The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-02-10


the thing. You needn't fear its being
wasted"
Mr.. Taggarl was evidently not lit
lie astonished at this sudden outbreak
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 l can
spare you this month so you can make
the most of it."
Laying a roll of bills on the table,
Mr.. Taggard walked to the door; re.
marking just before he closed it, "lha.
he should leave town on the next train,
to be absent about week"
The .everie into which Mrs. Taggard
fell, as she listened 10 the sound ofhis
retreating steps, was far from being a
pleasant one. Aside from her natural
vexation, she felt grieved and sad
dened by the change that had come
over her. once kind, indulgeut husband.
His mind seemed to be entirely filled
with the greed Of gain, the desile to
amass money-notJ for the sake of the
good it might enable him to enjoy or
confer, but for the mere. pleasure OF
boarding it. And this misery feeling
grew upon him daily, until he seemed
to grudge his family the common com
forts o! life. And yet Mrs. Taggard
knew that he was not only in receipt of
a comfortable income from his business
but had laid by surplus yearly ever
since their marriage.
She taxed her ingenuity in every pos
sible way, but when the monthly bills
we're presented the same scene was en-.
acted, only it grew worse and worse.
And this righteousness 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 shabby that
Mrs. Taggard often felt ashamed OF
him, inwardly wondering il 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 fin! enough to pay what was
already due--she did not look for more.
An ejaculation of establishment burst
from her lips as she unrolledthe paper
in which it was folded. 1t contained
five hundred dollars in bills and check
for five hundred dollars mare.
With n look Of quiet determination
in her eyes Mrs. Taggard arose to her
feet. "Thc family should have some
of the comforts to which they were en-
titled, if they never did again
First. she settled every bill, a heavy
weight being lifted from her heart as
she did so; besides getting fresh sup
ply of fuel and other comforts. I!cl
next move was to order new furniture
for the sitting room and parlor, have
the hall rc-carpctcd and papered, th'
broken doorstep mendel, and thu
fence and blinds painted and repaired
She then took the children out and 90
them new garments, from hhs tt
shoes. She bought herself three he,
dresses--a neat gingham for mornin
wear, a delaine for afternoons, an
something nicer for night And befor
going home she took the children int
q toy-shop; delighting the boy wit
: the skates he had so often asked fol
9 and giving the girl the chief wish G
c her heart. doll and dolls wardrobe
not forgetting some blocks for the b;
: by; for, like wise, as we'll as kin
v mother, Mrs. Taggard desired to max
: their childhood happy one; some
thing to look back upon with plcasul
II through their whole after life. Neltht
> was John forgotten; by the aid
some old garments for a pattern, sll
: got him an entire new suit, togethC
with stuff for dressing-gowi- and slip
pers.
= The day on which Mrs. Taggard e,
l. pected her husbands return was yer
busy one; but at last the carpets wei
down, tue paper hung, and everythin
: in "apple pie ORDER
He was expected on the five o'cloc
train, and Mrs. Taggard set the Chi
dren, alfred in their pretty new dres
es, at the window, to "watch for papa
while she went below to assist Jane
preparing something extra for suppe
She had lust returned when Mr. Ta
=. gard was seen approaching the hous
|, 1t looked so different fiom what
did when he left, that he stared at it
q, amazement, and would have hesitate
ar about entering had it not been for Il
L. name on the newly FURNISHED doc