The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-12-23
ONE RIGHT OF A WIFE,

"John," said I one night to my hus
band, as put my basket of sewing
away preparatory to retiring, "John, as
you go down tomorrow morning,
wish you would stop at Mrs. Vests dool
and leave her SIS for me-"
"Five dollars!" and my lord looked
up quite astonished. "For what2"
"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 So"
| said this with quite show of as
surance, though l really felt quite un-
easy as to the reception of my request,
for John is rather notional in some OF
his ways; however, 1 had been cogita-
ting some matters lately in my own
mind, and determined to make bold
stand.
"Well, Sarah" at length came the
reply, "you need not count on my do
ing any such thing. I don't approve
OF that society at all, and not one cent OF
my money shall go to help it."
81 give it out of money!" said I,
growing bolder. 81 only asked you to
leave it at her door for me-.
"Your money What do you
mean2"
"I mean what / say-my money.
Have 1 no right to spend money as we'll
as you2 don't approve of the Masons,
but that does not hinder you from
spending n jney and time for them as
much as you have mind"
John looked at mo quite amazed at my
sudden outbreak. You see, had al
ways been the most amiable of wives.
Then he broke out quite triumphantly
"Come, now, who earns the money
that maintains this family1'
"You and I together" said /.
"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 spirits were visibly declining un-
der his ridicule, but I kept on as boldly
as 1 could.
"When we were marriedyou thought,
or pretended to think, yourself very
happy in assuming the care of board and
wardrobe. l didn't ask it of you. You
asked me to be your wife, knowing well
all that meant"
GAS nearly as 1 remember" inter
to accept me-"
Granted-to save argument, said /,
coloring.
"Well, we stood up in church to-
gether, and you promised to love,
cherish, ETC., and so did l."
"And obey, too," said 1 "but you,
in return, endowed me with all your
worldly goods, and the minister pro-
nounced us man and wife; and so we
have lived"
eyes," said John, complacently,
"and as I look back over the time, 1
think I have done what agreed, and
made pretty good husband. 1 really
think you ought to be thankful when
you see how some wives live"
"Well," said 1, 81 think 1 have
been a domestic, prudent wife, and 1
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 thatyou keepyour marriage prom
ises than that keep mine %
"Sarah, you are positively very acri-
monious tonight Don't you think we
had better go to bed 2"
"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 1, 9" to the per-
feet good health we have always had.
We made all these promises for better
or for worse. Now it has been better
for us all the time. Had you been sick
or honest misfortune befallen you, 1
should have managed some way to re-
duce our expenses so that yeu might feel
the burden as little as might be. Had l
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, 1
should do what do for you for fixed
stipend, and no questions should be
asked as to the use made of it. Being
equals, will not ask compensation as
servant but because the contract we
have made is a lifelong and not easily
broken, I do not therefore call it very
magnanimous in a prosperous man to
accept these services and render in re-
turn only my board and the least amount
that will creditably clothe me-"
You see L was growing irate. Johns
temper, too, was evidently on the rise.
What do you mean by services
Houseworka l am sure a home is as
much for your satisfaction as for mine;
and l am sure the tailor does not leave
much of my sewing for you to do"