Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-01

husband, when she Knows that never in
all my life refused to open my purse at her
desire ~
"IVbosc purse?" again insinuated the mu-
steal voice of Mrs. Ponderit..
ooh, poh, poh her purse, if she likes
it any better the little receptacle which my
wife and daughters find it convenient for
me to keep-well flled-in my pocket. Be-
sides, Elizabeth if you have haroored this
sense of wrong for so many years, why
conceal IL? Why cherish secret resent
ment against your husband until we have
nearly reached our silver wedding" ?"
"Perhaps l ought not to have spoken
here and now," said Mrs. Corporal sin the
presence even of this our nearest friend.
have never spoken before because 1 was
educated to he subservent to my husband,
and have labored faithfully to conquer the
sense of humiliation and the disposition TO
rebel, which 1 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 proper
ton of the women in Chrlstendom feel the
same discomfort, which n sense of duty, or
fear, or a dread of ridcule has induced
them to suppress; and l now begin TO
think that if we had all freed our minds
long ago, the world would be far happier
to-day"
"But | don't believe it," said Mr.. Corpor-
al, reapsing into Indignation. "a woman
who can get what she wants for the asking,
to be unhappy because she has to ask IL
is unrcasonable-mor than that, it's petty
to he so anxious about ones position and
personal dignity; one who has all these
years been cared for, and sheltered, and
guided, scarcely allowed to know, much
less to he hurt, by the rough ways of the
world. Have / not spared you all care and
re spoons ibility? Do l not bear alone every
business anxiety? BY the New Jerusalem!
if I could only live such an easy, guarded
life, I'd gladly give you my lot and my in
dependence with it,"
"Would you ?" said Mrs. Corporal.
81 would"
every well, we will try it; you shall be
tenderly guided and guarded for a week,
and if at the end you plead for another,
we'll"
agreed" said Mr.. Corporal. 81 say,
Betty, in regard TO the outside business,
how could you, you know?'
81 will allow you TO manage the bust
ness, and handle the money in strictly bust
ness operations but out of the office you
spend not cent save what / give you, and
take no step in any way affecting the house
hold interest. Only make all your wishes
known to me-
The evening closed, but the young folks
were (by the mercst accidenD delayed in
their preparations.
"Don't let it detain you moment" said
Frederick Ponderit, magnanimously:
"Charlic and l 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.
"Well 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 so
intimate with Annie-a fellow without a
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,
never intend to marry my daughters for
money"
"YoUr daughters, Mrs. Corporal? Oh!
ah ! 1 forgot"
"Well, father" said Materlamiias next
morning, "what have you in your porte
monaie?"
"I'm sure don't know; some fifty dol
lars-seventy- perhaps. Why?"
"Dear, dear, that's bad! You ought al
ways to know how much you are carrying.
Well, let me have it, and the key of the
desk. I'll put it with the rest. Do you
want any change?'
"Change! why, how can | tell yet and
what are you doing with my money? Oh
l forgot again. All right; just leave me
ten dollars, please, 1 might want it for
something"
"Bless his little heart - said Mrs. Cor
poral, pulling his ear, "Ill bet any wager
he spends it before he gets home. Or stay
I believe 1 will go with you as far as the
Office. l have have some business that
way"
"Ill get what want at the Office" chuck
led Mr.. Corporal. "Hum promised not
though. Whew what predicament this
may lead me into! My dear, excuse me a
moment, want to cross over and speak to
Jack Hepburn
lie came back in couple of minutes
"Have you any money with you? Just
give me twenty dollars. Let me have the
pocket-book.'
Twenty ollars! What do you want to
do withit?"
"Do with it! Oh yes am going to lend
it to Jack"
81 guess | wouldn't do that, father. I
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 Materfamilias was not. ~ don't
know whether to let him have it or not.
Well, if you've set your heart on it, I'll
give him fifteen" And she counted it out
deliberately in ones and twos and smaller
notes, which proceeding the gentleman on
the opposite curb stone watched with a
lively interest.
Mr.. c. flushed, cholled little, then in si-
lence FASTENED across with the fifteen dol
lars.
"ReaIly, my love-" said the matron, on
his return, 81 gave you the money this
time becausc | didn't want to hurt your
feelings; but must say that ! do not APP
prove this promiscuous generosity; in fact,
it isn't generosity, its weakness. Men are
so undiscriminatng. Don't think I'm
scolding, dear, only remember another
time"
Mr.. Corporal opened his mout tn to speak,
and as suddenly closed it, lie would have
expostulated, but the words sounded
strangely familiar. Could it be that he
had uttered them yesterdays And could
they have been as offensive TO her as thov