The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-09-02
FIVE. MINUTES WORK.
BY MRS. FRANCES D. GAGE.

"Here, Lizzie, l wish you would put a
few stitches into my coat; it's getting so
shabby"
cts so, Frank; but I really think you
had best take it to tailor
"Take it to tailorl By George! but
that's huge idea. Why, there's not five
minutes work to be done, and the tailor
would charge a dollar"
81 suppose he would, but don't see
how l can do it to-day. Walter is very
nearly all night"
"Little impv 1t does not seem to me
there ever was so cross young one
Always some excuse! Well, you must
mend my coat, anyhow"
81 will try and find time.'
"Try! just let him squall! twill do him
good-strengthen his lungs
"Then, you know, it is ironing day."
"Well, how many more excuses? I'll
put it on, rips and all, if you are going to
make fuss"
"Oh, no, Frank, did not mean to make
a fuss; but it's long job, and one am
not used to; and with my dinner to get,
and baby, and ironing, do not see yet how
l can get it done. But I'll do my best.''
Such was the conversation that passed
between young husband and wife of
eighteen months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world calls
real driver. He made anything that
went through his hands insure to his own
benefit. Everybody liked him because he
was so frank, and withal so honest and
upright in all his dealings with his custo-
mers. He was we'll 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 dol
lar week for washing, and then quarters
and dimes innumerable for taking his lady
acquaintance to ride, to the theatre, to
ice cream saloons, balls, operas, etc.
"By Georger' he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account, "that's huge; enough
to break fellow; thousand 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 five rooms cost two hundred dollars a
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 acquaint-
ances how much less it cost him to live
now he supported wife. He never seemed
for moment 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, ana hurried her
dishes away as fast as possible.
The coat was of broadcloth, and was his
wedding garment; but it was we'll nigh
wearing out, broken under the arms, the
cord and lining in rags, the sleeve Innings
broken loose, buttons worn off !; in fine,
there was nearly a days 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 undone at shutdown.
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, how 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; 81 shall in my own spirit
know all have done, and that is enough"
But Lizzie was strong hearted as well as
| loving and dutiful. So she shook off her
| discomfort, and became as cheerful as pos
sible. 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?'