The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-01-01

herself, "It's just no use my lace
bonnet and white gloves look ridicu
lous at this season, and my shoes
look worse and worse. l must
stay at home from church,"
But no, her husband would not
listen to that he felt lost without
her company, and her alto in the
choir. So, without telling him the
cause of her proposition, she retrim,
ed her old hat, mended her second
best kids, and patched her shoe, with
the aid of awl to pierce. Not being
. cobler by profession, her fingers
received some wounds which made
her feel almost exasperated and
she concluded that if men were not
as blind as bats by nature, Chester
would see that she needed some new
ones. He, innocent heart, thought
she looked unoommonly well, as she
appeared on Sunday morning array
ed in her 'old things and although
she took pains to put the worst foot
forward as she stepped into the car
riage, Chester only thought, "What
pretty little foot my wife has got. "
His new broadcloth suit was war
ranted to last year at least, and
what should he know of a woman's
wants
Monday morning Nellie scrubbed
out her clothes with more than usu-
al celebrity for torturing thoughts
make ones hands move quickly and
the day before, while in Sunday
school, she had been horrified to
see that her impromptu cobbling
was proving treacherOus, and her
boot gaping in derision. 81 wonder
if Chester thinks my clothes will
last forever" said she to herself.
"Maybe he thinks will ask him for
money, but cannot o, dear, can
not Hay emit | earned anything, I'd
like to know And isn't it right for
him to give me part of the gain |
guess | could take care of myself
better than he does it, F" and if few
tears ran down her cheeks, think it
not strange, oh, ye lovers of inde-
pendence
That night, on his return from
the village, Chester tossed bundle
into her lap, saying: "I've got some
splendid cloth there tor vest, Mel
lie f; / have always bought my cloth
ing ready made, but | knew you
could make it SO nieely-and it will
save two dollars"
Nellie told him she would try to
do it, and then, as if the thought had
just occurred to her, she added: BY
the way, Chester, | think | must
have some new shoes sometime this
week"
"Well, ia go to Smearns' and get
some then, if | were you. He's just
got his new goods" and Chester un-
folded his paper and began to read.
Nellie bit her lip, and wondered if
other husbands were as slow to take
hint as hers was proving himself
to be. She said not another word,
however, and the xt.afternOOn got
ready for ner shopping expedition
she could foTtunatelywear rubbers-
aud waited for her liege lord to pro
vide her with the necessary funds.
But he sat writing at his desk, oh
livous of all domestic cares, and at
length she said, with an assumed
nonchalange, "Can you let me have
some money, Chester !"
ooh yes, you havn't any, have
you ?" and he drew out his wall ct
and began to count the bills therein.
"There's fve-that must go to Mr..
Jackson for the use of his team and
three-my minister's tax exactly +:
aud ten-that goes for new sleigh
robe and two-you can have that
| guess, separating it from the rest
"Will that do %
Nellie's face grew white and then
red, and her heart beat SO that she
could hardly answer Il will try to
make it Z"
Chester looked up, thinking her
voice didn't sound just natural bat
she had tarned toward the window.
''fhere's some change you can
have too" said he, adding several
scraps to the bill. She took tn c
none thrust it into her purse, and
walked rapidly away bat her
thoughts ran somewhat in this fash
ion: And so my claim is last and
least In his estimation. | suppose
that Is the reason so many woman
grow go sort of antiquaLed they hate
to beg" Her husbands ears would
have tingled could he have known
these thoughts, but as it was he only
looked after her and thought what q
fortunate fellow he was to get such a
wife.
After purchasing an inferior pain
of shoes, Mrs. Nellie fou I'd that she
had thirty cents remaining, which
she speedily invested in pins, thread
and needles, and returned home re-
solved to "Iabor and wait" little
while longer.
A few days after this, as she was
bending over the table trying to cut
Chester's vest, Miss Eunice Perkins
called, and after few moments
chat, the worthy spinster drew from
her pocket paper which she hand
ed to Nellie, saying as she did SO
owe are trying to get money to
purchase a silk dress for Christ
mas present to our pastors wife.
As the gentlemen are trying to dc
something for the pastor, we ladies
thought to get her dress among
ourselves. Some one reminded me
to come to you; you used to be SC
liberal in your subscriptions"
Nellie tried to read the well known
names on the paper, but film seem
ed come before her eyes, and she
felt the blood rushing TO her cheeks
She tried to smile, however, as she
said !: 81 really hayn't any money
to-day, Miss Perkins-and / CAM
: tell you-I think you need not rely
on me for anything"
Miss Perkins gave little femin
inc shreak. "There there now
: confess, Mrs Pomeroy isn't it just
as told you ? Can you married la
dies have half the independence that
, we single ones have ?" and she tried
to look very knowing.
"Have / ever said but what | have
enough of everything 2" Said Mel
lie with little of the dignity tha
} used to subdue troublesome boys.
"Oh, no, of course not. Every
t body says you have got an excellent