The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-07-27

do her best. Her needle flew fast,
but every moment it had to be laid
down to see to dinner or hush the ba-
by. The hours wore away, and though
she did all she possibly could, the job
was still undone at sundown.
Walter cried necessarily. He look
| ed pale, and his eyes were dim. She
then remembered Franks words, 'Slet
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 the 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. And what if he
don't' she mentally said; 6 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@discontent, and became
as cheerful as possible. Then she
worried through supper getting, and
with much managing had all things
done by the time that Frank and his
companions came in. adU
My coat done, Lizzie ?" -.
! No, not quite"
There's woman for ye, boys
One half of them would let husband
go out of. the elbows a week before
they would turn aside from any plan
of their own. All the ironing COM
pleted, 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.
Will you bring pitcher of water
| please?o she said pleasantly - iifsf5s
HThere it is again; when / was a
bach I had nothing to do but hand my
coat to tailor, pay him dollar, and
twas done in jiffy, and not any
grutnbling. No water to fetch when
fellow is tired, either.n res9 p
Lizzie was nervous, was tired with
household work and care. She could
not endure his badinage,- although
half playful. She hastily set the bis
cult ON the table, and saying simply,
"supper 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 Wal
ter asleep (which she actually did) she
bathed her eyes and came out, washed
her dishes, and sat down again to the
coat 10 aH i5ilot- 5-1 ~ 3tst
Frank sat watching her flying fin
gers for an hour or two, as he laughed
and ehatted with his friend, thinking
to himself that every turn would be
the last. AT nine O'Clock she had set
the last stitch. The coat looked like
a new one all around. AS she finished
she looked up with still shade of sad
ness upon her brow.
"There, Frank, I have mended your
coat thoroughly. I guess it will last
another year noW."
"Quite job, wasn't it longer than
1 thought, said he, deprecatingly.
Z "How much clear cash have you
made to-day Frank ?" asked Lizzie, in
q very earnest tone.
+ What do you want to know that
for was his answer.
For my own satisfaction certain
ly I should feel an interest in all your
affairs" 95e &
well, think the shop has cleared
twenty dollars" q 3.il l-.- - ~
CHOW much do you count your SER
vices worth ?"
"Not less than five dollars a day"
"How many hours do you labor 7"
"Ten is the legal time nowadays.
I don't generally work. that many. But
what are all these questions for? =.
Z" Because, Frank, we are husband
and wife. We expect to live the rest
of our lives together, and if there is
harmony in our marriage relation,
there must be justice and right. You
may call me daily to appreciate any,
thing you can do. You have earned
five dollars to-day and the shop has
cleared twenty. 7 ct, to save you one
dollar, I worked ten hours on your
coat, and six on your BREAKFAST, dim
ner and supper, and making your home
pleasant and comfortable. To save
you that dollar have had to 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 circumstan-
ces to be set aside"
!" / had not thought of that" . .r
I" / know you had not, Frank, SO I
shall freely forgive you, but must
insist that hereafter I 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.
Gone thing more, Frank. I want
to say while am about it, that don't
want to hear you talk about support
ing your wife. will not be supported
while am able to support myself. /
find on looking over my books, that
the profits of my labor amount to five
dollars week and the board of your
self, myself and the baby beside. Then
I do all your extra work and my own.
All the saving has gone into yourcap-
iital to be invested, and to help you
make twenty dollars day. Out of
this comes the five dollars you call the
worth of your days work, while
must labor with weary hands and aeh-
ing head and eyes to save you one dol
lar in mending an old coat, which,
when done,o would not sell for the
amount of your ten hours work" s.5H
"You are making out a pretty strong
case against me, Lizzie"
"No, Frank, not case against you
I could not do that but am stating
facts. One thing more. have been
at work three hours since supper, and
you have been entirely idle, not even
rocking the cradle, which 1 have been
obliged to do half dozen times"
/ {" Lizzie, don't say another word and
Pll never do so again." said Frank,
springing from his chair, to jog the
cradle, where the boy was nestling.-i
You shall never mend another coat"
's Yes, but WILL" advancing to the
cradle as she spoke, only don't tell
me ten hours work can be done in
five minutes, nor ask me to let the
baby squall again." t
She lifteG Walter from the cradle,
Il ey stoopel to kiss his fair rosy cheek,
but made mistake and kissed each
other, while Frank whispered: H
"God bless you, Lizzie. L never
thought of.all this before. / won't do
it again"
Six years have passed by, and Frank