National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-06-04
Out Of the Wrong Pocket.

wife, Notwithstanding an anxious
tiutter of the heart, in anticipation
of the scene thatinvariably followed.
He actually groaned as he read the
sum total.
'There must be some mistake, Ma
ry,' he said, pushing back his plate
with a desperate air; lit is absolute
ly impossible for us to have used all
these things in one month ?
The bills are correct, john was
the meek response Il looked them
over myself
Then one thing is certain. provis-
ions are either wasted-thrOwn out
OF the window as it were-or stolen,
Jane has relatives in the place. and
| haven't the least doubt but that
she supports them entirely out of
what she steals =
Mrs. Ia ggard's temper was evi.
IDENTITY rising; there were two round
crimson spots upon her checks, and
she tapped her foot noiselessly upon
the floor
Il am neither waStctul or cXtraya-
CANT, John: and as for Jane. | know
her To be perfectly honest and trust.
worthy
1T is evident that there is a leak
somewhere, Mary and it is your
duty as Il wife, to find ont where it
is, and stop it. Our bills are per
tcctly enormous, and if this sort of
thing goes on much longer, ! shall
be a bankrupt"
Mrs. Taggard remained silent, try
ing to choke down the indignant
feelings that struggled for utterance.
'Iou will have to order some coal
she said, at last we have hardly
sufficient for the day
Is there anything more. Mrs.
Taggard " inquired her husband,
ironically.
Yes; neither myself, nor the chill
dren are decently or comfortably
clothed; all need al entirely new
outfit
go on. madam. AS | am a man
of unlimited means, if YOU have any
other wants, hope You won't be ut
all backward about mentioning EN-
i don't intend to be- was the qui.
ct but spirited reply. Il wouldn't
do for another what do for you.
for double my board and clothing.
Both the parlor ard sitting room
need refurnishin"; everything looks
SO faded and shabby, that | am
ashamed to have any one call. And
the stairs need recarpcting, the
blinds aud gate repaired, and the
fence painted
That can't he all, Mrs. Taggard;
are you sure that there isn't some
thing else .
Il don't think Of anything just
now. Mr.. Taggard, though II there
should he IA few dollars over and
above what these will cost, they
won't come amiSs. should like TO
have little change in my pocket, if
only for the novelty of the thing (;
YOU needn't fear its being wasted
Mr.. Taggard wascvidcntIynot Il lit.
tie aStouiShcd at this sudden out
break.in his usually quiet and patent
wife. but who, Ike most women of
that stamp. had considerable spirit
when it was aroused.
Now that YOU are through, Mrs,
Taggard, perhaps You VIII let me
say a word. Here Is all the money
| can spare you this month, 80 You
can make the most of it,
Laying a roll of bills on the table,
Mr. Taggard walked to the door ;
rcmarl,ing just before he closed 1t,
that he should leave town on the
next train, to he absent about a
week.
Tile revely into which Mrs. Tag
gard fell, as She listened to the sound
of his rctrcating steps, was far from
being Il pleasant one. Aside IRON
her natural VcNatiOu, she Felt grlc -
ed and saddcncd hy the change that
had come over her once kind, lndul
gent husband. His mind seemed
to hc entirely flied with the greed
Of gain, the desire to amass money
hot for the sake OF tile good il
might enable him to enjoy. or confer
but for the mere pleasure of hoard
ing it. And this miserly feeling
grew upon him daily, until he seem
ed to grudgc his family the common
comforts of life. And yet Mrs. Tag
gard knew that he was not only II
receipt of comfortable income from
his business, but he had laid by
surplus, yearly, ever since thel
marriage.
She taxed her ingenuity TO saw
in every possible way, put when th'
monthly bills were presented, th,
same scene was enacted, only II grey
worse and worse.
And this pcnuriousncss EXTENDED
to himself. He grudged himself, a
well as his wife and children, clotl,
ing suitable to his means and sta.
ton, and went about looking so rus
ty and shabby, that Mrs. Taggar'
often felt ashamed OF him, inward.
wondering il he could he the SAINT
man who had woocd and won her.
With heavy sigh Mrs. Tagggr'
took up the roll of bills upon the Ia
bic, hoping to find enough to pa,
what was already duc--shc did no
look for more.
An ejaculation Of astonishmen
burst from her lips as she unrolle,
the paper in which IL was folded