The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-03-29
FIVE MINUTES WORK.

Here, Lizzie, | wish you would put
few stitches into my coat; its getting
too shabby"
alt is so, Frank but really think
you had better take it to the tailor"
"Takc it to the tailor! by George
but that's huge idea. Why, there's
not five minutes work to be done, and
the tailor would charge dollar"
II suppose he would; but don't see
how | can do it to day Walter is fret.
fuI, and you know he kept me awake
nearly all night"
Little imp. it does seem to me there
never was so cross young one"
80, no, Frank, he's not cross he's
tcething"
ALWAYS some excuse. Well, you
must mend my coat anyhow"
"lll try and find time"
Try! jus, let him squall; twill do
him =ood-Strengthcn his lungs"
Then you know. its ironing day"
Well K. how many more excuses? :? I'll
put it on, rips and all, if you're going to
make such Il fuss
90, no, Frank; I did not mean to
make fuss ; but its long job, and one
| am not mucl, used to; and, with my
dinner to get, and baby, aud ironing, l
don't see. yet, how | can get it done. -
But I'll do my bcst" "
Such was the conversation that passed
between young husband and wife Of
eighteen months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world
calls real driver. He made anything
that went through his hands inurc to
his own benefit. Everybody liked him
because he was SO frank, and withal, so
honest and upright in all his dealings
with his customers He was we'll cdu-
Gated for business man lived in socie-
ty; had made up his mind that he could
support a wife, and, according to his
reckoning, save something to boot. Yes,
to be sure he could. There were six
dollars week for board, one dollar a
dozen for Washing, and then quarters
and dimes innumerable for taking his
lady acquaintances to ride, to the theatre,
to ice-cream saloons, balls, operas, &c.
"By George ~ he exclaimed, as he
cast up his yearly account, That's huge.
It's enough to break a fellow. A thou
sand year! 1t won't do. III marry
and settle down.
So he applied to Lizzie Forsythe. the
best and kindest girl among his acquain.
tances, to help him along in his good
resolves, and was soon in possession of
that admirable burden, "to be support
ed, wife.
Lizzie was good, sensible girl, and
was soon tired of boarding. A snug
house was rented, and the work of sup.
porting wife began in earnest. The
i've rooms cost two hundred a year, aud
were prettily furnished. Lizzie pre-
ferrcd to do her own work, washing and
all, and expert with her needle, now and
then found time to make dollar extra.
Then, as it was little lonesome for
Frank, he brought home several clerks,
as day boarders, at four dollars a week.
Still, with all this, he would tell his
acquaintances how much it cost him to
live Now he supported wife, he never
seemed, for a moment, to realize that she
It was who was saving all these exp penses,
ana that, It he had not earned a dollar,
hcr busy hands would have paid the rent,
aud kept him from starving
90 the matter stood, when he asked
ael 70 me"d his coat. Lizzie drew a
deep sigh, after he was gone, and hurried
her dishes away as fast as possible
The coat was of broadcjo,h and no.
his wedding garment; but it was we'll
nigh wearing out; broken under tho
arms, the cord and lining in rags, the
sleeve Innings broke loose, buttons worn
off; in fine, there was nearly, if not
quite, a steady days work She sat
down to the coat with hearty good will,
determined to d. her best. HAnneedle
flew, but every moment it had to be lain
down, to see to dinner, or hush the bnby.
The hours wore away, aud though she
did all she possibly could, the job was
still quite unfinished at sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked
pale, aud his eyes were dim. She re-
membered Franks words, "Lct hin
squall,' and did lot him cry a half hou,
or more. o, how it wearied her to hea,
ner darling cry for its mother. tn.
tears swan in her eyes, AZ she though,
o. her hard days vosk. and a. the v.n,