viz
tuous Judge condemning criminal found gull
ty in every point of an indictment. 4 told you
Ann wasted butter from the first. How can
you expect we shall ever get along in the word,
Martha, if you don't see after your servants
What's the use of my denying everything ~
for Mr.. Cooper here recollected cane, pair of
fur-lined gloves, and fancy travelling cap that
he had severally dismissed from his thoughts
in the most resolute manner-'feverything,
may say, for your sake and the children's, if
this is the way you are to go on"
It was certainly an unexpected amount to
Mrs Cooper, who, invariably economical,
thought she had been especially careful the last
six months. She was very sorry. 1t was hard
when she too could enumerate self-den;als of
time and patience, and had brayed CROSS looks,
and splendid dianers, and warnings" with
houseful of company, In the inspection Of Ann's
closets and safes, and repeated rebukes and
corrections of her carelessness. Though eco
nomical to the last degree, there was nothing
she shrank from so much as an approach TO
meanness, or being considered so by others
Perhaps it was her own special weakness, this
dread bat even that she tried to put down in
doing hOuse-keeper's duty faithfully. Il
Her husband, not in the least paci6ed by her
admission that 'sit MIGHT have been the butter"
replaced the oil in its envelop with an air Of a
man whose substance is ''wasted by riotous liv-
ing" and sent it skimming on the table-to the
floor, indeed, under the lounge, where his wife
found it in dusting the next morning. She
was rather heavy hearted, for the evening,
which promised so much closed very uncomfor-
tsbly, she stitching away in silence, and her
husband, declining to amuse himself or be en-
tertained, gloomed over the fire after his cigar
was finished, and stalked off to bed an hour
earlier than usual.
"Really, cannot understand it. l thoughtI
had been so very careful. don't wonder Muir
ray is discouraged; and yet l don't see how
l could have done without anything we have
had" t1.eA -.t
Hrs. Cooper laid down her duster, and open
ed the uncomfortable seeouRt- 1t was a very
long face, and a very perplexed one that the oP-
posite mirror reflected but 1t frightened vlsl-
bly, before she had finished her inspection OF the
various items, and her cheerfulness had entire
ly returned, even TO gayety, before she had nm
ished copying off some Of them on sheet BY
themselves. If she had any discoveries, she
kept them to herself that evening but when
her husband hung up his OEercoat in his of
fee, the next day, and felt in the outside
pocket for clean handkerchief, he found with
It a note, in his wife's handwriting, addressed
to himself
1t was odd. Perhaps be had been too hasty
| =, 4 har ton n