The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-25
One Right of o Wife.

Danu, as put my basket OF sewing away
preparatory to retiring, John, as you
60 down tomorrow morning | wish you
would stop at Mrs. Vests door and leave
her S5 for me-"
Five dollars !" and my lord looked up
quite astonished. " For what 2"
Why, she is collecting money to aid
that society she is secretary Of, aud as |
always felt interested in it, told her
would give her So.
said this with quite show of as.
surauce, though l really felt quite uneasy
as to the reception of my request, for
John is rather notional in some Of his
ways however, | had been cogitatipg
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 doing
any such thing. don't approve of that
society at all, and not one cent of my
money shall go to help it."
give it out Of my money" said [,
growing boldor. only asked you to
leave it at her door for me-"
Yonr money What do you mean ?"
mean what l say-my money.
Have | no right to spend money as well
as you l don't approve Of the Masons,
but that does not hinder you from spend.
ing money and time for them as much as
you have a mind"
John looked at mo quite amazed at II y
sudden outbreak. You see had alway 8
been the most amiablo Of fwives. Then lie
broke out quito triumphantly:
Come, now, who earns the money
that maintains this family 2"
" You aud | together" said /.
." Together Well, | should like to see
the first cent you have earned in the sew.
en- years we have been married. Togeth
er! Well, l call that pretty rich"
My spirits were visibly declining under
his ridicule, but | kept on as boldly as |
could.
When we were married you thought
or pretended to think, yourself very hap.
py in assuming the care of board aud
wardrobe. ] didn't ask it of you. You
asked me to be your WIFE knowing well
all that meant"
" AS nearly as remomber," inter.
rupted John, you we're mighty ready 10
accept me-"
" Granted--to save argument" said l.
coloring.
Well, we stood up in church togeth
er, and you promised to love, cherish
etc. and SO did l."
" And obey, too," said "but you
in return, endowed me with all youl
worldly goods, and the minister pro
Dounced US man and wife; and so We
have lived"
YES" said John, complacently, "auC
as | look back over the time, 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 l. s. think | have beer
domestic, prudent wife. and don't fec
ono atom more gratitude to you than yot
ought to feel to mo for being a decen
wife. Is it any molo rserit that ycu
keep your marriage promises than that
keep mine p
Sarah. you are positively very acti
monious tonight Don't you think wt
had better go to bed ?"
mo, sir. We'll, meantime wo have
laid by money to buy this house, and sill
have some in the bank"
Thanks to my hard work !" chin 1c
in John.
" More thanks" said |, 'to tho per
feet good health VIC have always had
We made all these promises for better ol
for worse. Now it has been better fol
US all tho time. Had you been sick q
honest misfortune befallen you, l should
have managed some way to reduce oul
expenses so that you might feel the bur
ueD dS IItuo as nigul De. r1ad L peer
sick, more care would have fallen on you
But we helped each other save, and no "
| claim an equal right with you in spend
ing money -
Whew Why that is treason. But
60 on"
"Ifwe occupied the respective position:
Of superior and subordinate, | sheuld 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 ne,
ask compensation as servant but be-
cause the contract We have made is life
long, and not easily broken, | do Dot
therefore call it very magnanimous in a
prosperous man to accept these service:
aud render in return only my board AM
the least amount that will creditably
clothe me-
You see | was growing irate. John,
temper, too, was yisibly on the rise.
What do you mean by services
Housewife | am sure home is as much
for your satisfaction as for mine and an
sure the tailor does not leave much Of
my sewing for you to do"
" don't complain of housework nol
of doing your sewing but | do think tie
burden of little Johnny has fallen on me-
" 1t strikes me-" said he, with q pro
voking complacency Of tone, that if you
earned bis living you would have less to
say about the burden falling on you"
OOuui Haiu IL auohSl tuc uOucotll
Do you work any harder or any longer
now than you did when he was born ?"
" don't know as | do" said he, "
always worked hard enough
" Well, and so do l. But now as to
Johnny. presume you win allow your
self half owner OF him, as the law allows
you entire control over him. How much
do you do for him ?"
maintain him. do my part"
" No, John, you are wrong; you don't
do your part. From the first you never
have. Did not weary months 60 by ia
which you bore no part whatever of the
burden r.
"Well, that is curious complaining
what would you have me do ?"
You might have got servant, in.
! stand of LETTING all the housework fall IN