Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-14
M I SCELLA AN Y.
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FIVE MINUTES WORK.
BY MRS. F. GAGE.

BY MRS. F. GAGE.
'sHere, Lizzie, l wish you could put few
stitches into my coat; it's a getting most too
shabby"
sit is so Frank but really I think you had
better take it to the tailor"
'sTake it to the tailor! By George! but that's
q huge idea. Why, there's not five minutes work
to be done, and the tailor would charge dol
lar" - seueJJ
"Suppose he would but don't see how I
can do it to-day. Walter is fretful, and you
know he kept me awake nearly all night"
| Little imp it does seem to me there never
was so cross young one" q.
ing"
"Always some excuse. Well, you must mend
my coat, anyhow"
| I'll try and find time" a.
| 'sTryl Just let him squall; twill do him
| good, strengthen his lungs"
| 'sThen you know its ironing day."
| "Well! how many more excuses? I'll put it
on, rips and all, if you're going to make such a
| fuss"
| ooh, no. Frank, did not mean to make a
fuss. But it's a long job, and one am not used
to: and with my dinner to get, and ironing,
don't see yet how can get it done. But I'll
| try my best"
| Such was the conversation that passed between
q young husband and wife of eighteen months
standing.
| Frank Burton was what the world calls re-
al 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 bus
mess man lived in society; had made up his
mind that he could support wife, and, accord
Ii ing to his reckoning, save something to boot
a week for board, one dollar a dozen for wash
| ing, and then quarters and dimes innumerable
for taking his lady acquaintance to ride, to the
theatre, to ice-cream saloons, balls, operas &c.
"By George!" be exclaimed, as he cast up his
yearly account "that's huge. It's enough to
break fellow. A thousand year! 1t won't
do I'll marry and settle down."
| he 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 sup
ported, "a wife"
Lizzie Yves good, sensible girl, and was soon
tired of boarding. A snug little house was rent
ed, and the work Of supporting wife begun in
good earnest. The five rooms cost two hun
dred year, and were prettily furnished. Liz
zie preferred to do her own work, washing and
all. and expert with the needle, now and then
found time to make dollar extra. Then, as it
was little lonesome for Frank, he brought
home several clerks, as day boarder, at four
dollars week. Still with all this he would tell
his acquaintance how much it cost him to live.
Now he supported wife, he never seemed, for
a moment to realize that she it was who was
saving all these expenses, and that if he had not
earned a 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 deep sigh, after
be was gone, and hurried her dishes away as
fast as possible.
The coat was of broadcloth-was his wedding
garment: but it was we'll nigh worn out, bro
ken out under the arms, the cord and lining in
rags, the sleeve lining broke loose, buttons worn
off. in fine there was nearly, if not quite, days
work. She sat down to the coat with hearty
good will, determined to do her best. Her nee-
die flew, but every moment it had to be laid
down to see to the dinner or hush the baby
The hours wore away, and though she did all
she possibly could, the job was still quite untin-
ished at sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked pale, and
his eyes were dim She remembered Franks
words, ''Let him squall," and did let him cry
for half an hour or more. 0, how it wearied
her to hear her darling cry for its mother. The
tears swan in her eyes as she thought of her
hard days work, and the want of appreciation
of her labor. She knew she was making the
s'auld coat look amaist as we'll as new." But
he never would think of the toll she had put
upon it, sand what if he DON'T" she mentally
calculated; II shall 10 my own spirit know all
have done, and that is enough" Still she was
longing, with sickening heart, to have her la
Dor recognized, to hear him speak as If her work
was of some avail. There is not more than
FIVE minutes work, and the tailor would charge
me dollar" kept rising in her ears.
But Lizzie was strong hearted, as well as low
ing and dutiful So she shook off her discomfort,
put on smiling face, took up the baby, and
sung her prettiest lullaby, carried him around,
with his little head on her shoulders, while she
filled the tea kettle and set the table, now and
then setting him iE his cradle, and chirping to
him, as she did those things that required both
her hands, Thus she worried through supper
getting, and with much managing had all things
ready by the time Frank came in with his com
panions.
"My coat done, Lizzie9"
"No, not quite"
"That's woman for you boys. One half OF
them would let a husband go out at the elbows
week before they would turn aside from any
plan of theirs All the ironing is completed, III
be bound Amt it SO Lizzie2"
Lizzie was taking her biscnit out OF the oV-
en-, and the young men did not see the flush OF
pain that flashed over her weary features.
"Will you bring pitcher of water, please,
she said pleasantly, not seeming to have heard
this question. 1aa au & -
'sThere it is again; when was bach, | had
nothing to do but hand my coat over to the tall
or, pay him dollar and it was done in Jtty,
and no grumbling. No water to fetch when
fellows tired, either
Lizzie was tired, sad and nervous; want OF
Sleep and the exhaustion incident to nursing
her beautiful boy, now 30 near sck-the hur-