River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-08-27
MISCELLANY.
ONE RIGHT OF A WIFE.

"John," said l one night to my hus.
band, as put my basket Of sewing away
preparatory to retiring, "John, as you 60
down tomorrow morning, ! wish you
would stop at Mrs. Vests door and leave
her five dollars for me.'
Five dollarsr' and my lord looked up
quite astonished. "For what -
"Why, she is collecting money to aid
that society she is secretary of, and as
always felt interested in it, | told her
would give her five dollars"
said this with quite show of assur.
ance, though ] really felt quite uneasy
as to the reception of my request, for
John is rather notional in some of his
ways; however, | had been cogitating
some matters lately in my OWE mind. and
determined to make bold stand.
"Well, Sarah" at length came the re.
ply. "you need not count on my doing
any such thing. / don't approve of that
society at all, and all is, not one cent Of
my money shall 90 to help it,"
~ give it out of my money said | ,
growing holder; II only asked you to
leave it at her door for me-
"YoUr money What do you mean 2"
IL mean what say ing money. Have
no right to spend money as well as youl
don't approve Of the Masons, but that
does not hinder you from spending
money and time for them as much as you
have mind
John looked at me quite amazed at my
sudden outbreak. You see, ! bad always
been the most amiable of wives. Then
he broke out quite triumphantly, "Come,
now, who earns the money that main.
tains this family 7"
"You and | together" said L.
"'Together = Well, should like to
see the first cent you have earned in the
seven years we have been married. To.
gether Well, | call that pretty rich
My spirits were visibly declining under
his ridicule, but | Kept on as boldly as |
could.
"When VIC were married you thought,
or pretended to think, yourself very hap
Ply in assuming the care of DO rd bills
and wardrobe. ] didn't ask it Of you.
You asked me to be your wife, knowing
well all that meant"
.'As nearly as | remember" interrupt
ed John, 'you were mighty ready to ac-
cept me-"
"Granted-to save argument" said !,
coloring.
"WeIl, We stood up in church together,
and you promised to love, cherish, &c.
and so did H.
"And obey too said / "but you, in
return, endowed me with all your worldly
goods, and the minister pronounced us
man and wife; and so we have lived"
"Yes," said John, complacently "and
as look back over the time, think |
have done what agreed and made
pretty good husband. really think you
ought to be thankful when yon see how
some wives live
We'll" said /, 81 think have been a
domestic, prudent wife, and | don't feel
one atom more Of gratitude to you for
being decent husband than you ought
to feel to me for being decent wife. Is
it any more merit that you keep your
marriage promises than that | keep
mine
"Sarah, you positively are very acri.
monious tonight. Don't you think we
had better 90 to bed -
"No, sir. Well, meantime, we have
laid by money enough to buy this house
and still have some in the bank"
THANKS to my hard work" chimed in
John.
"More thanks, >" said I, "to the perfect
good health we have always had. We
made all those promises for better or for
worse Now, it has been for the better
with us all the time. Had you been sick
or honest misfortune beiallcn you, |
should have managed some way to re.
duce our expenses so that you would feel
tho burden rs little as might be. Had
been sick, more care would have fallen
on you But we helped each other save,
and now | claim an equal right with You
in spending money"
"Whew Why, that is treason. But
go ON
"lf we occupied the respective positions
of superior aud subordinate. | shoold do
what do for you for fixed stipend and
no questions should DO asked as to the
use made Of il. Being equals, ! will not
ask compensation as servant; but be-
cause the contract We have made Is life.
long and not easily broken. l DO not
therefore call it very mugnanimous in a
prosperous man TO accept these services
and render Ia return only my board and
the least amount Of that viii creditably
clothe me.
You sec / was growing rate. Johns
temper, TOO. wa, evidently on the RISE
"What do you mean By services !
Homework am sure home is as