Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-12-30
One Right Of A Wife

band as [ put my basket of sewing
away, preparatory to retiring, John,
as you 90 down tomorrow morning, |
wish you would stop at Mrs. Vests
door aud leave Ler five dollars for me,
Five dollars - and my lord looked
up ouite astonished "For what -
..Why she is collecting monoy to aid
that society she is secretary of, andas
[ always felt interested in it, [ told her
[ would give her five dollars. .
[ said this with quite show of as
surance, though [ really felt uneasy as
to the reception of my request, for
John is rather notional in some of his
ways; however, I had been cogitating
some matters lately in my own mind,
and determined to max e a bold stand.
"Well Sarah, at length came the
reply, you need not count on my
doing any such thing. I don't Ap
prove Of that society at all, and not
one cent Of my money shall go to help
it,"
Il give it cut Of my money, said [
growing bolder F.; I only asked you to
leave it at her door for me-
"Your money! What do you mean?'
Il mean what [ say-my money
Have [ no right to spend money as
we'll as you? don't approve of the
Masons; Int it does not hinder you
from spending money and time for
them as much as you have a mind. >
John looked quite amazed at my
sudden outbreak. Then he broke sout
quite triumphantly, Come, now who
earns the money that maintains this
family %
~ GU and I together" said [.
"Together ! Well, [ should like TO
see the first cent you have earned IN
the seven years we have been married
Together Well, [ call that pretty
rich. =
My spirits were visibly declning
under his ridiculo. but kept on as
boldly as [ could =
when we were married you
thought or pretended to think, your
self very happy in assuming the care
OF board bills and wardrobe. dident'
ask it of you.-Y on asked me to he
your wife, knowing well what al that
meant
las nearly as [ can remember" in
terrupted John, 'you were mighty
ready TO accept me.
''Granted to save argument, . said |,
; coloring
: "Well we stood up in church togeth-
: er, and you promised to love, cherish
&C. and so did l.
And obey, too, said I ''you ii
return, endowed me with all your
worldly goods, and the minister pro
nounced us man and wife; and SO We
5 5 have lived"
: Yes said John, complacently, "anc
) as look back over the time, | think
. | have done what [ agreed and made ;
s pretty good husband. | really think
! you ought to be thankful when yot
see how some wives live. >"
a Well, said [, Il think [ have beer
. a domestic, prudent wife, and | don
20 feel one atom more OF gratitude to yol
y for being decent husband Is it any
= more merit that you keep your marri
4 age promises than that [ keep mine?'
y Sarah, you positively are very ac
5 crimonious tonight. Don't you thinl
- we had better 90 to bed?
?9 "No, Sir. Well meantime, we hay
Z laid by money enough to buy thi
t3 house, and still have some in the bank.
. Thanks to my hard work, " chimet
Y in John triumphantly.
y "More thanks, said [, ''to the per
% feet good health we have always had
y We made all promises for better or fo
worse. Now, it has been for the bett
% er with US all the time. Had you beel
50 sick, or honest misfortune befallen you
09 you should have managed in some wa,
% to reduce our expense so that yo
ii would feel the burden as lightly a
90 90 might be. Had | been sick, NOR
30 care would have fallen on you. Bu
80 we have helped each other save an
50 80 now | claim an equal right with yo
l6 in spending money"
IS IS ;.Whew Why, that is treason
l6 But 90 on
s5 IF we occupied the respective pos
;io ton of superior and subordinate, an
:55;3 should do what [ do for you for fxe
:68 stipend and no questions should b
:53 :33 asked as to the use made of it. Bein
NJ. equals, | will not ask compensation a
servant: but because the contract W
have made is lifelong and not easl
broken. | do not therefore call it yer
St, magnanimous in prosperous man t
oe accept these services and render i
return only my board and the lea:
4 i amount of what will creditablY cloth
me"
its You see [ was growing irate. John
IL temper, too, was evidently on the rist
''Wh do you mean By services !
house-work? I am sure home is &