The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-09-20
From the Lady's Home Magazine.
"ZEar-ey's wife"

"But IIarrcy's wife is 10 have a new one,
you see, Wi,lrd = .......
Sand that is good and sufficient reason
why my wife should have one toe, I SUPPOSE
Willard Phelps said these words with
smile so pleaSan and so fond, looking on the
fair face Of the woman he had called his wife
for couple OF years, t'lat should not feel
vexed or wounded, tliougi there was uncon-
siously to the speaker a | tile tone of rcproof
in his voice, just as though he felt the "good
and sufficient reason" his wife had assigned
for gettinga new winter bat, was small
weakness that must be INDUCED.
Mrs Phelps lifted pair of very pleasant
blue eyes to her husband, as she asked quite
seriously, "Wel, isn't it a good reason, VIII
lard, that should dress as well as your
brothers wife?"
II presume Sd. Women think great
deal about these things. How much will the
hat be ?" drawing ont his portc-monnaie"
"Wcll--ten dollars, think. I'll be just
as economical as can
II don't doubt il, Mary; only you must
be certain to carry the fear aad the memory
of Harvey's vife's bonnet to the milliners
this morning"
Mrs. Phelps was very gooi-natured wo
man on the whole but think she would
have pouted this tine, ifher husband had not
sealed his words with kiss, as he slipped
the money into her hands, and hurried off
10 the store
lie and his brother were clerks in large
wholesale house, each with salary Of fifteen
hundred year The young mon had mar
ried about he same time, and their wives
were old friends, and had been schooImatcs.
The young men were very happy husbands
Their wives were sensible, estimable, loving,
home-women but Mrs Harvey Phelps had
a rich brother, who was very fond Of her,
made her elegant presents, and Supplied her
with good deal of pocket-money.
Mrs. Willard Phelps had none and good
and sensible woman as she was, she was
still, human enough, an foolish enough to
carry about with her a little feeling that
iIarvey's wife had no right to outshine her
in her dress, or any of her household ap-
pointments.
Indeed, in some far back closet Of Mary
Phelps soul, was a little spirit of envy and
Jealousy, that had never seen the light, but
that made itself felt when "IIarvey's wife"
displayed an elegant dress, a new set ofchina,
or anything SO costly or elegant, that il was
at once evident some other purse-strings be-
side he husbands must have been loosened
to purchase it.
And in all her household appointments, in
all her outlays for her own wardrobe, Mrs
Phelps was unconscious!y Influenced, more
or less, by the thought OF "Uarvay's wife"
twas the black crow" that stood at the
door of the happy wife, and she never sus-
pocted it.
But that morning the words OF her hus-
band haunted the thoughts of Mrs. Willard
Phelps, as she slipped the little roll of bank
notes into her purse, and away down in her
soul a voice commenced speaking after this
fashion,
Wasn't there some truth, now, in what
Willard said this morning? Is it good
and sufficient reason that you should have a
new bonnet, b brcause Harvev's wife has one?
You know your black velvet is as good as
new, though you've worn it two years, and
that you could alter it, and with new face
trimmings and string%, itwould be handsome
enough for anybody"
But then, Harvty's wife will come out
in something new and pretty, and | don't
like to have her outshine me always" 1t
was not the voice far down in Mrs. Phelps
soul, which added this last consideration.
But it answered promptly .'See here now,
amt you a little weak and over-sensitive
about Harvey's wife If she can afford a
new hat, let her have it, but that's no reason
you shouldn't wear your old one Nov you
are sensible woman, Mary Phelps. hope
You are Christian one, and it's jus. mean
and miserable way of getting on, to carry
this shadow of Harvey's wife about with YOU
Look the matter bravoly in the face now, aud
get above itas soon as possible
There was a struggle--of course there
was-in Mrs. Phelps's soul, but il enled in
her saying, with little emphasis Of her foot
on the floor: II shall not 60 t, the miner's
this morning; shall wear my cd bonnet
next winter -
And little later, her thoughts leaped into
antti'r Channel 'I'l Just take tut money.