The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-22
rive minutes Work.

"llere Lizzie, | wish You would put /
few stitches into my coat, its getting So
shabby"
"lt's SO Frank but really think YOU
had better take it to tailor"
"Take it to Il tailor. BY George
but that's huge idea. Why there's moi
five minutes work to be done, and the
tailor would charge dollar"
al suppose he would, but don't see
how can do it to-day. Walter is very
cross, and you know he kept me awake
nearly all night"
"Lttle imp! it does not seem to me
there ever was so cross a young one
Always some excuse Well. you
must mend my coat, anyhow
Il will try and find time
TRY just let him squall twill do
him rood-etrons'hn :; -
Then, you know, it is ironing day
We'll, how many excuses? LII put it
on, rips and all, if you are going to make
q fuss.
'Oh, no, Frank, did rot mean to
make 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 | 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
a real driver. lie made anything tina,
went through his hands inurc to his OWL
benefit.
Everybody liked him because he was
so frank and wthal 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 wiie,and, accord
ing to his reckoning. save something tc
boot Yes, to be sure he could. Their,
was six dollars a week for board, on,
dollar for washing, and quarters and
dimes innumerablo for taking his lady
acquaintances to ride. to the theatre, t(
ice-croam saloons, balls, etc. 'B,
George! he exclaimed on casting up hi,
yearly account, that's huge enough tt
break fellow down Il thousand year
it won't do I'll marry and settle down
So he applied to Lizzie Denman 10 b,
his wife and he was soon in possession
of her.
A snug house was rented, and the worl
of supporting wife began in earnest
The five rooms cost two hundred dollar
a year, and were prettily furnished
Lizzie prepared to do all her work Some
times by her needle she earned an exlri
dollar. Then, as it was little Lonesome
for Frank, he brought home several clerk
as day boarders at four dollars week
Still with all this he would tell h,- friend
how much less it cost him 10 1--we nnw h,
supported a wife
He never seemed for moment Il
realize that she it was who wac saving al
these expenses and that il he had no
earned dollar, her busy hands woul,
have paid the rent and kept him from
starving.
So matters stood when he asked hi
WIG 10 menu MS coal.
Lizzie drew deep sigh after he wa
gone. and hurried her dishes AWAY n
quick as possible.
The coat was Of broadcloth, aud wa
his wedding garment but it was well nigl
worn out, broken under the arms, tn
cord and lining in rags, the sleeve linin,
broken loose, buttons worn off in shor
there was whole days work. She sa
down to the coat with hearty good will
determined to do her best. Her needl
flew fast, but every moment it had t.
laid down to gee to the dinner or hus
the baby.
The hours wore away and though sh
did all she possibly could the coat wa
still undonc at sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. lie locke,
pale and bis eyes were dim. She the
remembered Franks words, to let hin
squall, and let him cry half an hour o
more. Oh, how it wearied her to hea
her darling cry for his mother Tear
swan in her eyes as she thought of he
hard days labor and the want Of appre
citation of her labor. She knew she max
ing his old coat look almost as good u
new. But he would never think of th,
toll she had put upon it. And what il b,
dout,' she mentally said i shall in m,
owo spirit know all have done and tha
is enough