Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-11-03
SARA'S SHAWL.

Jonas Pray was born stingy; he hi d
his sweetmeats fpom his little brothers
when he was schild, and smoked his ci-
gars alone when he was young man.
BY the time he was forty he was a very
rich man, though he lived as plainly as
ever, and somehow about that age the
first tender feelings he had ever known
crept into his heart. He fell in love with
buxom, good tempered young woman
named Sara Woolwich, and offered him-
self to her. He was not an Ill looking
man, and when he chose could make
himself agreeable. Sara liked him and
accepted him. Jonas meant to be liber-
al to her at first, but after brief honey
moon of happiness his old habits resum-
ed their sway, and at last, the second
winter of their married life coming on,
Sara found that all her remarks about her
shabby summer hat had no effect what
ever, and that she might wait long time
without having such thing as a cloak
suggested to her. She lad been poor
girl and had no trosseau to speak Of, and
she found it necessary to put her pride in
her pocket and ask for what she needed.
1t was hard enough for n wife to do
that, but to be refused was something she
had not calculated on.
She knew that her husband had large
bank account-that there was no reason
why she should not dress as well as any
lady IN the land. But, when she had
said, playfully, Jonas, shall buy my
self some winter things to- day ? I'need n
shawl dreadfully," he answered 81
thought you were too sensible woman
to run after the fashions, Sara. am sure
you have decent things that you might
wear a long time yet"
THAT shows how much men know"
Sara answered, determined to be pleasant
and not to show that she was hurt. "You
would not like to see your wife look shah
by, Jonas ?"
We'll, no." said Jonas" no, but
really Sara, money is so scarce just now.
Don't you think you might make what
you have do little longer ?"
How much longer ?" she asked quiet
ly.
"Oh, l don't know" said Jonas. "I
had an aunt who left mo something when
she died, who wore the same shawl and
bonnet for sixteen years, and boasted OF
it, too ~
His wife looked at him and said moth
ing.
Economy is great thing, Sara"
said Jonas, uneasily. 1T would be
dreadful to die in the poor house, you
know; and you don't care for other peo-
pies admiration, do you, Sara, when you
know your Jonas likes you just as well in
your well-saved clothes ? We won't call
them shabby, Sara, only well-savcd.,'
Call them what you please, Jonas
they mefit both epthets."
She sat quietly, with her hands folded
on the table before her, for n while. Her
temper was rising fast, but she had sense
enough to crush it down.
A miser is the victim ofa vice that
masters him, just as the drunkard is. 10
mas was ashamed OF himself even ms he
spoke, and she knew it. As she looked
at him little while, grief came instead
of anger. There was so much that wa,
] f,g,l hpt IA 4.
this canker creeping over it all to see
the pinched lines about his mouth-the
strange, anXiods look in his eyes. Poor
Sara remem bered stories she had read OF
misers how they starved themselves
while they counted their gold how some
of them died in the dark to save candles,
and how, through long illness, one OF
the wealthiest of these men refused to
have little pillow brought for him, or
even little sauce pan in which to heat
his porridge. Would Jonas grow to be
as bad as these How could she tell ?
Once or twice of late he had found fault
with the amount used, and moaned over
his butchers bill. But men generally
did something Of that sort, she had heard,
and men knew nothing about dress. She
arose softly and went out Of the room,
and brought back her shawl and bonnet
and put them before him on the table.
"Jonas, DEAR" she said, Il don't
want to be unreasonable. Look at these;
sac how shabby they are. They were
very nice when we were married, but
they were cheap very cheap - cheap
things fade so. | have made everything
| had do for two years. | did not like to
ask for clothes. You know you gave
me two pair Of gloves in your honey
moon have them still"
What n good careful girl I" said Jo-
mas, caressing her dark hair, as she came
and sat down on low stool beside him.
- Yes, have been careful it is my
nature 10 be careful, " said Sara. Few
rich mems wives would have done SO
much. Now LOOK at these things, my
dear"
Jonas looked. There came time af-
terward when it seemed to him that the
faded tint Of that shawl, its dingy palm
leaves Of yellow brown, and the wilted
flowers and shabby ribbon Of the bonnet
had been scared into his brain. He look
ed at them long and lingerngly. He
knew that his wife was reasonable, and
that the things were, and long had been,
unfit for her to wear. But his money
tugged at his heart strings.
Suppose you wear them just one win
ter more," he said-"just one"
"The shawl is very thin," said she, 81
shall catch cold again as did last win
ter"
Poor girl !" he said, softly, and
1,oI,o1 to,ya tho i'll ,.,Loro l. E,