The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-09-02
ONE RIGHT OF A WIFE.


band, as I put my basket of sewing away
preparatory to retiring, John, as you
90 down tomorrow morning, wish you
would stop at Mrs. Vests door and leave
her five dollars from me-"
"Five dollars!" and my lord looked
up quite astonished. "For what p
"Why, she is collecting money to aid
that society she is secretary of, and as l
always felt interested in it, l told her l
would give her five dollars"
s:id this with quite show Cf assur-
ance, though 1 really felt quite uneasy
as to the reception OF my request, for
John is rather notional in some of his
ways; however, l had been coyitating
some matters lately in my own mind,
and determined to make bold stand.
"Well, Sarah," at length came the re-
ply, "you need noS count Oh my doing
any such thing. don't approve of that
society at all, and not Que cent of my
money shall so to help it."
81 give it out Of my money" said /,
growing bolder; 81 only asked you to
leave it at her door Zoe ne.'
"Yow money! What do you mean 2"
"I mean what say-my money. Have
1 no riyht to spend money as well as
you? 1 do not approve of the Masons,
but that does not hinder you from spend
ing money and tine for them as much as
you have n'n nd"
John looked at me, quite amazed at my
sudden outbrec'::. You see, / had always
been tie mort ami:ble of wives. Then
he broke out, quite triumphantly: aiJ
"Come, now, who earns the money
that maintaius this family?'
You and / toaether," said ].
"Together Well, should like to see
the first cent you have earned in the
seven years we nave been married. To-
gether! Well, call that pretty rich."
My spirits were visibly declining un-
der his ridicule, but l kept on as boldly
as could.
"When we were married, you thought,
or pretended to think, yourself very hap
by in assuming the care of boardbills
and wardrobes. / didn't ask it of you.
You asked me to be your wife, knowing
we'll all that meant"
GAS nearly as 1 remember" inter-
rupted John, "you were mighty ready
to accept me-"
Granted-to save argument" said !,
coloring. ssn.a WA ss.yvs,-.o
TNWell, ,swe stood upin church together,
and you promised to love, cherish, ETC.,
and 80 did IL ~ w ~ ..Asass
a And obey too, = said + "but you, in
ret1rn, endowed me with all your world.
ly goods, and the minister pronounced
us man aud wife apdsowe hsveslived. F"
81 Yes said John complacently; "and
as I look back over the time, think l
have done what agreed, and made a
pretty good husband. / really think you
oughS to be thankful when you see how
some wives live" - "a
"Well," said /, "I think have been a
domestic, prudent wife, and | don't feel
one atom mere of gratitude to you for
being a 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
miner"
"Sarab, you positively are very acri.
monious tonight. Don't you think we
had better go to bed p
"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 to the perfect
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 this time. Had you been
sick, or honest misfortune befallen you,
/ should have MANAGED some way to re-
duce our expenses so that you would feel
the burden as little as might be. Had
been sick, more care would have fallen
on you. Eut we helped each other save,
and now claim an equal right with you
in spending money"
"Whew! Why, that is treason. But
90 on"
If we occupied the respective posi-.
tions of superior and subordinate,
should do what / do for you for fixed
stipend, and no questions should be asked
as to the use made of it. Being equals
| l will not ask compensation as servant
but because tie contract we have made
Is lifelong and not easily broken, do not
therefore call it very magnanimous in
prosperous man to accept these service,
and render in return only my board and
the les st amount that will creditably
clothe me-" :.
You see, was growing irate. Johns
temper, too, was evidently on the rise.
"What do you mean by ssrvices'
Homework? / am sure home Is ~
mulch for your satisfaction as for mine
and am sure the tailor does not leave
much of my sewing for you to do"
"I don't complain of housework, or o
doing your sewing; but ! do think tho
burden of little Johnny has all fallen on
me-"