The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-27
ONE RIGHT OF A WIFE.

ONE RIGHT OF A WIFE.
"John," said I one night to my hus.
band, as I put my basket Of sewing
away preparatory to retiring, John, as
you go down tomorrow morning, ]
wish you would stop ut Mrs. Vests door
and leave her IS for me-"
"Fivo dollars!" and my lord looked
mp quite nstonished. "For whatl"
"Why, she is collecting money to aid
that society she is secretary Of, and as ]
always felt interested in it, l told her I
would give her s5."
I said this with quite q show Of as
surancc, though 1 really felt quite un-
easy Ms to the reception OF my request,
for john is rather notional in some Of
his ways; however, l had been cogita-
ting some matters lately i'll my own
mind, aud determined to make bold
stand.
"Well, Sarah," at length came the
reply, "you need not count Oh my do
ing any such thing. I don't approve
OF that society Mt MI, and not one cent O!
my money shall go to help it."
"I give it out of money!" said I,
growing holder. az only asked you to
leave it ut her door for me-"
"Your money! What do You
mean2"
"I mean what l say-my money.
Have no right to speud money rs well
as our l don't approve OF the Masons,
bnt that docs not hinder you from
spending money and time for them rs
much as you have n mind"
John looked at nc quite amazed Mt my
sudden outbreak. You see, had al
ways been the most amiable OF wives.
Then he broke out quite triumphantly;
"Come, now, who earns the money
that maintains tlis flmilyl"
"You and l together" sail ].
"Togethcr! Well, should like to
sec tho first cent you have earned in the
seven years we haze been married.
Together! Well, l call that pretty
rich"
Ny spirits werc visib!y declining un-
der his ridicule, but kept on as boldly
Ms could.
"Whcn We were marriedyou thought,
or pretended to think, yourself very
happy in assuming the care OF boardand
wardrobe. didn't ask it Of you. You
asked me to be your wife, knowing well
all that meant"
GAS nearly Us I remember" inter
rupted John, "you were mighty ready
to accept me"
"Grantel-to save argument, "said l.,
coloring.
"Wcll, we stood up in church to-
gctLer, and you promised to love,
cherish, etc., and so did l."
"And ohey, too, said I "but You,
in return, endowed mo with all your
worldly goods, and the minister pro-
nounced us man aud wife; and SO We
have lived"
eyes," said John, complacently,
"nnd as I look back over tho time, I
think I havo done what I agreed, and
made pretty good husband. I really
think you ought to be thankful when
YOU SEQ how some wives live.
"Well," said l, ~ think I have
been domestic, prudent wife, aud l
don't feel one atom more OF gratitude to
you than you ought to feel to me for
being n decent wife. Is it any more
merit thaty keepyour marriage prom
iscs than that I keep mine !"
"Sarah, you arc positively very acrl-
mopious tonight. Don't you think we
Ind better go to bed 7"
"No, sir. Well, meantime we havo
laid by money to buy this honsc, and
still have some in tho bank"
"Thanks to my hard work I" chimed
in John.
"NIore thanks" said I, "to the per-
feet good health we have always Ind.
We made MI these promises for better
or for worse. Now it has been better
for MS all the time. Had you been sick
or honest misfortune befallen you, l
should have managed some way to re.
duce our expenses 80 that you might feel
tho burden as little rs might be. Had I
been sick, more care would have fallen
on you. But we helped each other save,
and now I claim an equal right with you
in spending money"
"whewl Why, TINT is treason. But
60 on"
:" II we occupied the respective posi-:
tions Of superior and subordinate, |
should do what I do for you for q fixed
stipend, and no questions should be
asked rs to the uso made Of il. Being
equals, I will not ask compensation as
n servant but because the contract we
lhve made is lifelong and not easily
broken, do not therefore call it very
mngnanimous in q prosperous man to
accept these services md render in 70.
turn only my board and the least amount
TINT will creditably clothe me-"
You see wGs growing irate. Johns
temper, too, was evidently on the rise.
"What do you mean by services 7
Houseworkl l am suro home is ms
much for your satisfaction as for mine;
md nm sure tho tailor does not leave
yuunk ~ pnv uatvinr, for yon In do