The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-18
Out of the Wrong POcketi or the PenunOus
Husband.

prudent, economical wife, nOtwithstand-
ing an anxious flutter of the heart, in
anticipation of the scene that invariably
followed. He actually groaned as he
read the sum total.
ssThere must be some mistake, Mary"
he said, pushing back his plate with n
desperate air; ''it is absolutely impOssi-
BILE for us to have used all the things in
a single month ~
'The bills are correct john" was the
calm response; 81 looked them over
myself"
sThen one thing is neutrality-suspicious.
are either wasted, thrown out of the
window, as it We're, or stolen! Jane has
relatives in the place, and / havn't the
least doubt but that she supports them
all entirely on what she steals"
Mrs. Taggard's temper was evidently
rising; there were two round crimson
spots upon her cheeks, as she tapped her
foot noiselessly upon the floor.
II am neither wasteful nor eXtrava-
CANT, John; and as for Jane, i know her
TO be perfectly honest and trustworthy
at is evident that there is n leak
somewhere, Mary; and it is your duty as
a wife to find out where it is and stop it.
Our bills are perfectly enormous, and If
this thing goes on much longer l shall
be a complete bankrupt"
Mrs. Taggard remained silent, trying
hard to choke down the indignant feel
ing that struggled for utterance.
"YOu will have TO order some coal, +"
she said, at last, 1--WE have hardly suffi-
cient for the day"
as there anything more, Mrs. Tag
garl?'' inquired her husband, ironically.
''Yes; neither myself nor the children
are decently or comfortably clothed; all
L.,
go on, Madam. As / am man of
unlimited means. if you have any other
wants hone you won't be at all back
ward about mentioning 'em."
| az don't intend To be-" was the quiet,
but spirited reply. II wouldn't do for
another what aof0g you for double my
board and clothing out the parlOr and
sitting-rOom need furnishing; every
thing looks so faded and shabby that
am ashamed to have one call. And the
stairs need recarpeting, the blinds and
gate repaired, and the fence, also repaired
and painted"
'sThat can't be all, Mrs. Taggard. Are
you sure that there is not something
else?p
~ don't think of anything Just now,
Mr.. Taggard; though, if there be a few
dollars over and above what these cost,
they won't come amiss. l should like
to have n little change in my pocket, if
only for the novelty of the thing; you
needn't have any fears of its being
wasted"
Mr.. Taggard was evidently not a little
/ astOnished at this sudden outbreak in
his usually patient and quiet 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 a roll of bills on the table Mr.
Taggard walked to the door, remarking,
Just before he closed il, that he should
leave town on the next train, to be alb
sent about a week.
The reverie into which Mrs. Taggar1
/ fell, as she listened to the sound of his
, retreating steps, was far from being a
pleasant one Aside from her natural
vexations, she felt somewhat grieved
and saddened by the change that had
come over her once kind, indulgent hus-
band. His mind seemed to be entirely
: filled with the greed of gain and the
= desire tOamass smoney-nOtfOrth the sake OF
. the good il might enable him to enjoy
or to confer, but only for the mere
pleasure of boarding it. And this
: miserly feeling grew upon him daily
until he seemed to grudge his family
the common comforts of life. And vet
Mrs. Taggard knew that he was not only
in receipt of a comfortable income from
e his business, but that he had laid up q
e surplus, yearly, since their marriage.
r She taxed her ingenuity to save i'm
every possible way, but when the month
ly bills were presented, the same scene
e was enacted, only it grew worse and
. worse.
And this penuriousnes extended to
, himself. He grudged himself, as well as
e his wife and children, clothing suitable
: to his means and station, and went
p about looking so rusty and shabby that
. Mrs. Taggard often felt ashamed of him
inwardly wondering if he could be the
same man who wooed and won her.
. With a heavy sigh, Mrs. TaggarC
took mp the roll of bills upon the table
hoping TO find enough to pay what was
already due-she did not look for NOR,
An ejaculation of astOnishment fel
from her lips as she unrOlled the papel
!, i'm which it was folded. 1t contained
:. $500 in bills and n check for 500 more
With n look of quiet determination in
e her eye, Mrs. Taggand arose to her feet
q Alt ldiiillN llslNt some OF lill
comforts which they were entitled to, i
=. they never did again.
: First she settled every bill, n heav,
l. weight being lifted from her heart a
e she did so besides getting fresh sup
Y ply of fuel and other comforts. He
next move was To order new furnitur
i for the parlor, have the hall recarpete,
and papered, the fence and blind
e painted and repaired. She then tool
- the children out, and got them new gar
ments from hats to shoes. She bough
q herself three new dresses; a neat ging
ham for morning wear, a delaine for al
.r ternOon and something nicer for best
:. And, before going home, she took tn
> children into toy shop, delighting tn,
ID boy with skates he had so often aske,
for, and giving the girl the chief wish o
her heart-a doll and dolls wardrobe
IS not forgetting some blocks for the baby
Is For like a wise as well as kind mother
% Mrs. Taggard wished to make thei
a childhood happy one-something T.
Is look back upon with pleasure through
e their whole after life. Neither was he
y husband forgotten. BY the aid Of som
,,e old garment for a pattern, she got hin
Is an entire new suit, together with stuf
/ for dressing gown and slippers.
J. The day on which Mrs. Taggard ex
$ pected her husbands return was n yer
L busy one, but at last the carpets wer
y down, the paper hung, and everythin
e in order.
II He was expected on the five O'elOc
H.. la NJ