Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-11-07

ureSs That / 90 not need, or q set Oi
iewelry that | would rather not have
in fact, you are continually wasting
money upon me; and yet, in all the
years of our married life, | have never
hal dollar that did not come in the
shape of gift
Good Heavensw cried Mr.. Corporal,
rising vehemently, then sinking back,
overcome, into his chair: ~ an unjust
husband, when she knows that | never in
all my life refused to open my purse at
her desire''
Whose purse?' again insinuated the
musical voice OF Mrs. Ponderit.
ooh, poh, poh!--her purse, if she likes
it better; the little receptacle which my
wife and daughters find it convenient for
me to keep--well filled-in my pocket.
Besides, ElzahetG, if you have harbored
this sense Of wrong for so many years,
why concealits Why cherish secret re-
sentiment against your husband until we
have nearly reached our silver wedding?n
Perhaps ! ought not to have spoken
here and now said Mrs. Corporal, "in
the presence even of this our nearest
friend | have never spoken before, be-
cause | was educated to be suhseEvient to
my husband, and have labored faithfully
TO conquer the sense of humiliation and
the disposition to rebel, which thought
peculiar to myself, and coming from some
fault in my own character. But very
lately my eyes have been opened to the
fact that large proportion of the women
in Christendom feel the same discomfort,
which sense of duty, or fear, or dread
of ridicule has induced them to suppress;
and | now begin to think that if we had
all freed our minds long ago, the world
w0uld be far happier to day"
4" But don't believe it" said Mr. Cor.
poral, relapsing into Indignation. "A
woman who can get whatever she wants
for the asking to be unhappy because she
has to ask 1t is unreasonable-mor
than that, it's petty-to be so anxious
about ones position and personal dig
nifty one who has all these years been
cared for and sheltered and guided,
scarcely allowed to know, much less to
be hurt by, the rough ways of the world
Have not spared you all care and
responsibility Do | not bear alone
every business anxiety? BY the New
Jerusalem, if | could only live such
an easy, guarded life, ia gladly give
you my lot, and my independence with
it."
" Would you ?" said Mrs. Corporal.
81 would"
Very well, we will try it; you shal,
be tenderly guided and guarded for a
week, and if at the end you plead for an
other, WE'LL
Agreed, said Mr.. Corporal. 81 say,
Betty, in regard to the outside business,
how could you you know"
- will allow you to manage the bust
ness, and to handle money in strictly
business operations; but out of the
office you spend not cent, save what |
give you, and take no step in any way af
fecting the household interest. Only
make all your wishes known to me-"
The evening closed, but the young folks
were (by the merest ACCIDENT delayed in
their preparations.
Don't let it detain you a moment, said
Frederick Ponderit, nagnanimously;
"Charlie and will see the young ladies
home"
81 don't know" began Mr.. Corporal;
but his wife put her arm through his,
and drew him quietly away
well, but, mother, again began Mr..
Corporal
WEN talk as we go along" said his
wife, stopping not for moment until
they were fairly in the street.
"Why, how queer of you, Betty! You
know | don't want Fred. Ponderit to get
80 intimate with Annie-a fellow without
cent but what he earns But you didn't
give me time to think"
"Oh, | do the thinking, you know, "
said Mrs Corporal; land as for being
poor, neveS intend to marry my daugh-
tiers for money
your daughters, Mrs. Corporal OH
ali! forgot"
swell, father" said Materfamilias next
morning, what have you in your porte
monnaie?'
"Tm sure don't know; some fifty dol
lars -seventy-tive, perhaps Why2"
t'Dear dear, that's bad You ought
always to know how much you are carry
ing. Well, let me have it, and the key of
the desk, III PIT it with the rest. Do
YOU want any change?"
Change, why, how can | tell yet? aud
what arc you dong with my money? Oh,
| forgot again All right; just leave me
ten dollars, please; / might want it for
something
BLESS his little heart " said Mrs. Cor
poral, pulling his ear, en- lay any wager
he spends it before he gets home, Or
stay-T believe III go with you as far AS
the office. ! have some business that
way.
"Tll get what want Mt the office,
cbuokled Mr. Corporal. Hum prom
ised not though Whew what predica-
ments this may lead me into My dear,
excuse me a moment ] want to cross
over and spaak to Jack Hepburn
He came back in couple of minutes,
Have you any money with you? Just
give me twenty dollars. Let me have the
pocket book"
Twenty dollars What do you want
to do with it?'
DO with it! oh yes am going to
lend it to Jack"
" / guess wouldn't do that, father !
know that Hepburn well enough to doubt
if you ever get it back again"
" Bless her prudent little heart
Come, I'm rather in hurry
But Materfamilis was not II don't
know whether to let him have it or not
Well, if you've set your heart on it, III
give him fifteen And she counted il
out deliberately in ones and twos and
smaller notes, which proceeding the gen
tleman on the opposite curb.stone watch
ed with a lively interest.
Mr.. G. flushed, choked little; then in
silence haStened across with the ffteeI
dollars.
Really, my love, /" said the matron, or
his return, Il gave you the money thi'
time because didn't want to hurt your
feelings; but must say that | don't ap
prove this promiscuous generosity; in fact
it isn't generosity-its weakness. Mer
are SO nGdiscriminating Don't think I'm