The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-07-05
THE MISER'S LESSON.

by tne time ne was lOrty, Jonas Fray
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 himself 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 liberal to her at
first, but after brief honeymoon his
old habits resumed their way, 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 whatever, and that she
might wait a long while without having
such thing as a comfortable cloak sug-
gested to her.
She had been poor girl, and had no
trOusseau to speak of, and she found it
necessary to put her pride in her pocket
and ask for what she needed.
As she looked at him q little while,
grief came instead of anger.
There was so much that was good
about Jonas. 1t was terrible to see this
canker creeping over it ALL to see the
pinched lines about his mouth, the anx-
ious look in his eyes.
Poor Sara remembered stories she had
read of misers; how they starved them
selves while they counted their gold.
Would Jonas grow to- be as bad as
these?
How could she tell?
She arose softly and went out of the
room, and brought back her bonnet and
shawl, and put them on the table before
him.
Jonas, DEAR" she said, 81 don't want
you to think me unreasonable. Look at
these; see how shabby they are. They
were nice when we were married, but
they were cheap-cheap things fade so.
/ have made everything had for two
years. / did not like to ask. l have
not spent one penny of your money for
clothes. You know you gave me two
pairs of gloves in our honeymoon;
have them still"
"What good, careful girl" said
Jonas, caressing her dark hair, as she
came and sat beside him.
"Yes, / have been careful. 1t is my
nature to be careful" said Sara. "Few
mems wives would have done so much
Now, look at these things, my dear"
He looked at them long and linger
ingly.
He knew his wife was reasonable, ant
that the things were, and long had been
unfit for her to wear.
1t is hard enough for wife to do that
but to be refused was something she haC
not calculated on.
She knew her husband had bank ac
count; that there was no reason sh
should not dress well. But when sh
had said, playfully-" Jonas, shall bu,
myself some winter things to-day?
need shawl dreadfully," he had an
swered-"I thought you were too sensi
BILE woman to run after the fashions
Sara I'm sure you have very decen
things that you might wear a Ion
while yet"
"That shows how much men know,
Sara answered, determined to be plea.
ant and not to show that she was hur
g You would not like your wife to loo
shabby"
"Well, no." said Jonas; "no, br
really, Sara, money is so scarce just nov
Don't you think you might make whi
you have do little bit longer?''
"How much longerW she asket
quietly.
ooh, don't know" said Jonas. q
had an aunt, who left me somethin
when she died, who wore the same shaw
and bonnet sixteen years, and boasted ,
it too"
His wife looked at him and said notl
ing.
Economy is great thing, Sara" sal
Jonas, uneasily. at would be dreadf1
to die in the workhouse, you know; an
Hnrtf ror Cor Atbar Y,aor11ajc o1, -,
tion, do you, Sara, when you know yol
Jonas likes you as well in your o.
clothes? We won't call them shabby
Sara, only well saved"
"Call them what you please, Jonas
said Sara. "They merit both epithets
Her temper was rising fast, but 81
had sense enough to crush it down.
But his money tugged at his hear
strings.
Suppose you wear them one wint
more, Sara" he said. "Just one."
"The shawl is very thin," she sal
" will catch cold again, as did la
winter"
Poor girl" he said, softly, al
crossed toward the desk where his chec
book lay.
But the grip of the iend that rul
amiser's soul nipped him sorely as
did so.
The momentary impulse vanished.
Besides thought occurred to him.
They wear saques good deal, Sal
don't theyT' he said.
ooh, they are very fashionable"
piled his wife,
"Then couldn't you make one of tt
old billiard-cloth that is in the trur
room? he said. "My poor motf
bought il at an auction. She meant
use it as coverlet; but it's very pret
green, don't you think, Sara, and su
nice material?
There is limit to woman's patien
This suggestion measured Sara's.
She started to her feet, and, gatheri
up the bonnet and shawl, walked out
the room.
After while his wife looked into
room with her old bonnet on, and
old shawl about her shoulders, 8
said
Jonas, Pm going to spend the {
with my sister-in-law."
al hope you'll enjoy yourself,
dear" said Jonas.
lie saw her eyes were heavy W
weeping, and looked away ashamed
himself.
Then he betook himself to his off
where he ground out his money, a
during the day, compromised with h
self.
He would do no extravagant thi
but when he went home he would G
his wife what was necessary.
And, after all, as he said to hims
it would have been better to h
done it.
He had grieved her, and she was
only thing he loved on earth.
He went home earlier than usual t