Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-03
AWIFE,S HELP.

"A WIFE'S HELP.
"It's hard rub to get along, little
wife,. isn't it?' said Gerald May, as he
closed his account book and looked some
what ruefully at a solitary $40 bill which
was all that remained of his month s
salary after the housekeeping bills were
settled and the rent paid, and the out
standing accounts balanced up satisfac-
torily.
Mable May was kneeling on the hearth
rug, toasting a piece of bread for her hus-
bands supper.
She turned round, with cheeks flushed
by the freight, and rosy lips apart.
ooh, Gerald" said she, III 10 try so
hard to be economical"
"Of course you do, little chick" said
Gerald, leaning over to capture one par
ticular curl Of reddish brown hair that
was dropping in spirals Of gold over the
fair forehead, and giving it an affection
ate little twitch. "Don't 1 know that,
without your telling me?'
"But I wish could help you," cried
out Mabel ooh, I wish knew of any
way to earn money myself"
Gerald May looked at her with an
amused smile.
"My DEAR" said he, zone would as soon
expect an over-slzed doll to earn money. .
"Other women do" said mabel, critic
ally surveying the slice of bread to make
sure that it was artistically Drowned on
both sides.
'But you are such child.'
"I'm two and twenty" said Mabel,
solemnly.
"Nonsense!' said Gerald. What could
you do to earn money!"
Mabel colored little at the deprecia-
tory tone of the words.
"Gerald," said she, II do wish YOU
would treat me more like a woman and
less like child. Don't you suppose that
I have as much talent as the rest of nv
sex9"
'sGerald laughed good humoredly,
"Pour out the tea cara" he said, ssbe-
fore you go on rhapsodizing. Of course
I know that you are dear little puss,
and can make an omlette or shirt equal
to any woman in Christendom, but you
can't write stirring book nor paint a
grand picture"
'sOf course don't aspire to any such
greatness as that" said Mabel impatient
ly, "but can sing"
"You'Ye got nice little voice enough, y
said her husband, sstor the parlor, but as
to making money out of it, I hardly
think you'll find it so easy
"You don't think can do ANYTHING, .
cried Mabel, half Indignantly, s'only be-
cause am woman"
"Some women can drive fate single
handed, " said Gerald May, slipping his
tea with provoking nonchalance, "but
you are not one Of the sort, my dear"
But long after Gerald had commenced
his evening avocation of copying law pa
pers, by which pursuit he added slen-
der sum to the income which otherwise
would have been quite insufficient fol-
even the slender wants of the young mar
ried pair, Mabel sat with folded hands,
gazing into the red Goals, as if she could
read there some clue to the problem of
her life.
"Only ten dollars left after our bills
are all settled" said May to herself
ooh, dear, this isn't the way to get rich
We must make little more money,
somehow. 1 can't write love stories and
poetry, and l won't sew for starvation
prices, and I don't see my way clear to
being shop girl, even if anybody would
employ me, because there's dear old Ger
| aid to be looked after and kept comfort
able. But do think could sing if only
| obtained chance. M. Martelli, at
| school, used to say l had a good soprano
Ill ask Mrs. Lacy to let me practice a
little on her piano, and then Ill try my
fortune. Gerald would say it was all
nonsense, but then I don't mean to ask
Gerald's advice"
And three or four weeks afterwards,
when Mrs. May presented herself, trem-
bling and futtering, before Signor Seve-
70, that musical autocrat viewed her with
favorable eyes through an immense pair
OF tortoise shell eyeglasses.
"You advertised for soprano, sir
SAID Mabel, turning carmine and white
by turns.
Certainly, madame. I did," said the
Signor, flor re choir of st. Eudocia.''
"Will you please try me?o
"Wiz re greatest of pleasure, mad
ame," briskly opening the huge grand
piano, which stood like family coffin in
the middle of the room. stAnd what will
you sing2"
Whatever you please, sir.''
sSignor Severe rustled piece of music
out Of drift some three feet high on the
floor.
"Bien! We will try zis," said he.
He struck the chords, and rising up on
the wings OF the sublime harmony Ma.
bel's voice scared like bird.
Signor Severe nodded when the aria
was over and rubbed his hands glee-
fully.
madame" said he, cit Is strong, it is
sweet. You have one good idea Of time
and tune; you know how to manage ze
voice.
"And you will give me trial9'
Mabels heart was beating so rapidly
that she could hardly speak.
The signor nodded.
''And if re musical committee accent
you mind, Madame, I do not saw zey
will, for Of all committees, musical com.
mittees are re most capricious-we will
give you re zalarie of $4OO re wear. j
play re organ; lead re choir, when ii
will be lead at all, with comical shrug
of his shoulders, sand I shall you most
cordially recommend
Mabel May tripped home as if he1
light feet were flying over rose-colored
clouds instead Of muddy march pave
ments.
Why, that was almost as much as
Messrs. Stint 8 Scrape paid Gerald for
his drudgery $500.