The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-07-28
MISCELLANY.
ALLOWANCED.

nary IN the WINDOW WarDllnB US III Iic
fancied himself in the very heart of the
tropics. Breakfast had been over some
fifteen or twenty minutes in the we'll
organized household of the Daters, the
fire of anthracite coal glowed and crack
led in the polished CRATE, and Mrs. Da-
ter's stand of monthly roses tossed their
crimson crests of bloom opposite, as if
they We're fully determined to convict
the almanac of being in fundamental
mistake about the weather.
Nine o'clock-and high time / was
down town at my Office said Mr. Dater
to himself, as he glanced at the little
bronze clock upon its bracket between
the windows.
It was the delay of but a few minutes
to exchange his embroidered slippers
for snugly fitting boots, and to hang
away the bright-colored Turkish dress
ng-gown, with its crimson lining and
vividly tinted silk tassels-and Mr.. Da-
ter was just prepared to emerge into the
street, when there was n rustic of soft
draperies along the hall, and tall,
bright-eyed woman, carrying rosy
baby in her arms, confronted him.
Are you going down town so soon,
Edward?'
80 soon, my dear? 1t is after nine
O'Clock, and Mr.. Dater made a feint of
pulling of the baby's waxen pink nose,
and alterward displaying it wedged
tightly between the first and second
fingers of his left hand.
Yes, butt wanted to speak to you
before you went away this morning
Speak away, then, my love! Halo,
you Sir = Ito the baby; have you no
respect for your venerable fathers wills
kers?'
Mrs. Dater hesitated and colorcd II
little as she played with the baby's blue
and white worated sock. Mrs. Dater
| was n blonde, and the creeping shadows
| of crimson We're rather becoming to her
| than otherwise.
Edward she said hurriedly, as if
the subject were one she would fain ret
over as soon as possible, would like n
little money to-day, If you could spare
it just as well as not
Money, Maria money! Mr.. Dater
trifles no longer with the Growing ha-
by but stood up very straight, with
| his eyebrows elevated, and his eyes eX-
ceedingly wide open and unwinking.-
| | believe you had your months allow
ance as usual, Mrs. Datcrn
Yes, but have had more than the
usual housekeeping expenses to meet
within the last few days explains his
wife, ncrvously. The cook has raised
her wages from fourteen uollaTS to SIA-
teen, and
'Get new cook, them
But Ellen il so neat and economical
| really do not think l should be con
sulting my best interests by making 4
change. Besides, the watcr-pipes hav,
been out of order, and the bill has come
in for the papering we had done las
fall, and flour is good deal higher than
it was, and
Il see-I see, my dear intcrrupte,
Mr.. Dater, irritably; you can spare
yourself any farther details which may
conveniently serve to hide the simple
fact of extravaganza and bad manage
ment. There are always plenty of eX
cuses for that sort of thing when ont
wants them"
Mrs. Datcr bit her lip and colore'
crimson.
Edward, you have no right to maxi
such an assertion a. that. am neithc
eXtravagant nor IL bad manager
80 you think, Maria, no doubt; hu
here is direct evidence to the contrur.
staring you point-blank in the face
point-blank One hundred and fit.
dollars month, Mrs. Dater, ought t
be sufficient for any family who dom
! dine off gold plate or eat melted pearls
I One hundred and fifty dollars
month is only five dollars n day, Ed
ward
Only five dollars "A day" echoed he
; husband, with eyes rolled up toward tn
D ceiling. Only five dollars, Mrs. d,
ter! Let me tell you five dollars ougl
to be great plenty if there is any sol
of economy practiced in its eXpend
a ture. do NOT spend five dollars IA day
Mrs. Dater.'
How much do you spend, Edward
If How much do l spend? II don
see what that has to with the matte
Mrs, Dater One thing | am entirel
convinced of, however: | could di
charge all this family's expenditure
for five dollars a day
Under all circumstances?
Under all circumstances, Mrs. d.
teri
4 do not think you could, Edward.
Il know l could, Maria, said the hu
band, dogmatically. Il don't thin
any thing about it,
Then l wish you would just try, f
once said Mrs. Dater, fairly out of =
Is tience. am tired of this old Egy
Is tian business of making bricks Wi
is straw / can not meet the expenses
Is this establishment of seven persons {
Is five dollars day, and there is no SO
of Use in wearing out my patience, II
temper, ana my nervous system III tr
ing any farther. | have done my be-
without much appreciation, as it q
pears, and now it only remains for n
to follow the example of the Engli
Chancellor of the EXchequer when Il
financial operations don't meet with a
proval-resignp
" Mr.. Dater looked at his wife's spar
IT, ling eyes and crimsoned cheeks in soI
surprise he had never before seen h
spirit go thoroughly aroused.
what do you mean, Maria?'
) 'Imean, Edward, that you can Il
lie charge all the family expenditures
five dollars a day, you may have I
satisfaction of trying the experime
les forthwith. Here are my keysp
Mr.. Dater backed obviously avn
from the profiered insignia of office.
But my dear-my dear he said IN
riedly, you forget the demands of |
n siness.'
Let business be adjourned for one
Wy insisted the wife. i tell you l "
Is not undertake any longer to keep hot
with insufficient funds.'
Mr.. Dater Looked at his wife. Tn,
was resolution in her blue eyes n
ly closely compressed lips, which he fel
= would be entirely useless to combat.
Very well, my dear, he said, co
- pOsedly drawing of his gloves, if v