Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-14

throwing her baking and ironing into one dav.
for both must be done on the morrow. or the
cloths would midew or the boarders 20 without
bread-all this was too much, Lizzie could not
endure his bandinage, though half-playful, for
she well knew that if some such thoughts ere
not in his mind, they would not have found
their way to his lips.
She hastily set the biscuit upon the table. and
saying simply, supper is ready" stepped into tile
bed room and burst into tears
You may call her foolish. do not. You
might as well ask the withered leaves not to fall
when the Autumn gales weeps through them: as
we'll as ask the flowers not to suffer the morning
dews to inhae the sunshine, as to ask a tender,
loving, sensible wife to withhold her tears when
she knows she is wronged. She may forgive, she
may look cheerfnl-an hour after, bright as the
sky when the cloud has rfssed--bnt she must
feel; and it is only when her beautiful nature is
destroyed when, as is too often Che case, the
very traits of character which won husbands
love in the beginning are obligated; when love
turns to hate, that she can bear from him light
or exaction with unmoved Indifference.
+ Lizzie's tears did not flow long; her heart
gained its natural relief, and after pretending
she was getting Walter to sleep, (Which she re-
ally did,) she batEed her eyes, came out and
washed her dishes and sat down again to the
coat.
Frank sat watching her flying fingers for an
hour or two, as he laughed and talked with his
friends thinking to himself every turn would
be the last. At nine o'clock she set the last
stitch. New facing had been put in, and new
pockets, the holes under the arms neatly patch
ed and darned, new buttons and lining all round.
AS she finished, she looked with still shade of
sadness on her brow:
"Tbere, Frank, I have mended your coat thor
oughly. guess it will last another year now."
"Qnite job, wasn't it2 Took longer than
thought" said he, depreciatingly.
"How much clear cash have you made to day,
Frank % asked Lizzie, in an earnest tone.
"What do you want to know for?" was his
answer.
"For my own satisfaction. Certainly, !
should feel an interest in all your affairs.
swell, think the shop has cleared twenty
dollars"
How much do you count your own services
worth 2"
''Not less than five dollars a day."
"How many hours do you labor2"
"Ten is the legal time now -a-Gays. | don't
generally work that many. But what's all these
questions for 2"
Because, Frank, we are husband and wife.
We are to live the rest of our lives together, and
if there is harmony in our marriage relations
there must be justice and right. You call upon
me daily to appreciate your labors, and remind
me of the comfort and support you have given
me, and | feel that appreciate anything you do.
You have earned five dollars to day, and the
shop has cleared twenty. Yet, to save you one
dollar have worked ten hours. on your coat,
and six in getting your breakfast, dinner and
supper, and making your home pleasant and
comfortable. To save you that dollar, | have
had to hurry all day, to put all my work out of
line and to really neglect our darling boy, who
should be the first care, and the last thing that
should, under any circumstances, be set to one
sidel"
81 had not the idea, Lizzie, it would be such
a job"
81 know you had not, Frank, so shall freely
forgive you, but / must insist that hereafter |
must be my own judge of what work | must
best do, and shall not expect to be threatened
nor hear myself accused of not being willing to
do my duty"
Frank felt the force of her words, and sat 81
lent,
Zone thing more, Frank, want to say, while
Pm about it. l don't want you to talk about
supporting wife. l will not be supported
while I'm able to support myself find on
looking over my book that the profits of my la.
bors amount to five dollars week, and the
board of yourself, myself and baby besides
Then do all your extra work and my own.-
All this saving has gone into your capital to be
invested, and to help to make your twenty dol
lars day. Out OF this comes the five dollars
you call the worth of your days work, while
must labor with really weary limbs and aching
head and eyes to save dollar in the mending OF
an old coat, which, when done would not sell for
the amount of your ten hours work.
''You are making out pretty strong case a.
gainst me, Lizzie"
mo, Frank, not case against you; could
not do that but | am stating facts. One thing
more. have been at work three hours since
supper, while you have been entirely idle, not
even rocking the cradle, which l have been O.
bliged to do hall. a-dozen times"
''Lzzie, don't say another word, and I'll new
er do so again." cried Frank, springing from his
chair to jog the cradle, where the sweet boy
was Nesting. 'You shall never mend another
coat" - sA
Eyes, but will" answered Lizzie, advancing
to the cradle; ''only don't tell me ten hours
work can be done in five minutes, nor ask me
to let the baby squall again."
She lifted Walter from the cradle. They
stopped to kiss the fair, rosy cheek, but made
mistake and kissed each other, while Frank
whispered: s.a ~ !.
''God bless you, Lizzie, l never thought of
this before. | won't do it again."
Six years have gone by, and Frank has kept
his word. 9E