Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-02-25

done in a jif(J, and not any grumbling. No
water 10 fetch when fellows tired, either"
Lizzie was nervous, was tired with house,
hold work and care She could not endure
bis badinage, though half playful She
hastily set the biscuit on tho table aHj say
Jog simply supper is ready" stepped 10 the
bedroom and then burst into tears, Her
tears did net flow. long, though she was
deeply and wrongfully hurt 10 her feelings.
Her heart gained In its natural relief, aud
after pretending that she was getting Walter
asleep (which she actually did, she ba,hed
her eyes and came out, washed her dishes,
and sat down again to the coat
Frank sat watching her a ying fingers for
an hour or two, as be laughed and talked
with his friends, thinking to himself that
every turn would be the last. At nine
o'clock she had set the last stitch. The coat
looked ike new one all around. As she
finished she looked up with still . shade Of
sadness upon her brow.
There, Frank, l have mended your coat
thoroughly. l guess II will last another
year now"
"Quite job, wasn't i'll longer than l
thought" said he, depreciatingly.
"How much clear cash have you made TO-
day, Frank ?" asked Lizzie, 10 very earn
est tone.
"What do you want to know that for 7"
was bis answer. lel
"Por my own satisfaction certainly l
should feel an interest in all your affairs.
"Well, l think tho shop has cleared twenty
dollars"
allow much do you count your own SER
vices worth ?"
"Not less than five dollars a day."
elbow many hours do you labor 2"
"Ten is the legal time nowadays.
don't generally work that many. But what
are all these questions for"
because, Frank, we are husband and
wife. We expect to live the rest Of our lives
together, and if there is harmony ia our
marriage relation, there must be justice aud
right. You may call me daily to appreciate
anything you can do. You have earned Eve
dollars to-day; and the shop has cleared
twenty. Yet to save you one dollar,
worked ten hours on your coat, and six on
your breakfast, dinner and supper. and max
| ing your home pleasant aud comfortable.
To save you that dollar, have had to hurry
all day, to put all my work out Of my line,
and to really neglect our darling boy, who
should be our FIRST care, and the last thing
under any circumstances, to be set sSide,"
| 81 had not thought Of that"
II know you had not, Frank. so l shall
freely forgive you, but l must insist that
hereafter may DO allowed to be my own
Judge of what work l had best do, and
shall not expect TO be threatened, nor hear
myself accused Of not being willing to do my
duty"
Frank felt the force Of her works and sat
silent. I.
Zone thing more, Frank, want to say
while am about it, that don't want to hear
you talking about supporting your wife. |
will not be supported while am able to
support myself fnd on looking over my
books, that the profits Of my labor amount
to FIVE dollars a week, and the board oil
yourself, myself and toe baby besides. Then
do all your extra work and my own. All
this saving has gone into Jour capital to be
invested, aud to help you make your twenty
dollars day. Out Of this comes the Eve
dollars you call the worth Of your days
work, while must labor with weary limb.
and aching head and eyes to save you one
dollar in NEEDING an old coat, which when
done, would not sell for the amount o.
your ten hours work." aaasr.
"You are making out pretty strong case
against me, Lizzie"
mo, Frank, not 4 case against you;
could not do that but am stating facts
One thing more have been at work three
hours since supper. aud you have beer
entirely idle, not even rocking the cradle
which have been obliged to do half dozer
times"
"Lizzis. don't say another word, and II
never do so again." said Frank, spriOgini
from his chair, to jog the cradle, where tbs
boy lay nesting. "YOu shall never menC
another coat"
Eyes, but will, answered Lizzie, advanc
ing to the cradle, "only don't tell me tel
hours work can be done in FIVE minutes, no
ask me to let the baby squall again"
She lifted Walter from the cradle. The
stopped to kiss his fair, rosy cheek but mad
mistake, aud kissed each other, Will
Frank whispered n.
"God bless you. Lizzie, never tho't o
all this before. l won't do it again"
Six years have passed BY, and Frank haI
kept his word. Household