Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-06-28
Five Minutes Work.
by MRS. FRANCES ID. GAGE.

F'Take it to q tailorl BY George but
that huge idea. Why there's not FIVE
minutes work to he doue, and the tailor
! would charge q dollar
/ ~ suppose he would, but don't see how
! can do it to-day, Walter is very fretful,
and you know helSept me awake nearly
all night
Little 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
~ will try and find time
Try just let him squat twill do him
! good-strengthen his lungs ID g.
! "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 a fuss"
ooh, no, Frank did not mean to make
a fuss but it's a 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 III do my
| best.n .---s-. .-.-. .... .
Such was the conversation that passed
between a young husband and wife of
| eighteen months standing.
| Frank Burton was what the world calls
q real driver. He made anything that
went through his hand insure TO his own
| benefit. Everybody liked him because he
was so frank, and withal so honest and up
| right in all his dealings with his custo-
mers. He was well educated for a business
| man lived in society had made up his
mind that he could support wife, and, ac-
cording 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 la
| dy acquaintance to ride, to the theatre, to
ice cream saloons, balls, operas, etc.
"Bv George!" he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account, 'that's huge
enough to break fellow; thousand q
year it won't do I'll marry and settle
dOwn!n
SO he applied to Lizzie Forsyth to be his
wife; and he was soon in possession of
her.
y snug house was rented and the work of
supporting a wife began in earnest. The
five rooms cost two hundred dollars a year,
and were prettily furnished. Lizzie pre-
| ferred to do all her work. Sometimes by
her needle she earned a dollar extra.
Then, as twas alittle lonesome for Frank,
lie brought home several clerks as day
boarders, ut four dollars a week. Still,
with all this, he would tell his acquaint-
ance how much less it cost him to live
now he supported a wife. He never
seemed to realize that she it was who was
saving all these expenses and that if he
had not earned a 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 a possible.
The coat was of brOadcloth, and was his
wedding garment; but it was well 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 days work. She sat
down to the coat with hearty good will,
a af.rr inc 40 lar L.. l..
! 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 sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked
pale, and his eyes were dim. She then re-
| membered Franks words, 'let him
! squall, b" and let him cry half an hour or
! more.
oh, how it wearied her to hear her dar-
| ling 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 "a new. But he
would never think of the toll she had put
upon it. "And what if he don't" she
mentally said ~ shall in my own spirit
know all that have done, and that is
enough
But Lizzie was strong hearted as well as
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. ID Eff.t
My coat done, Lizzie"
| mo, not quite"
"There's woman for We, boys. One
half OF them would let husband 90 out
of the elbows a week before they would
turn aside from any plan of their own.
All the ironing completed, IN be bound,
! Lizzie.''s it7I trTsIftE f.EI
Lizzie was taking her buiscuit out of the
oven, and the young men did not see the
deep flush of pain that flashed over her
weary features
will you bring in pitcher of water,
please ?" she said pleasantly.
| There 1t Is again when i was a bach /
had nothing to do but hand my coat over
to the tailor. pay him dollar, and twas
done in a jiffy, and not any grumbling.
| No water 10 fetch when fellows tired,
4 either"
Lizzie was nervous, was tired with
household work and care. She could not
endure bis la image, although half play
full. She hastily set the biscuit on the
table, and saying simply Supper is ready"
stepped in the bedroom and then burst in
| to 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 a sleep (which she
i actually did she bathed her eyes and came
out washed her dishes, and sat down again