Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-08
miscellaneous,
Out of the Wrong Pocket.

actually groaned as he read the sum total
There must be some mistake, Mary" he |
said, pushing back his plate with desperate
air il is absolutely impossible for us TO
have used all these things in one month !"
The bills are correct, John" was the
meek response looked them over my
self"
"Thon one thing is certain, provisions are
either wasted-thrown out of the window as
it woro--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 !n
Mrs. Taggards temper was evidently ris-
ing there were two round crimson spots
upon her checks, and she tapped her foot
noiscessy upon the floor
am neither wastcful or extrayagant,
John and as for Jane, know her to be per.
fectly honest and Trustworthy
IL is evident that there is a leak some
where, Mary and it is your duty as a wife,
to find out where it is, aud stop it, Our
bills are perfectly enormous, and if this sort
Of thing goes on much longer, | shall be
bankrupt :"
Mrs Taggard remained silent, trying to
choke down the indignant feelings that strug-
glod for utterauce
You will have to order some coal, -" she
said a, last "we have hardly sufficient for
the day
"Is there anything more, Mrs. Taggard p"
inquired her husband, ironically.
Yes; neither myself nor the children
are dcccntly or comfortably clothed all need
an entirely new outfit"
Go on madam. As | am q man of un-
limited means, if you have any other wants
| hope you won't be at all backward about
mentioning en-
al don't intend to be- was the quiet but
spirited reply. 8" wouldn't do for another
what do for you, for double my board and
clothing Both the parlor and sitting-roon
need relurnishing; everything looks so faded
aud shabby that [ am ashamed to have any
one call. And the stairs need re-carpeting,
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 ?"
" don't think of anything Just now, Mr..
Taggard, though if there should be few dol
lars over and above what these will cost, they
won't come amiss | should like to have a
little change in my pocket, if only for the
8 novelty Of the thing you needn't fear its
being wasted.
Mr.. Taggard was evidently not little
astonished at this sudden outbreak in his usu-
ally 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. Tag
gard, perhaps you will let me say word
Here is all the money | can spare you this
r month, so you can make the most Of it,
Laying a roll Of bills on the table, Mr. Tag
gard walked to the door, remarking Just be
r fore he closed it, that he should leave towI
= on the next train, to be absent about week.
] The reyery into which Mrs. Taggard fell
as she listened to the sound of his retreatin,
S steps, was far from being pleasant one.-
d Aside from her natural, yexation, she iel
grleyed aud saddcned by the change tha
I had come over her once kind, indulgent hus
c band His mind seemed to be entirely file
t with the greed of gain, the desire to amas
T money-not for the sake of the good it nigh
% enable him to enjoy, or confer, but for tn
c mere pleasure Of boarding it, And this mi
5 serly feeling grew upon him daily, until h
e seemed to grudge his family the common
+ comforts Of life. And yet Mrs. Taggar
knew that he was not only in receipt Of
a comfortable income from his business but h
: had laid by a surplus, yearly, eyersiuce thei
n marriage.
II She taxed her ingenuity to save in ever
IS possible way but when the monthly bill
t. were presented, the same scene was enacted
e only it grew worse and worse
II And this penuriousness extended to hin
IS self lie grudged himself, as well as his will
Y and children, clothing suitable to his mean
y and station, and went about looking so rust
IS aud shabby, that Mrs Taggard often fc
lie ashamed Of him, inwardly wondering if h
N could be the same man who had wooed an
N won her.
l. With heavy sigh Mrs Taggard took u
f. the roll Of bills upon the table, hoping to iu
s. enough to pay what was already due-she di
is not look for more.
Q, An ejaculation of astonishment burst frol
lie her lips as she unrolled the paper in which
le was folded. 1t contained $500 in bills, an
a check for $500 more.
T. With look of quiet determination in h,
r, eye, Mrs. Taggard arose to her feet. I'll
IN family should now have some of the comfor
at to which they were entitled, if they never di
l. again
a First, she settled every bill hcay
le weight being lifted from her heart as she d
a. so besides getting fresh supply Of fuel an
of other comforts, Her next move was to ordt
IS new furniture for the sittiug-room and parlo
y, have the hail recarpeted aud papered, the br
i, ken door step mended, and the fence an
lr blinds painted and repaired. She then toe
III the children out, and got them new Carmen
c. from hats to shoes. She bought herself thr,
nc new dresses; neat gingham for mornir
I'd wear, delane for afternoons, and sometbir
p nicer for best And before going home 81
ct took the children into toy shop, delightiI
nd the boy with the skates he had so often ask,
Us for, aud giving the girl the chief wish Of h
heart, n doll and dolls wardrobe, not 70
or getting some blocks for the baby. For like
ds wise as well as a kind mother, Mrs Taggai
rs wished to make their childhood happy OF
ur something to look back upon with pleasu
Ii through their whole after life. Neither WI
at her husband forgotten by the aid Of son
us old garments, for a pattern, she got him
lss entire new suit, together with stuff for dres
mt ing gown and slippers
IT. The day on which Mrs. Taggard expect'
nd her husbands return was a very busy one b
or at last the carpets were down, the pap
II hung and everything in apple pie order"
h lie was expected on the five o'clock trai
up and Mrs, Taggard set the children, attired
Il their pretty new dresses, at the window
ur " watch for papa" while she went down
oh assist Jane in preparing something extra f
n supper. She had but just returned when NJ
nc Taggard was seen approaching the house.
dc 1t looked so different from what it d
he when he left, that he stared at it in amaz
ment and would have hesitated about ente
ly ing had it not been for the name on the new
nd FURNISHED door plate. But he was still mo
ou astonished when he entered
r. "Am | in my own house, or somebody
he else ?" he calculated, as he looked around Il
or bright and pleasant room.
a 1t is the new furniture | have been bu