Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-09-20
Sign Of the Big Boot

cause he had no strawberries, and
when he sat down to the table the
tea was too weak the bread tasted
Of saleratus, and the butter was
strong. He snarled and growled
first at Maria and then at Bridget,
till the wifewas almost discouraged.
But she did not give away to the
impulse Of the moment and get out
of temper. She kept the smiling,
however cutting and severe came
the criticisms of her husband.
After tea he was little modified,
for there seemed to be nothing more
to grumble at, ana even conde-
scended to smile.
Edward, l want fifty dollars to
morrow" said Maria.
This was rather a remarkabl re-
quest for the careful little woman
to make, for she was very prudent
in regard to her private expenses.
Certainly, Maria" replied Ed
ward. 81 hope you are going to
buy a new silk"
IL am"
He handed her the money and
hoped she would dress herself a
great deal better than before, for
he could afford It.
81 am going to spend as much
money as / cau," said she.
"That is right, Maria, do" adj
ded the reckless ,husband.F And
Edward soon had reason TO repent
this advice, for Maria now seemed
to spend all her spare time in ask
ing for money. He was too reck-
less, too magnanimous to deny her
or to suggest that she was exceed
ing the bounds of reason.
She was merciless in her drafts
upon him, and to supply her de-
mands, for he had not the courage
to refuse her modest requests, he
was obliged to curtail his own pri-
vate expenses. On several occa-
sions he had been obliged to bor-
row money to meet her acquisitions
upon his purse, and being an hon
est man he had to cut off many lux
uries in order to pay those loans.
What had got into Maria : She
was extravagant, and yet she did
not seem to be dressed much better,
or his house to be supplied with
many additional luxuries. But he
was too proud to complain. He
did not hint, but she would not
take hint.
A year passed by and there was
no Improvement in the reckless
woman. Fortunately for him his
salary was raised to two thousand,
but it was scarcely done before
Maria demanded a fifty dollar bill.
"You spend more money than
yon used to spend, Maria" he sug-
gested.
"What is the use for me to pinch
myself, il you spend all you get r.
smiled Maria, so swectly he could
not say another word. 81 want to
have the good of the money while
it is going, as well as you"
Edward had some doubts as to
the consequences, but what puzzled
him most was to know what became
of the money. Another year pass
ed by, and the danger of running
in debt stared him in the face.
"Maria, we are living too fast, !
am afraid" observed in o melan-
choly tone.
"I am afraid you are, for yester-
day you brought home a pair OF
chickens, for which you paid twen-
ty cents a pound" replied Maria,
with her usual smile.
"Pooh, Maria, ! don't mean these
little things. We must have some
thing to eat and while my salary is
81, 900 year, ] mean to live we'll
"Great trees from little acornt
grow, y she said.
"Let us stop the bung hole first,
continued Edward, desperately
"would you believe, my dear, tha'
I have given you six hundred dol
lars year for the past two years,
l "what is elk hundred dollars