The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-29
kARt'S SHAWL.

Jonas Pray was sliDgy. He hid
his saeetmeats from bis little broth.
e:s when be was child, and smoked
his cigars alune when a young man.
By the time be was forty be was very
rich man, though he lived as plainly
as ever and somehow about that
age the first tender feelings be had
ever known crept into his heart lie
fell in love with buxom, good-tem-
pered young woman named Sara
Woolwicb, and offered himself to her.
He was not an Unlocking man, and,
when he chose, could make himself
agreeable. Sara liked him and ac-
cepted him.
Jonas meant to be liberal to her at
first but after brief honeymoon OF
happiness the old habits resumed
their sway. At last, tie second Win
ter of their married life came on,
Sara found that all her remarks about
her shabby Summer hat had no effect
whatever, and that she might wait Il
long while without having such a
thing as comfortable cloak suggest
ed to her. She had been poor girl,
had no trcusseau 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 a
wife to do that; but to be refused
was something she had not calculated
on. She knew that her husband had
q large bank account-.hat there was
no reason why she should not dress
as well as any lady in the land but
when she said plavfully, Jonas
shall buy myself some winter
things to-day ? | need shawl dread
fully !" be answered, 81 thought you
were too sensible woman to run after
the fashions, Sara I'm sure you have
very decent things. that you might
wear long time yet"
That shows how much you men
know" Sara answered, determined |
to be pleasant and not show that
she was hurt, "You would not like
your wife to look shabby. Jonas ?"
"Weil, no,n said Jonas-"no but
really, Sara, money is 80 scarce just
nov. Don't you think you might
make what yoI have do little Ion
ger 7"
"How much longer gr she asked
quickly
"Oh. | don't know" said Jones.
81 had an su lt-who len me some
thing when she died-wbo wore .he
same shawl and bonnet sixteen years,
and bossted of it, too!''
His wife looked at him, and said
[ to,hing.
"Ecolomy IL a great thing, Sara"
said Jonas, uneasily. ''It would be
dreadful to die IN the poor house, you
know. And you don't care for other
peoples admi a.ion, do you, Sara,
when you know your JoLas likes you
just as well in your well-saved clothesg
We VOL. call them shabby. Sara. on
ly well saved"
Call them what you please, Jonas 7
they merit both epithets" |
She sat quietly with her hands fold
ed on the table before her for sa hle
Her temper was rising fast, but she
bad sense enough to crush it down.
A miser is the victim of vice rhst
him, just as the drunkard Is
ouas was asbsm, of himself even !
as be spoke, and she knew it. As
she looked at hin little while, grief {
came instead of anger There wa,
20 much that was o ID about Jonas
IL was terrible to see this cahker
creeping over it sll-.o see the piuch-
ID lines about his moutb-the strange,
anxious look in bis eyes. Poor Sara
stt ries she had read Of q
they starved themselves
\ hile they counted their gold-how |
some OF them died in the dark to |
ave candles-and how, through q {
oug illness, one of the wealthiest of I
hese men refused to have q pillow q
brought to him or even q little sauce
,sn 10 which to eat bis porridge G
Would Jonas grow to be ss bad rs
hese How could she tell !? Once {
" twice be had found fault with the I
used, and moaned over his Q
butchers till. But men generally :
lid something of that sort, she had Q
leard, and knew nothing about dress. .
She rose softly, went out of the room,
nd brought back her shawl and bon q
let and put them before him on the =
able.
Jonas dear" she said, Il don't o
want TO be unreasonable. Look at 8
hese! See how they are. They
gere nice when we married; but they
vere cheap. very cheap. Cheap 5
bings fade SO. have made every.
hing bad do for two years l did 4
Iot like to ask for clothes. You C
now you gave me two pairs of .
loves in our honeymoon. have
hem stillp 9
"Wbst good, careful girl!" said q
Ionss. csressing her black hair. ss q
be came and sat on low stool be-
lie him. o
.Yes, have been eareful-it is my
sture to be careful" said Sara. &
Few rich mems wives would have
one so much. Now, look at these b
hinuo my dosr ~ n