The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-05-30


ironing, don't see how | can get it done.
But III try my best"
Such was the conversation that passed be.
tween young husband and wife of eighteen
months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world calls a
real driver. He made anything that went
through his hands inure to his own benefit.
Everybody liked him because he was so
frank. and withal so honest and upright in
all his dealings with bis customers. He was
well educated for a business man; lived in
society; had made up his mind that he could
sspport wife, and according to his reckon
ing, save something to boot. Yes, to be
sure he could. There was six dollars week
and then quarters and dimes innumerable
for taking his lady acquaintances TO ride, TO
the theatre, to ice-cream saloons, balls, ope-
ras. &c.
/" BY George" he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account. /" that's huge" Its
enough to break a fellow. A thousand a
year. 1t won't do. Ill marry and settle
down"
So be applied to Lizzie Forsyth, the best
and kindest girl among his acquaintances,
to help him along in his good resolves, and
was soon in possession Of that admirable
burden to be supported a wife.
Lizzie was good sensible girl, and was
soon tired of boarding. A snug little house
was rented, and the work of supporting a
wife begun in earnest. The five rooms cost
two hundred year, and were prettily fur
nisheJ, Lizzie preferred to DO her own work,
washing and all, and expert with her needle,
now and then found time to make a 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 sup
ported wife. he never seemed. for a mo
ment, to realize that she il was who was
had not earned dollar, her busy hands
would have paid the rent, and kept her from
starving.
So the matter stood, when he asked her TO
mend his coat. Lizzie drew a deep sigh,
after he was gone. and hurried her dishes
sway as fast as possible.
The coat was of broadeloth, was his we'd
ding garment ; bui it was well nigh wearing
out, broken out under the arms, the cord and
linen in rags. the sleeve lining broken loose.
buttons worn of, in fine. there was nearly,
If not quite, steady days work. She SIT
down TO the coat with a hearty good will,
determined TO do her best. Her needle
flew, but every moment il had to be lain
down to see to dinner or hush the baby. The
hours wore away, and though she did all she
possibly could, the job was still quite unfin-
ished at sundown.
Walter cried incessantly. He looked pale
and his eyes we're dim. She remembered
Franks words, Let him squall." and did
let him cry for half an hour or more. o,
how il wearied her to hear her darling cry
for its mother. The tears swan in her ewes,
as she thought Of her hard days work, and
the want Of appreciation oi her labor. She
knew she was making the "auld coat look
amaist as well as new" But he never would
think of the toll she had put upon il. And
what il he don't" she mentally calculated !;
" shall in my own spirit know all have
done and that is enough" Still she was long.
ing. with sickening heart. 10 have her labor
recognized. TO hear him now and then speak
a. il her work was Of some avail. There
is not more than five minutes work, aud the
tailor would charge me dollar" kept ring.
ing in her ears.
But Lizzie was strong hearted, as we'll as
loving and duiiful. So she shook Of her
discomfort. put on a smiling face. took up
the baby and sung her prettiest lullaby. car
ried him round, with his little head on her
shoulders, while she filed the ea.kettle and
set the table, now and then setting him in
his cradle and chirping 10 him. as she did
those things that required both Of her hands.
Thus she worried through supper-getiing.
aud with much managing. had all things
ready by the time that Frank came in with
his companions.
My coat done, Lizzie I"
No, not quite"
That's woman for ye, boys, One half
ul them would let husband 90 out at the
elbows a week, before they would turn aside
from any plan u theirs. All the ironing is
I'll be bound. Aint il so. Liz
zieF"
Lizzie was taking her biscuit out Of the
osen. and the young men did not see the
deep flush Of pain that flashed over her wea-
ry features.
Will you bring in a pitcher Of water,
please" she said pleasantly, not seeming to
have heard his question.
There IL is again; when | was a bach. |
had nothing TO do but TO hand my coat over
TO the tailor. pay him dollar AMI il was
done in q jiffy, and M grumbling. No wa
Ter 70 fetch when fellows tired either.
Lizzie was tired. sal aud nervous want
OF sleep, and the exhaustion incident t0
nursing her beautiful boy, now so near sick
the hurrying 10 get time for the msnding.
not to speak Of the disappointment in put.
ting aside all her own plans. thus throwing
her baking and ironing into one DAY, for
both must me done on the morrow. or the
clothes would mildew and the boardcrs do
without bfead-all this was too much, Lizzie
could not endure his badinage. though half
playful. for she well knew that if some such
fhSuvhfa were nut in his mimi fhev wauld