Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-18
FIVE MINUTES WORK.

Its so, Frank; but really think you had
best take it to the tailor
Take it TO the tailor! BvGeorgel but1hafs
a huge idea, Why, there's not i've minutes
work 10 be done, and the sailor would charge
dollar"
al suppose he would, but don't see how
can do il to-day. Walter is very fretful, and you
know he keeps me awake nearly ali nj ght."
Little imp! 1t does not seem to me there
ever was so cross young one. Always some
excuse Wen, you must mend my coat, any
al will try and find time"
Try! Just let him squai! IL win do him
good-streDgthen his lungs"
Then you know that II is ironing day."
Well. how MANY more excuses? III put
Il ON, rips and all, If you're going to make
"Oh, no, Frank, did not mean to make a
fuss; but it's long job. aud one am not used
to; and with my dinner to get, and baby and
ironing, j do not see yet how can get it done.
But I'll 10 my best"
Such wasthe conversation that passed between
Young husband arc wife CT eighteen months
standing.
Frank Burton was what the world calls a real
driver. He made anything that went through
his hands inurc to his own benefit. Everybody
liked hum because he was 80 frank, and withal
SO honest and upright in all his dealings with his
customers. He was educated for a business man;
lived in society; had made up his mind that he
could support a wife. and, according to his
reckoning, save something TO boot. Yes, to be
sure he could. There were six dollars a week
for board, one dollar a week tor washing, and
then quarters and dimes innumerable for taking
his lady acquaintance to ride to the theater, to
the ice-cream saloons, balls, operas, etc.
by GeOrge!" he reclaimed as he cast up his
yearly account, "that's huge; enough to break
a fellow, thousand year! 1t 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.
Asnug house was rented, and the work of sup
porting a Young wife began in earnest The
five rooms cost two hundred dollars a year. and
were prettily furnished Lizzie preferred to do
all her own work. Sometimes by her needle she
earned dollar extra. Then, as it was a little
lonesome for Frank, he brought home several
clerks as day-boarders at four dollars a week
Still, with this, he would tell his acquaintance
how much less ii costs him to live now he sup
ports a wife. He never seemed for moment to
realize that she it was who was saving all the
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.
ding garment; but it was well nigl worn out
broken under the arms, the cord and lining in
rags, the sleeve Innings broken loose, buttons
worn of; in fine, there was nearly days work
She sat down 10 the coat with hearty good WILL
determined to do her best. Her needle flew fast
but every moment it ha l 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 undone at shutdown. Walter
cried necessarily. He looked pale, and his ewes
were dim. She then remembered Franks
words "Let him squall, )" and let him cry half
an hour or more. Oh! how it worried her to hear
her daring 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
good as new. But he would never think of the
tolls she had put on it. "And what if he don't"
she mentally said. A" In my own spirit 1 know
all have done, and that is enough
he tod xual
ing and dutiful She shook off her discomfort,
and became as cheerful as possible. Then she
worried through supper getting, and with much
came in with his companion.
"My coat done, Lizzie?"
"NO, not quite.''
them would let a man 60 out of their elbows
a week before they would turn aside from any
plan of their own: An 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.
win you bringin pitcher OF water, please?"
There it is again. When was a bach had
nothing to do but hand my coat over to the
tailor, pay him dollar, and it was done in a
jiffy, and not any grumbling No water to fetch
when a fellows tired, either"
Lizzie was nervous, was tried with household
work and care She could not endure his badi-
biscuit on the table, and saying simply, "su upe
per is ready" stepped into the bedroom 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 pretending that she was
getting Walter asleep, (Which she actually did,
she bathed her eyes and came out, washed her
dishes, and sat down 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 O'Clock she had set the
last stitch. The coat looked like a new one ali
around. As she finished she looked up, with
stu a shade Of sadness upon her brow, she said:
"Ihere, Frank; L have mended your coat thor
oughly. guess IL will last another year now"
SO Quite job, wasn't it?-longer than 1
thought" said he, deprecatingly.
How much clear cash have You made to-
DAY, FRANK" asked Lizzie, in a very earnest
tone,
"What do you want to know that for?" was his
"For my own satisfaction Certainly should
feel an interest in all your affairs"
well think the shOphas cleared twenty dol
lars"
Chow much do you count your own services
worth?"
"Not less than five dollars day.
Chow many hours do you labor?"
"Ten Is the legal time nowadays / don't gen.
orally work that many. But what are all these
questions fOr?"
because, Frank we are husband and wife,
We expect to live together, and if there is har-
justice, right. You may call me daily to appre-
ciate anything you can do. You have earned
five dollars to-day, and the shop has cleared
twenty. Yet to save you one dollar 1 have
worked ten hours on your coat and six on your
breakfast, dinner and supper, L have 20
hurry all day, to put all 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"
81 had no thought of that"
81 know you had not, Frank, so / shall freely
forgive you. but must insist that hereafter 1
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, / want to say while
am about il, that / don't want to hear YOU
talking about supporting your wife. L will not
be supported while / am able to support myself
i find on looking over my books that the profit of
my labor amounts to five dollars a week, and the
board of yourself, myself, and the baby besides
Then do all your extra work and my own. All
this saving has gone into our capital to be in
vested, and to help you to make your twenty
dollars day. Out of this comes the five dollars
you call the worth of your days work, while L
must labor with weary limbs and aching head
and eyes to save one dollar, in mendng an old
coat, which when done would not sell for the
amount Of your ten hours work."
lyon are making out pretty strong case
s No. Frank not a case against vou. I coul5