The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-01-14
THE THREE DOLLAR BILL

"Charles," said Sarah -Ellery to her husband.
as he was leaning back from tho breakfast table.
''can you let me have threa dollars this
morning ?"
"Three dollars, Sarah! Why, what do you
want of it.
"Why," returned the wife, in q persuasive
tone, while shade of anxiety fitted acrsss her
face, you know little Lucy needs an outside
garment OF some kind, for even yesterday she
came home crying from the effects of tho cold
and to-day it will be colder still Now Mrs.
Robinson has sack which she had made for her
little child, but as it IL too small shs would like
to sell it, and offers it to me for three dollars
1t just fits Lucy
"Well, you cau get it, I suppose" said Mr.
Ellery, somewhat uneasly. ~. s--s-..- .-..-.
tBut, can you let me have the money.
Charles"
'No, Sarah, [ could not to-day"
"Ihen cannot get the SACK returned Mrs.
Ellery. in a disappointed tone "for when Mrs
Robinson sells IT she wants the money to get
another. If you could accommodate me to-day,
Charles?' 'aH
81 cannot, Sarah so there's an end to it. I've
been wanting a new pair Of boots this three
week, sbut cannot afford the money to get them
You will have to fix Lucy up some way for the
present and before long perhaps can get her a
sack"
"And can't have no sack, mamma ?" asked
the child, little blue-eyed girl of ak years of
age.
Not row, Lucy. Pa hasn't the money! an.
swored her mother, endeavoring to soothe the
child in its disappointment. -v.-.... .ey
Not to spare" said Mr.. Ellery in sort OF
nervous, explanatory manner. 81 have money
enough for that bu: have several small debts
that must be paid"
The child was bitterly disappointed, and be-
ing no longer able to control her grief she burst
into tears. Ms. Ellery looked sad and thought.
tul, nor could she repress tho tear-drop that
stole to her eye. N"
There !" uttered Charles Ellery, az he arose
from the table, and ret his chair back with an
energetic movement, that's always tho way
It's nothing but money, money; aud then when
L haven't got 1t, there must be a CRYING spell"
80, you wrong me- Charles" uttered Sarah in
an earnest tone "A she gazed reproachtu!ly ND
into her husbands facc.-"You know that for
Myselt am willing to get along almost any
Way-eyen If stay away from church, rather
than cal npon you Tor clothing but our child
must 20 to scheol, and for her sake I have asked
this II is the first time L have asked you for
money for over month"
Charles EIlory felt like making some harsh
reply to his wfes remark, but he could not helm
seeing that she did not deserve it, and in an nm.
heppy and discoutcnted mood, he turned and
left the house.
After her husband had gone, Mrs. Ellery en-.
deavored to scothe her child's feelings but it
was with heavy heart that she saw her little
daughter start for school, for she know that her
dress was insufficient to protect her from the
weather; but she fixed the little one up the best
she could, and family hoping she might not suf-
Ter, the mother saw her child depart In vain
was 1t that Mrs. Ellery tried to Danish the un.
pleasant feeling that had taken possession of her
mud, Tor long had she suffered in silence and
alone and tAtous Lout the day she was sad and
Charlie Ellory was a good mechanic. and he
worked very steadily, and his pay amounted to
ten dollars week. His house rent WAS only
one dollar and twenty-five cents Der week. bis
furniture was all paid for, and biz PROVISIONS
did not average over four dollars a week at far.
thest, and yet his wife and child actually suffer.
e. az times, for the want of clothing. Not that
cS%Sa were ever ragged, or svon short Of deoent
WA g apparel, but there were MANY iittls
thA bat would have really conduced 20 their
oomfor, aud happiness which they were obliu.a
TO do without; and then, when the wife ala oh.
tain some trifing article of dress, the MONEY
with which to pay for it came 30 hard and nm.
Graciou-y tina. she would hpve almost rather
done without it. There was another thinv
that added 20 her weight OF sorrows For o lonv