Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-09-16
OUT OF THE WRONG POCKET.

Mr.. Taggard frowned as he observed
the pile of bills by his plate, placed
there by his prudent, economical wife
Notwithstanding an anxious futter o.
the heart, in anticipation of the seen,
that invariably followed. He actually
groaned as he read the sum total.
"There must be some mistake, Ma
ry," he said, pushing back his PLATE
with desperate air; sit is absolutely
impossible for US to have used all these
things in one MONTH"
t"The bills are correct, john" wa:
the meek response; 81 looked them
over myself"
"Then one thing is certain, proyi.
sions are either wasted-thrown out o.
the window as it were-or stolen!-
Jane has relatives in the place, and
havn't the least doubt but that she sup
ports them entirely out of what she
steals"
Mrs. Taggard's temper was evident
| ly rising; there were two round Grim
son spots upon her cheeks, as she
tapped her foot noiselessly upon the
floor.
81 am neither wasteful or extrava-
giant, John; and as for Jane. l know
her to be perfectly honest and trust
worthy"
at is evident that there is leak
somewhere, Mary; and it is your duty
as wife, to find out where it is, and
stop it. Our bills are perfectly enor-
nous, and if this sort Of things goes
ION pSuch longer, l shah Be <ssnk-
{ Hrs. Taggard remained siIeit try
Ii4Rtto choke down the indignant feel
tings that struggled for utterance.
"You will have to order some coal, !"
she said. at last; eve have hardly suf-
fcient for the day"
els there anything more, Mrs. Tag
gard?" inquired her husband, ironi-
cally.
Eyes; neither myself, nor the chill
dren are decently or comfortably
clothed; all need an entirely new out
ft."
"Go on, madam AS am a man of
unlimited means, if you have any other
wants, l hope you won't be at all back
ward about mentioning EN-"
81 don't intend to be" was the quiet
but spirited reply. 81 wouldn't do for
another what l do for you, for double
my board and clothing. But the par
lor and sitting room need refurnishing;
everything looks so faded and shabby,
that 1 am ashamed to have any one
call. And the stairs need recarpeting,
the blinds and gate repaired, and the
fence painted"
"That can't be all, Mrs. Taggard;
are you sure that there isn't something
else?"
81 don't think of anything just now.
Mr.. Taggard, though if there should
be 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 was evidently not
little astonished at this sudden out
break in his usually quiet and patient
wife, but who, like most women of
that stamp, had considerable spirit
when it was aroused.
"Now that you are through, Mrs.
Taggard, perhaps you will let me say a
word. Here is all the money can
spare you this month, so you can make
the most of it,"
Laying roll Of bills on the table,
Mr.. Taggard walked to the door; re-
marking just before he closed it, "that
he should leave town on the next train,
to be absent about week"
The revery into which Mrs. Taggard
fell, as she listened to the sound of his
retreating steps, was far from being a
pleasant one Aside from her natural
vexation, she felt grieved and saddened
by the change that had come over her
once kind, indulgent husband. His
mind seemed to be entirely filed with
the greed of gain, the desire to amass
money-not for the sake of the good it
might enable him to enjoy, or confer,
but for the mere pleasure of boarding
it. And this miserly feeling grew
upon him daily, un,il he seemed to
grudge bis family the common COM
forts of life. And yet Mrs. Taggard
knew that he was not only in receipt of
comfortable income from his bust
ness, but he had laid by surplus,
yearly, ever since their marriage.
She taxed her ingenuity to save in
every possible way, but when the
monthly bills were presented, the same
scene was enacted, only it grew worse
and worse. ...
And this penuriousness extended to
himself. He grudged himself, as well
as his wife and children, clothing suit
able to his means and station, and
went about looking SO rusty and shah
by, that Mrs. Taggard often felt
ashamed of him, inwardly wondering
if he could be the same man who had
wooed and won her.
With a heavy sigh Mrs. Taggard
took up the roll of bills upon the table,
hoping to find enough 10 pay what was
already due-she did not look for
more.
An ejaculation of astonishment burst
from her lips as she unrolled the paper
in which it was folded. 1t contained
$500 in bills, and check for $500
more.
With look of quiet determination
in her eye, Mrs. Taggard arose to her
feet. The family should now have
some of the comforts to which they
were entitled, if they never did again.
L