Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-01-29
The Wife's Ambition.
BY AMY RANDOLPH,

sOineWndJ ruelully at the solitary one
dollar bill, which was all that remained
ofhis months salary after the house.
keeping bills were settled, and the rent
paid, and the outstanding accounts al
the dry goods store balanced up salts.
factorily.
Mable May was kneeling on the
hearth rug, toasting a piece of bread fol
her husbands supper. She turned
around with cheeks flushed by the fire.
light, ard rosy lips apart.
oh, Gerald, said she, L do try 50
hard to be economical =
OF course you do, little chick said
May, leaning over to catch one particu-
lar curl of reddish brown hair that was
dropping IN spirals Of gold over the fair
forehead, and giving it.an anectionate
little twitch. Don't l know that with
out you telling mel
But 1 wish could help you,' cried
out Mabel. Oh, Iwish knew of any
way TO earn money myself
Gerald May looked at her with an
amused smile.
My DEAR said he, one would as soon
expect an diversified doll to earn mon
ey.'
Other women do,' said Mabel. criti-
cally surveying the slice Of bread to
make sure that was artistically Drowned
on both sides.
But you are such chIldr
4 am two and twenty said Mabel,
solemnly,
'Nonsensen said Gerald, What
could you do to earn money!
Mabel colored at the deprecatory tone
ef the words.
Gerald, said she, II do wish YOU
would treat me more like woman and
less like child. Don't you suppose 1
have as much talent as the rest of my
sex?'
Gerald laughed good humoredly.
Pour out the tea, cara he said, before
you 90 rhapsolizing OF course,
know that you're dear little puss, and
can make an omelette or shirt with any
woman in Chustendom. But you
can't write a stirring book like George
Eliot, nor paint a grand picture ike
Rosa Bonheur."
'Oi course, don't aspire TO any
such greatness as that said Mabel,
impatlcntly, but can sing
You've got a nice little voice,
enough, said her husband, patronlzingly
for the parlor; but as to making money
out Of il hardly think you'll find it
SO easy
You don't think 1 can do anything,
Mabel. half Indignantly. Only just be-
cause am a woman
some women drive fate single.hand-
ed,' said Gerald slipping his tea with
provoking nonchalance. but you're not
of that sort. my dear'
But long after Gerald had lighted his
student lamp and commenced his even
ing ayocation OF copying law papers, by
pursuit he added a slender sum to the
income which would otherwise have
been quite insufficient for even the slen-
der wants Of the young married pair,
Mabel sat with folded hands gazing into
the red Goals, as lfshe could read there
some clue to the problem Of her life.
only one dollar lett of our months
money after our months bills are all
settled. said Mrs. Mabel to herself,
screwing up her little rosebud mouth,
oh. dear! that isn't the way to get rich
We must make little more money
some how. can't write love stories
and poetry, and won't sew for starya'
lion prices; and I don't see my way
clear to beng a shop girl or a cashier
even ifanybody would employ me, be-
cause there's dear old Gerald to be look
after and kept comfortable. But | dc
think I could sing. if only obtained I
chance. Mr.. Martell, at the boarding
school. used to say had soprano,
III ask Mrs. Lacy, up stairs, to let me
practice little on her piano, and ther
I'll try my fortune. Gerald would say
it was all nonsense; but don't mean tt
ask Gerald's advice
And three or four weeks afterwards
when Mrs. May presented herself 'trem-
bling and futtering, before sgnor Sc
we're. that musical autocrat viewed her
with favorable eyes, through an immens'
parr of tortoise-shell Eyeglasses.
You advertised for soprano, sr,
said Mabel turning camerine and whit
by turns.
Certainly, madame, did, said th'
signor. For ze choir of St. EudOeis, il
Magnolia Square,
VIII you please try me?'
.Wix ze greatest of pleasure madame,
; briskly opening the grand piano wh.cl
stood like a family coffin in the midc!
Of the room. And what VIII yod sing:
whatever you please, sir
Signor Severe restled piece OF musi
out of a drift some three feet high on tn
floor. -,
'Bein! We will try zis,' said he.
He struck the cords, aud rising up o.
the wings of the sublime harmony, Ma
bells voice scared like bird.
signor severe nodded when the ari
was over, and rubbed hishands glee
fully.
Madame said he, 1T is as strong
il is sweet. You have one idea OF tim
ood trno-vou know how TO manage z