The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-10-11
Five Minutes Work.
BY MRS. f. d. GAGE.

"Here, Lizzie, wish you would put
few stitches into my coat; its getting
so shabby"
cit is so, Frank; but really / think
you had best take it to the tailor.''
"Take 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"
81 suppose he would, but / don't see
how can do it to-day. Walter is fret
full, and you know he kept me awake
nearly all night" r
"Little imp! 1t does seem to me
there never was so cross a young one" !"
"Oh, no, Frank, he's not cross he's
teethng."
"Always some excuse. Well, you
must mend my coat, anyhow"
81 will try and find time.''
"Try! just let him squall; twill do
him strengthen his lungs"
"Then, you know, it is ironing day."
"Well how many more excuses? III
put it on, rips and all, if you're going
to make fuss"
!, 60, no, Frank; / did not mean to
; make fuss; but it's long job, and
one am not used to: and, with my
dinner to get, and baby, and ironing, |
do not see yet, how can get it done.
But I'll do my best" 9a}
i 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 insure to
r his own benefit. Everybody liked him
! because he was so frank, and withal SC
e honest and upright in all his dealings
with his customers. He was well edu
, ated for business man lived in So
: ciety had made up his mind that he
could support 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 dozen for washing, and ther
!, quarters and dimes innumerable fol-
: takingihis lady acquaintances to ride, tc
) the theatre, to ice-cream saloons, balls
It operas, &c.
"By George!" he exclaimed, as hi
y east up his yearly account, sThat'
3 huge. It's enough to break fellow
# A thousand a year! 1t won't do; II
b marry and settle down."
: : So he applied to Lizzie Forsyth, tn,
best and kindest girl among his &C
e quaintances, to help him along in hi
!. good resolves and was soon in the pos
session of that admirable burden ct,
be supported" wife.
: Lizzie was good, sensible girl, an,
was soon tired of boarding. A snu,
house was rented, and the work of sup
porting wife began in earnest. Tn
five rooms cost two hundred year
and were prettily furnished. Lizzi
tpreferred to do her own work, washin,
and all, and being expert with her nee
die, now and then found time to max
dollar extra. Then, as it was a littl
Lonesome for Frank, he brought hom
several clerks, as day boarders, at fou
z dollars a week. Still with all this, b
le would tell his acquaintances how muc
w less it cost him to live. Now he SUP
ny ported wife, he never seemed, for
"a a moment, to realize that she it was VIII
C. was saving all these expenees, and tha
if he bad not earned a dollar, her bus
3 hands would have paid the rent an
- kept him from starving.
So the matter stood when he aske
her to mend his coat Lizzie drew
, deep sigh after he was gone, and hu
ried her dishes away as fast as poss
/, BILE.
, The coat was of broadcloth, and W:
Fhis wedding garment; but it was we
nigh wearing out, broken under tt
arms, the cord and linen in rags, Il
ed sleeve Innings broke loose, buttons wol
off; in fine there was nearly, if n
quite days work. She sat down
= the coat with hearty good will, dete
mined to do her best. Her needle flc-
u but every moment it had to be la
ol. down, to see to dinner or hush Il
lie. baby. The hours wore away, ar
though she did all she possibly coul
the Job was still unfinished at sundow
= Walter cried necessarily. He look,
D. pale, and his eyes were dim. She I
Y. membered Franks words, "Let hi
,ck squall," and let him cry half an ho
will OF more. Oh, how it wearied her
hear her darling cry for its motht
i. The tears swan in her eyes as s
ur- thought of her hard days work, al
'me the want of appreciation of her lab'
and She knew she was making the .s'ou
Vii coat look amaist as we'll as new" B
|, he would never think of the toll S
? had put upon it. "And what if