Richmond weekly palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1875-1905, 1875-12-09
ONE RIGHT OF 4 WIFE.
lrrom the woman,s Journal. |

door and leave her 50 for me.
Five dollars! and my lord looked
up quite astonishod For what
why, she is collecting money to
aid that society she is secretary Of,
and as always fels interested in it,
told her I would give her So.
said this with quite show of as
surance. though l really felt quite
uneasy as to the reception of my re
quest, for John is rather notional in
some of his ways: however. l had
been cogitating some matters lately
in my own mind, aud determined to
make a bold stand.
"Well, Sarah. at length came the
reply, you need not count on my do
ing any such thing. | don't approve
Of that society at all. and not one
cent of my money shall go to help
it."
Il give it out of my money" said L,
growing bol.ier. Il only asked you
to leave it at her door for me-
Your money! What do you
mean?"
Il mean what l say-my money.
Have | no right to spend money as
well as you? [ 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, had
wives. Then he broke out quite
the money that maintains this fami-
ly?"
You and | together, said l.
Together! Well, l should like to
see the first cent you have earned in
the seven years we have been married.
Together! Well, 1 call that pretty
rich. :"
My spirit were visibly declining
under his ridicule, 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
ofboard and wardrobe. l didn't ask
it of you You asked me to be your
wife. knowing we'll all that meant y
AS nearly as [ remember" inter
rupted John. you were mighty
ready to accept me" :,
'Granted-to save argument" said
L, coloring.
well we stood up in church to
gether, aud you promised to love.
cherish, etc., and so did ["
And obey, tco," said [; but you,
in return, endowed we with all your
worldly goods, and the minister pro-
nounced US man and wife; and go we
have lived.
Yes" said John, complacently,
and as look back over the time, l
think have done what / agreed, and
made pretty good husband [ really
think you ought to be thankful when
you see how some wives live
well" said 1. Il think [ have
been domestic, prudent wife, and
don't feel one atom more of gratitude
to you than you ought to feel to me
for being decent wife. Is it any
more merit that you keep your mar
riage promises than that [ keep
miner
Sarah, you are positively very acri-
moniOus tonight. Don't you think
we had better go to bed?''
No. sir. Well, meantime we have
laid by money to buy this house, and
still have some in the bank
Thanks to my hard work" chimed
in John.
More thanks" said l, to the per-
feet good health we have always had
We made all these promises for bet
ter or for worse. Now it has been
better for US all the time. Had you
been sick or honest misfortune be-
fallen you, l should have managed
some way to reduce our expenses so
that you might feel the burden as lit
tie as might be. Had I 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.
IF we occupied the respective posi-
tions of superior and subordinate, |
should do what [ do for you tor q
fixed stipend. and no questions should
be asked as to the use made of it.
Being equals, will not ask compen
sation as -servent; but because the
contract we have made is lifelong and
not easily broken. do not therefore
call it very magnanimous in II prosper
Gus man to accept these services and
render in return only my board and
the least amount that will creditably
clothe me-
You see | was growing irate. John s
temper, too, was evidently on the
rise.
HOusework? [ am sure home is as
much Tor your satisfaction as for mine;
and am sure the tailor does not
leave much of my sewing for you to
do"
II don't complain of homework nor
ofdoing your sewing, but do think
the burden of little Johnny has fallen
on me.
ut strikes ME" said he, with a
provoking conplacency of tone, that
If you earned his living you would
have less to say about the burden
falling on you.
John, said L, answer me hon
estly. Do you work any harder or
any longer now than you did before
he was born?'
Il don't know as do" said he; =" /
always worked hard enough"
We'll, and so do |. But now as to
johnny. [ presume you will allow
yourself half owner of him, as the law
allows you entire control over him.
How much do you do for him?"
II maintain him. I do my part"
mo, John. you are wrong; you
don't do your part. From the first
you never have. Did not weary
months 60 by in which you bore no
part whatever Of the burden?"
well, that is curious complaining;
what would you have me do?'
You might have got servant, in
stead of letting all the homework tall
on me; or you might have kept a
horse so that could ride out and en-
joy the fine weather; but that is all
past now"
should say that it cost me enough
for the doctor, nurse, etc., without
talking about keeping horse"
True, it cost enough; but lam talk
ing about the division of the burden.
Was the part you bore in the payment
Ofthose bills equal to my part in the
matter? Would you have taken my
place for that money if it were to
have been paid you instead OF those
who cared for you? think not
Didn't [ have all his clothes to
buy?"
mo, sir l went without new
clothes of any sort for season, and
the money saved from my wardrobe
supplied all that was needed; and 1
might add that all his clothes have
been got in the same Way'