The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-20
ALLOWANCED.
A MANS ATTEMPT At HOUSEKEEPING AND
WHAT CAME OF IT.

" <hISCEsFs
4 MANS ATTEMPT AT HOUSEKEEPING AND
WHAT CAME OF IT.
Nine o'clock, and brilliant December
morning with the sunshine tipping the
icicles with diamonds and the canary in
the window warbling as if he fancied him
self in the very heart of the tropics.
Breakfast has been over some fifteen or
twenty minutes in the well-organized
household of the Daters, The fire of an
thracite coal glowed and cracked in the
polished CRATE, and Mrs. Dater's stand of
monthly roses tossed their crimson crests
of bloom opposite, as if they were fully
determined to convict the almanac of be-
ing in fundamental mistake about the
weather.
s'Nine oclock-and high time 1 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.
1t was the delay of but few minutes to
exchange his embroidered slippers for
snugly- fitting boots, and to hang away the
bright colored Turkish dressing gown,
with its crimson lining and wildly tinted
silk tassels-and Mr.. Dater was lust pre-
pared to emerge into the street, when there
was rustic of soft draperies along the
hall, and tall bright-eyed woman, carry
ing rosy baby in her arms, confronted
him
Are you going down town SO soon,
Edward?"
so soon, my dear? It is after nine
o'clock" and Mr.. Dater made feint of
pulling off the baby's waZen pink nose,
and afterward 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 loyel Halo,
you, sir! Ito the baby have you no re-
spect for your venerable fathers whis-
kers?"
Mrs Dater hesitated and colored little
as she played with the baby's blue and
white worsted sack Mrs. Dater was a
blonde, and the creeping shadows of Grim
son were rather becoming to her than
otherwise.
Edward" she said hurriedly, as if the
subject were one she would fain get over
as soon as possible. g would like a little
money today if you could spare it just as
well as not"
Money, Maria, money" Mr.. Dater
tritled no longer with the Growing baby;
but stood up very straight, with his eye
brows elevated, and his eyes exceedingly
wide open and unwinking. 81 believe
you had your months allowance as usual,
Mrs Dater?"
eyes, but I have had more than the
usual housekeeping expenses to meet
within the last few days." explains his
wife neryously 1.-THE cook has raised
her wages from fourteen dollars to sixteen,
and"
Get new cook, then"
But Ellen is so near and economical; |
really do not think | should be consulting
my best interests by making a change.
Besides, the water-pipes have been out of
order, and the bill has come in for the pa
pcring we had done last fall, and flour is
good deal higher than it was, and"
Il see-I see, my dear" interrupted Mr.
Dater, irritably, 'you can spare yourself
any further details which may convenient
~ serve to hide the simple fact of extrava-
gance and bad management There are
always plenty of excuses for that sort of
thing when one wants them"
Mrs Dater bit her lip and colored GRIM
son.
Edward, You have no right to make
such an assertion as that. l am neither
cXtravagant nor bad manager
$50 you think, Maria, no doubt; but
here is direct evidence to the contrary
staring you point blank in the face-point-
blankl One hundred and fifty dollars a
month, Mrs. Dater, ought to be sufficient
S,CANt
plate or eat melted pearls"
Zone hundred and fifty dollars a month
is only five dollars day, Edward.
"0nly five dollars a day!' echoed her
husband with eyes rolled up toward the
ceiling. "Only five dollars Mrs. Dater !
Let me tell you, five dollars ought to be a
great plenty if there is any sort of econo-
my practiced in its expenditure. / do
not spend five dollars day, Mrs Dater. p"
low Il o,-J9
How much do | spend? / don't see
what that has to do with the matter, Mrs.
Dater. One thing am entirely convinced
of however. | could discharge all this
family's expenditures for five dollars a
day"
Under sll circumstances
Under all circumstances, Mrs. Datar -
Il don't think you could, Edward"
Il know | could, Maria" said the hus-
band, dogmatically. q don't think any
thing about it"
Then | wish you would just try for
once, said Mrs. Dater, fairly out of pa
tience 81 am tired of this old Egyptian
business of making bricks without straw
| cannot meet the expenses of this estab-
ishment of seven persons for five dollars
day, and there is no sort of use in wear
ing out my patience, my temper and my
nervous system in trying any further.
have done my best, without much appre-
citation, as 1t appears, and now II only re-
mains for me to follow the example of the
English chancellor of the exchequer when
his financial operations don't meet with
approvsl-resignr
Mr.. Dater looked at his wife's spark
ling eyes and crimson cheeks in some sur.
prise; he had never before seen her spirit
so thoroughly aroused
w hat do you mean Marias"
Hl mean Edward that &c x,o,, GOV, lie
charge al tie family expenditures for five