The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-11
Five Minutes Work.

by MRS. FRANCES d. GAGE.
"Here Lizz!e, wish you would put a
few stitches into my coat; it's getting so
shabby"
"It's so Frank; but really think you
had better take it to the tailor"
"Take il to tailor BY George! but
that's huge idea. Why, there's not five
minutes work to be done, and the tailor
would charge dollar
81 suppose he would, but don't see how
| can do it to-day. Walter is very fretful,
and you know he kept me awake nearly all
night"
''Little imp! 1t does not seem to me
there ever was 80 cross young one. AL
ways some excuse! Well, you must mend
my coat, anyhow"
al will try and find time"
"Try just let him squall twill do him
good-strengthen his lungs"
"Then, you know, i. is ironing day
"Well, how many more excuses? I'll
put it on, rips and all, if you are going to
make fuss"
ooh, no, Frank, didn't mean to make
fuss but it's long job, and one l am not
used to and with my dinner TO get. and
can get it done. But III do my best"
Such was the conversation that passed
between young husband and Il wife OF
eighteen months standing.
Frank Burton was what the world calls
a real driver. He made anything that went
through his hands inure to his own ben
eft. Everybody liked him because he was
so frank, and withal so honest and upright
in all his dealings with his customers. He
was well educated for a business man lived
in society; had made up his mind that he
could support a wife, and, according to his
reckoning, save something to boot Yes,
to be sure he could. There were six dollars
week for board, and one dollar a week fol
washing and then quarters and dimes in
Vulnerable for taking his lady acquaintance
to ride, to the theatre, to ice cream saloons
balls, operas, etc.
"By George!" he exclaimed, as he cast
up his yearly account, 'thafs huge enough
to break fellow; thousand year; il
won't do; I'll marry and settle DOWN.
So he applied to Lizzie Forsyth to be his
wife and; he was soon in possession of her.
A snug house was rented, and the work
of supporting a wife began in earnest. The
FIVE rooms cost two hundred dollars year,
and were prettiy furnished Lizzie pre-
ferreG to do all her work. Sometimes by
her needle she earned dollar extra. Then,
as it was a little lonesome for Frank, he
brought home several clerks for day board
ers, at four dollars week. Still, with all
this, he would tell his acquaintances how
much less it cost him to live now he sup.
ported wife. He never seemed for mo-
ment to realize that she it was who was saw
ing all these expenses, and that if he had
not earned dollar, her busy hands would
have paid the rent and kept him from starv
ing.
So the matter stood when he asked hi;
wife TO mend his coat. Lizzie drew deeI
sigh after he was gone, and hurried hel
dishes away as soon as possible.
The coat was of broadcloth, and was hi
wedding garment; but it was well nigl
wearing out, broken under the arms, the
cord and lining in rags, the sleeve liningi
broken loose, buttons worn off; in fine
there was nearly a days work. She sa
down to the coat with a hearty good will
determined to do her best. Her needle flew
fast, but every moment it had to be lait
down to see to dinner or hush the baby. The
hours wore away, and though abe did al
she possibly could the job was still undon,
at shutdown.
Walter cried necessarily. He looked
pale, and his eyes were dim. she then re
membered Franks words, "let him squall,
and let him cry half an hour or more. Oh
how it worried her TO hear her darling cry
for its mother. Tears swan in her eye
as she thought of her hard days work ant
the want of appreciation of her labor. Sh'
knew she was making his coat look almos
rs well as new. But he would never thinl
of the toll she had upon it. "And what i
he don't" she mentally said ~ shall in my
own spirit know all have done and that Il
enough"
But Lizzie was strong hearted as well a,
loving and dutiful. So she shook of hel
discomfort and became as cheerful as pos
sible. Then she worried through supper
getting, and with much managing had al
things done by the time Frank came in with
his companions.
"My coat done, Lizzie?'
''No, not quite"
"There's a woman for ye, boys. On,
half of them would let husband go out o
the elbows a week before they would turf
aside from any plan of their own. All thu
ironing completed, I'll be bound, Lizzie.
Lizzie was taking her biscuit out of the
even, and the young man did not see tn,
deep flush of pain that flashed over he
weary features.
"Will you bring in pitcher Of water
please?" she said pleasantly.
There IL Is again when ] was a bacl
] had nothing to do but hand my coat owe
to the tailor, pay him dollar, and twa
done in jiify, and not any grumbling
No water to fetch when fellows tired
either"
Lizzie was nervous, was tired with house
hold work and care. She could not endure
his badinage, though half playful. She
hastily set the supper on the table and say
ing simply "supper ID ready" stepped IL
the bedroom and then burst into tears
Her tears did not flow long, though sht
was deeply and wrongfully hurt in hel
feelings. Her heart gained in its natura
relief, and after pretending that she wai
getting Walter asleep (Which she actually
did she bathed her eyes and came out
washed her dishes and sat down again tt
the coat.
Frank sat watching her flying fingers fo
an hour or two, as he laughed and talked
with his friends, thinking to himself tina
every turn would be the last. AT mint
o'clock she had set the last stick. Tht
coat looked like q new one all around. As
she finished she looked up with still shade
of sadness upon her brow.