The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-02-17
A Story for Husbands.
Five Minutes Work.
By MRS. F. D. GAGE.

"Here, Lizzie, l wish you would put few
stitches into my coat; it's getting too shah
by"
ut is so, Frank but really. l think you
had best take it to the tailor"
Take it to the tailor. By George! hut
that's huge idea. Why, there's not five
minutes work to be done, and he would
charge dollar.
Il suppose he would but don't see how
can do it today. Walter is tretful, and YOU
know he KEEP, me awake nearly alI night.
Little imp. i, does seem to me there new
er was so cross Young one"
20. no, Frank. he's not cross; he's teeth
ing"
always some excuse. Well, you must
mend my coat, any how"
Ill try and fird time"
"Try! just let him squa'l; twill do him
good-streng,hen his lungs
"rhen, YOU know, it's ironing day."
well. how many more excuses I'll put
i; on, rips and all, if you're going to make
such fuss
20, no, Frank; did not mean to make
fuss; bu: i,'sN long job, and one am not
much used to; and. with my dinner to get.
and with baby and ironing, do not see, yet.
how can get it done. Blu, Ill do 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.
ho
frank, and w,hal. SO honest and upright in
all his dea lings with his customers. lie was
we'll educated for a business man lived in
society; and made up his mind that he could
support wife, and, according, to his reckon
ing, save something to boot. Yes. to be sure
he could. There were six dollars week for
board, one dollar a dozen for washing, and
the quarters and dimes innumerable for TAX
ing his lady acqnaintances to ride, to the
theatre, to ice-eream saloons, balls, operas,
&c.
"By George" he exclaimed, as he cast up
his yearly account, "that's huge. It's enough
to break fellow. 4 Thousand year. 1t
won't do! Ill marry ard settle down."
So ne applied 10 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,
ITO be supported" wife.
Lizzie was good. sensible girl, and was
soon tired of boarding. A snug house Was
rented, and the work of supporting wife
began in earnest. The five rooms cost two
hundred year, and were prettily furnished
Lizzie preferred to do her own work, wash.
Ing and ironing, and being expert with her
needle, now and then found time to make a
dollar extra. Then, as it was little lone.
sume 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 less it cost him t.
live. Now he supported a wife, he never
seemed for moment to realize that she i,
was who was saving all these expenses, anc
that ii he had not earned dollar, her bus,
hands would have paid the rent and KEEP
him from starving.
So the matter stood when he asked her t.
mend his coat. Lizzie drew deep sigh af
ter he was gone, and hurried her dishes a
way as fast as possible.
The coat was of broadcloth. and was hi
wedding garment but it was we'll nigh wear
ing out, broker, under the arms, the cord ali,
lining in rags, the sleeve Innings broke loose
buttons worn of; in fine, there was nearly, il
not quite, steady days work. She Sat dow
to the coat with hearty goodwill, de,ermine'
to do her best. Her needle flew, but ever
moment it had to be lain down to see to din
= ner, or hush the baby. The hours wor
t away, and though she did all she possibl
could. the job was still quite unfinished q
sundown.
! Walter cried necessarily. He looked pale
and his eyes were dim. She rendered Frank
: words, "Le, him squall." and did let him CT
e half hour or more. O, how it wearied he
e to hear her darling cry for its mother. Th
e tears swan in her eyes as she though, of h.
e hard days work, snd of the want Of apprec
o alton OF her labor. She knew she was mall
ing the "auld coat look amaist as we'll q
i new" but he would never think of the TO
3 she had put upon it. "And what if he don't:
= she mentally CALCULATED" Il shall in my ow