The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-09-16
2Hiscellaneoms.
FIUe Minutes WOrE.
BY MRS. FRANCES D. GAGE.

"Here, Lizzie, wish you Would put leW
stitches into my coat it's getting so shabby
dts so, Frank but really think you had
best take it to tailor"
"Take it to a tailor ! By George but that's
huge idea. Why, there's not five minutes
work to be done, and the tailor would charge
dollar
81 suppose he would, but don't see how l
can do it day. Walter is very frettul, and
you know he kept me awake nearly all night"
"Little imp !" 1t does not seem to me there
ever was so cross young one. Always some
excuse Well, you must mend my coat, any
how"
81 will try and find time"
"Try lust let him squall twill do him
strengthen his lungs"
"Then, you know, it is ironing day."
"Well, how many more excuses I'll put 1t
on, rips and all, if you are going to make a
fuss"
"Oh, no, Frank, I did not mean to make a
fuss but it's a long job, and one | am not used
to and with my dinner to get, and baby, and
ironing, do not see yet how can get it DONE
But III do my best"
Such was the conversation that passed
between young husband and wife OF elgh-
teen months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world calls
real driver. He made anything that went
through his hands inure to his own benefit.
Everybody liked him because he was so frank,
and withal so honest and upright in all his
dealings with his customers. He was well
educated for business man; lived in society /;
had made up his mind that he could support
wife, and, according to his reckoning, save
something to boot. Yes, to be sure he could.
There were six dollars week for board, one
dollar week for washing and then quarters
and dimes innumerable for taking his lady ac-
ouaintances to ride, to the theatre, to ice cream
saloons balls operas, etc.
I. lii al hn mai
his yearly account, "that's huge; enough to
break fellow a thousand a year; it won't
do I'll marry and settle down !"
So he applied to Lizzie Forsyth to be his
wife and he was soon in possession OF her.
A snug house was rented, and the work of
supporting wife began IN earnest. The hVe
rooms cost two hundred dollars year, and
were prettily furnished. Lizzie preferred to
do all her work. Sometimes by her needle she
earned dollar extra. Then, as it was little
lonesome for Frank, he brought home several
clerks as day boarders, at four dollars week.
Still, with all this he would tell his acqualn-
tances how much less it cost him tolive now he
supported wife. He never seemed for mo-
ment to realize that she it was who was saving
all these expenses, and that If he had not
earned dollar, her busy hands would have
paid the rent and kept him from starving.
So the matter stood when he asked his wife
to mend his coat. Lizzie drew deep sigh
after he was gone, and hurried her dishes away
as fast as possible.
The coat was of brosdcloth, and was his
wedding garment but it was well nigh wear
ing out, broken under the arms, the cord and
lining in rags the sleeve Innings broken loose,
buttons worn off in fine, there was nearly
davis work. She sat down to the coat with
hearty good will, determined to do her best.
Her needle flew fast, but every moment it had
to be laid down to see to dinner or hush the
baby. The hours wore away, and though she
did all she possibly could, the job was still un-
done at sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked pale,
and his eyes were dim. She then remembered
Franks words, "let him squall" and let him
cry half an hour or more. Oh, bow it wearied
her to hear her darling cry for its mother.
Tears swan in her eyes as she thought OF her
hard days work and the want of appreciation
OF her labor. She knew she was making his
old coat look almost as well as new. But he
would never think of the toll she had put upon
it. "And what if he don't ?" she mentally
said ri shall in my own spirit know all have
done, and that is enough"
But Lizzie was strong hearted as we'll as
loving and dutiful. So she shook OFT her dlscon-
tent and became as cheerful as possible. Then
she worried through supper-getting and with
much managing had all things done by the
time that Frank came in with his companions.
my coat done, Lizzie Z!
"No, not quite"
"There's woman for ye, boys. One-half of
them would let husband go out at the elbows
week before they would turn aside from any
plan of their own. All the ironing completed,
I'll be bound, Lizzie"
Lizzie was taking her biscuit out OF the oven,
and the Young men did not see the deep flush
of pain that flashed over her weary features.
"Will you bring in pitcher OF water, please?'
she said pleasantly.
"There it is again when was a bach had
nothing to do but hand my coat over to the
tailor, pay him dollar, and twas done in a
jify, and not any grumbling. No water 10
fetch when fellows tired, either"
Lizzie was nervous, was tired with house
hold work and care. She could not endure
his badinage, although half playful. She
hastily set them on the table, and saying
simply "supper is ready" stepped IN the bed
room and then burst into tears. Her tears did
not flow long, though she was deeply and
wrongfully hurt in her feelings. Her heart
gained in its natural relief, and after pretend
ing that she was getting Walter asleep (Which
she actually did) she bathed her eyes and came
out washed her dishes, and sat down again to
the coat
Frank sat watching her flying fingers for an
hour or two, as he laughed and talked to his
friend, thinking to himself that every turn
would be the last At nine o'clock she had set
the last SClLCn. Inc COdJ lOOhcu llhO d hO" OhO
all around. AS she finished, She looked up
with still a shade of sadness upon her brow.
"There, Frank, l have mended your coat
thoroughly. I guess it will last another year
now"
"Quite Job, wasn'tit ?longer than thought" !"
SAID he, deprecatingly.
GLOW much clear cash have you made to-
day, Frank?" asked Lizzie, in very earnest
tone. m
"What do you want to know that for ?" was
his answer. =,
"For my own satisfaction certainly should
| feel an interest in all your affairs"
"Well, l think the shop has cleared twenty
dollars"
Chow much do you count your own services
| worth %
"Not less than five dollars day."
''How many hours do you labor"
"Ten is the legal time nowadays. | don't
generally work that many. But what arc all
these questions for 2"
"Because, Frank, we are husband and wife.
We expect to live the rest of our lives together,
and if there is harmony in our marriage rela-
ton, there must be justice and right. You
may call me daily to appreciate anything you
can do. You have earned five dollars to-day,
| and the shop has cleared twenty. Yet to save
you one dollar, worked ten hours on your
| coat and six on your breakfast, dinner and
supper, and making your home pleasant and
comfortable. To save you that dollar, have
had TO hurry all day, to put all of my work out
of my line, and to really neglect our darling
boy, who should be our first care, and the last
thing, under any circumstances, to be set
aside"
"I had not thought of that"
"I know you had not, Frank, so shall freely
forgive you, but must insist that hereafter
may be allowed to be my own judge of what
work had best do, and shall not expect to be
threatened, nor hear myself accused of not
being willing to do my duty"
Frank felt the force of her words and sat
| silent.
"One thing more, Frank. l want to say
while am about it, that don't want to hear
you talking about supporting your wife, will
l not be supported while l am able to support
/ myself. / find on looking over my books, that
the profits of my labor amount to five dollars
week, and the board of yourself, myself, end
the baby beside. Then do all your extra work
and my own. All this saving has gone into
capital to be invested, and to help you make
your twenty dollars day. Out of this comes
the five dollars you call the worth ofyour day
work, while 1 must labor with weary limbs