The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-02-24

''Give it out of my money! said |,
growing bolder. II only asked you
to leave it at her door for me-"
"Your money! Why, what do you
mean?"
81 mean what | sav-my money.
Have NOT right to spend money as
well as you? ! don't approve Of the
Masons, but that does no, hinde, you
from spending money and time for
them whenever you have mind to-
John looked at me quite amazed at
my sudden outbreak. You see, | had
always been the most amiable If
wives. Then he broke out quite tri-
umphan,ly:
"Come, now, who earns the money
that supports this family"
"You and | together" said |.
"Together! Well, l should like to
see the first cent you have earned in
the seven years we have been mar
ried. Together! Well, call tba,
pretty rich"
NV spirits were visibly declining
under his ridicule, but l kept on as
boldly as could.
"When we were married You
thought, or seemed to think yourself
very happy in assuming the care of
board and wardrobe. | did not ask
it of you. You asked me to be your
wife, knowing we'll all that it meant
"As nearly as can remember" in
terrupted John, you were mighty
ready to accept me-"
"Granted-to save argument" said
], coioring.
swell, We stood up in church to-
gelher, and you promised TO love,
cherish, etc, and so did l."
"And obey, too,' said |; ;"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"
"Yes," said John complacently,
''and as 1 look back over the time, ]
think have done what agreed to,
and made pretty good husband. |
really think you ought to be thankful
when you see how some wives live."
"Well, think / have been do
mestic, prudent wife, and l 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 marriage promises
than that keep mine?"
"Sarah, you are positively very ac,
rimonious tonight. Don't you think
we had better go to bed?"
mo, sir Well, meantime we have
laid by money to buy this house, and
still have money in the bank
"Thanks to my hard work. chin
ed in John
"Morc thanks said /, "to the per-
feet good health we have always had.
We made ali 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 50
that you might feel the burden as
little as might be. Had | 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 it,
"Whew! Why that is treason. But
go on
"If we occupied the respective po
tltions Of superior and subordinate, |
should do what do for you fo' a
stipend, and no questions should be
asked as to the use made Of it. Being
equals, l will no. ask compensation
as a servant; but because the con-
tract we have make is lifelong and
not easily broken one, do not there
fore call il very magnanimous in a
prosperous man to accept these SER
vices and render in return only nv
board and the least amount that will
creditably clo,he me-"
You see / was growing angry; and
Johns temper, too, was eviden,l y on
the rise.
"What do you mean by services?
Housework? am sure home is as
much for your satisfaction as for mine;
and l am sure that the tailor does no,
leave much of my sewing for you to
do"
81 don't complain Of housework
nor Of doing your sewing; but do
think the burden Of little Johnny has
fallen on me-"
"It strikes me-" said he with
provoking complacency of tone, ",ha'
if you earned his living you would
have less to say about the burden
falling on you"
John," said ], "answer me honest
ly. Do you work any harder or long
er now than you did when he wac
born:"
81 don't know as l do," said he; 81
always worked hard enough"
"Well, and SO did /. But now as
to Johnny. lpresume you will allow
yourself half owner of him, as ,he
law allows you entire control over
him. How much do you do for him?"
81 maintain him. l do my part.
"No, John, you are wrong; you
don't do your part. From the frs,
you never have. Did not weary
months go by in which you bore no
part whatever of the weary burden?"
swell, that is curious complaining;
what would you have me do2'
"You might have got a servant,
instead of letting all the housework
on me; or you might have kept
horse SO that could ride out and en-
joy the fine weather; but that is al
past"
Il should say that it cost me enough
for the doctor, nurse, ETC., without
talking about keeping horse"
True, it cost enough; but l am
talking about the division of the
burden. Was the part you bore in
tie pay ymsnt of those bills equal t.
Iry pnt in the matter? Would you
have /. ken nv lace for that money