Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-03
FIVE MINUTES WORK.

Here. Lizzie, l wish you would put
few stitches into my coat-it's a getting 200
shabby"
1t is So, Frank /; but, really, think you
had best take it t. 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 the tailor
would charge a dollar
| suppose he would; but don't see
how | can do it to day. Walter is fretful
and you know be kept me awake nearly all
night
Little imp it does seem to me there
never was So cross young one
Oh, TO, Frank, he's not cross, but he's
teethiug.'
Always some excuse. Well, you must
mend my coat. anyhow
'IIl try and find time.'
Try Just let him squat twill do
him good-strengthen his lungs
Then, you know, it's ironing day.
We'll, how many more excuses? I'll nut
it on rips and all, il your gOirg to make
such FUSS
%, no, Frank !; | did not mean to make
fuss; but it's long job, and one am
not much used to and with my dinner to
get, and baby, and ironing, l do not gee,
yet, how l can do it. Blu: I'll do nv best
Such was the conversation that rassed
between a young husband and wife Of
eighteen months standing.
Frank Barton was what the world calls
a real driver. He made ANYTHING that
went through his hands inure to his bene-
fit. Everybody liked him because he was
frank, and withal so honest aud upright in
all his dealings with his customers He
was well educated for a business man :;
lived in society had made up his mind
that he could support a wife. and, accord
ing TO his reckoning, could have something
to boot. Yes, TO be shure he could. There
was six dollars week for board, one doll.
ar a zen for washing. and then quarters
and dimes for taking his lady acauaintan>
ces to ride, 10 the theatre, to ice-cream
salonus, balls, operas, etc.
By GeOrgep he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account. that's huge. It's
enough to break fellow. A thousand a
Year, 1t won't do. III marry and settle
down.
So he applied to Lizzie Forsyth, the best
and kindest girl among his acquaintarces,
TO help him along in bis good resolves, and
was soon in possession of that admira BILE
Lizzie was good. sensible girl, and was
soon tired Of boarding. A snug house was
rented. aud the work of supporting a wife
began in earnest. The five rooms cost two
hundred year, and prettily furnished
Lizzie preferred TO do her own work, and
washing; and being expert with her needle,
now and then found time TO make dollar
extra, Then, as it was a little lonesome
for ha hnu a..
as day boarders, at four dollars a week.
Still, with all this, he would tell bis ac>
quaintanees how mech less it cost him 70
live. How he supported wife-he never
seemed for a moment to realize that she it
was who it saved all these expenses, and
that, if he had not earned dollar her busy
hands would have paid the rent, and kept
him from starving.
So the matter stood when he asked her
to mend his coat Lizzie drew deep sigh
after he was gone, and hurried her dishes
as fast as possible.
The coat was Of brodcloth, and was his
wedding garment; but it was well nigh
wearing out, broken under the arms, the
cord and lining in rags, the sleeve Innings
broke loose. buttons worn OH-In 6nc, there
was nearly, if not quite, days work. She
eat uOWb W tuc UOdt Will ncdrtV ROou Will,
determined to do her best. Her needle
flew, bat every moment it had to be laid
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 un-
finished at sun down.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked
pale, and his eyes were dim. She remem-
bered Franks words, let him squall, and
did let him cry half hour or more. o,
how it worried her to hear her darling
cry. The tears swan in her eyes as
she thought of her hard days work; and
of the want of app ecistior of her labor
She knew that she was making the 'auld
coat look amaist as well as new But he
would never think of the toll she had put
upon it. And what if he don't,' sho men.
tally calculated; j shall in my own spirit