Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-11-27
Five Minutes w ork.

rive Minutes w OK.
"Here, Lizzie, 1 wish you would pu
a few stitches in my coat; its getting
so shabby"
ats so, Frank, but really think yor
had better take it to the taller"
"Take it to the tailor! By George
but that's huge idea. Why there'l
not five minutes work to be done, and
the tailor would charge dollar"
81 suppose he would, but 1 don't Sc,
how 1 can do it to-day. Walter is very
fretful, and you know he kept mt
awake nearly all night
"Little imp. 1t does not seem to mt
there ever was so cross young one
Always some excuse! well, you mus
mend my coat, anyhow"
81 will try and find time"
"Try! just let him squall; twill dc
him good-strengthen his lungs"
"Then you know it's ironing day."
"Well, how many more excuses? ? I'll
put it on, rips and all, if you are going
to make fuss"
"Oh, no, Frank, L did not mean to
make a fuss; but it's long job, and
one Pm not used to; and with my din
ner to get, and baby, and ironing. ]
can not see yet, how can get it done
But I'll do my best"
Such was the conversation that passed
between young husband and wife Of
eighteen months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world
calls real driver. He made anything
that went through his hands insure to
his own benefit.
Everybody liked him because he was
frank, and withal so honest and upright
in all his dealings with his customers
He was we'll educated for a business
man; lived in society; had made up his
mind that he could support wife, and
according to his own reckoning, could
save something to boot. Yes, to be sure
he could.
There were six dollars a week for
board, one dollar a week for washing
and then quarters and dimes innumer-
able for taking his lady acquaintance
to ride, to the theatre, to ice-cream sa-
looms, balls, operas, etc.
"Goodnessr' he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account, "that's huge; it
is enough to break fellow; thousand
a year; it won't do; I'll marry and set
tie down."
So he applied to Lizzie Forsyth to be
his wife, and was soon in possession OF
her.
A snug house was rented, and the
work of supporting wife began in
earnest. The five rooms cost two hun
dred dollars year, and were prettily
furnished. Lizzie preferred to do all
her own work. Sometimes by her needle
she earned dollar extra. Then, as it
was a little lonesome for Frank, he
brought home several clerks as day
boarders at four dollars per week. Still,
with all this he would tell his acquaint-
ances how much it cost him to live now
he supported wife.
He never seemed for moment to re-
alize that she it was who was saving all
these expenses, and that if he had not
earned 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
a deep sigh after he was gone, and hur-
ried her dishes away as fast as possible.
The coat was of broadclotk and was
his wedding garment; but it was we'll
nigh worn out, broken under the arms,
the cord and lining in rags, buttons
worn off; in fine, there was nearly a
days work. She sat down to the coat
with hearty good will, determined to
do her best. Her needle flew fast, but
every moment it had to be laid down to
see the 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 incessantly. He looked
pale, and his eyes were dim.
She then remembered Franks words.
"Let him squalP'-and let him cry an
hour or more. 80, how it wearied her
to hear her darling 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 coat look as well as
new. But he would not think of the
toll she had put upon it.
"And what if he DON'T" she mentally
said; 81 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 discomfort, 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.
''My coat done, Lizzie?"
"Not quite"
"There's woman for you, boys. One
half of them let husband go out OF
the elbows week before they would
turn aside from any plan of their own.
All the ironing completed, I'll be bound,
Lizzie"
Lizzie was taking her biscuit out of
the oven, and the young men did NOT
see the flush of pain that flashed over
her weary features.