Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-11
An InsubOrdInate Wife.


dulged. Now, if dinner was out Of the
way, might have time TO finish Leonard's
suit this afternoon I've had it around so
long. II only had o sewing machine how
much could accomplish = aud picking up
her basket, she went into the house. The
prospect within was not very cheering; the
wasli-tub to clear away, and the dinner to
place upon the table. Just as she began to
lay the table, Mr. Giles appeared at The door,
and said
Put ON an extra plate; that man will
take dinner with us"
Dinner was soon ready aud as soon dis
patched, for ceremony was one Of the nm
known things in the Giles family Mr.. Giles
and the stranger retired to the sitting room
to discuss the merits Of a new reaper and
mower, while Alrs.Giles remained and cleared
away the dinner table. When She. had fin
ished and made herself ready for the after
noon, she went into the sitting room. Mr..
Giles was saying " If YOU have anything
new and better, anything that will make
work easier and do more of it, I'm your
man I'm in favor of all machinery that
will tighten work for man. Why, bless YOU,
just look around my farm it's run mostly
by machinery.
Profitable certainly" replied he to an
interrogation from the stranger. Money
in the bank, he added, never omitting an oc-
casion Of mentioning a small deposit he had
in the city bank.
The stranger was gone at last, and Mrs.
Giles sat down, with weary limbs and aching
shoulder, to finish a suit of clothes she was
making for her oldest son, lad of fifteen.
Slowly and wearily the needle went in and
out; stitch after stitch was taken, but TO
.tt1.. n & ! !
never come to the last But il stitches pro-
gressed slowly, her thoughts flew fast enough.
The last words of her husband fingered in
hermind, and required to her again and again.
"Yes, men can have their burdens light
ened, but poor women may drudge. Every
year Giles has added something new to his
farming implements, while | have to plod
along with hardly sufficient utensils TO cook
a decent dinner; an old stove without
boiler, or a whole griddle and a cracked door.
No wonder cant bake a loaf of bread de
Gently. Then here have to sit and stitch
for week on this suit, when two hours on
machine would complete it."
1t is needless to record all OF Mrs. Giles
thoughts and words as she sat stitching the
hours away. dim consciousness of her
wrongs aud faint determination to assert
her rights, was entering her mind. She had
so long given up her opinions, set aside her
needs and fostered the selishness of her hus-
band, that it was hard TO break through the
meshes Of habit which his stern will had
woven around her The afternoon wore
away and Mrs. Giles laid aside the unfinished
garment to prepare the evening meal.
The next morning at breakfast she re-
marked to her husband that an agent for
sewing machine had called the day previous
and wished her TO try one of his machines
Il told him. she said, "he might leave
one when he came next week"
Mr. Giles laid down his knife and fork, and
sat with utter amazement depicted on his
countenance. "a sewing machine" he
gasped, when lac had recovered himself.
He needn't leave any OF his new-fangled
humbugS here have no use for them"
"Youl" continued he don't see what
use you have for a machine. You could
never learn to use it or if you did, what
have you to sew ? Only my clothes and the
boys. Women nowadays, are getting
mighty independent, wanting machines to
do their work too lazy to do it themselves.
Suppose they want to CAD about and gossip
about their neighbors."
"Why, Phillip"
Woman's work is nothing" continued
Mr.. Giles not needing the interruption.
" Ny mother had not as many couveniences
for doing her work as you have, yet she al
ways had her meals regular and well-cooked, |
and that is more than ! can say of you. No, |
| don't want any sewing machine about my |
house. God made rs good sewing machine
rs ! want when he made woman.
With this ultimatum, he left the table,
and taking ms hat, mounted ms horse and
rode away to look at the new reaper he con
templated buying
One 10y one the members OF the iamlly
finished their breakfast and passed out, leav,
ing Mrs. Giles alone. she sat wlth her head
resting upon her hand her thoughts wan
dered back TO the days when' IN the freshness
ol her youth, sue gave ler neaIt ueepest
and best affections to Philip Giles Blinded
10y her great love Tor him. She saw not the
extreme selhshness nor coaiSeness OF his ma
ture. She implicitly believed all his prom
ises, aud Needed not the warning OF her
friends.
II seemed long time since that so many
shadows had darkened their pathway
darker yet seemed to grow liie's rugged jour,
ney. She saw six sons growing up around
her, amidst rough and evil Influences, with
out the ability 10 counteract them. Mrs.
Giles remained long time bowed over that
breakfast table, praying with sense OF help
lesSness and a feeling of need, such as she
had never before experienced. A loud rap
at the door startled her. On opening it she
found Mr.. Harris had called to pay off
note which had long been due a note which
Mr.. Giles had often declared he should never
be able to collect. "rhe poor wretch" he
insisted, "will never be able to save enough
TO pay his honest debts, while his wife spends
all his earnings ON such foolish things as
washing machines"
Mrs. Giles informed Mr.. Harris of herhus-
bands absence, but said she would attend 10
the business. When all was satisfactorily
settled and Mr.. Harris had gone, Mrs. Giles
sat for sometime looking at the roll Of money
in her hand.
AT length a new thought came into her mind.
Carefully placing the bills in her pocket, she
went into the kitchen aud hurriedly finished
the morning work, and then dressing herself
she walked down to the station, which was