River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-07
A WIFE'S HELP.

settled anu the rent pau, anu tHe oui
standing accounts balanced up satisfac
torily.
Mable May was kneeling ON the hearth
rug, toasting piece of bread for her hus
band supper.
She turned round, with cheeks flushe(
by the freight, and rosy lips apart
"Oh, Gerald, said she, II TO try s,
hard to be economical"
"Of course you do, little chick sale
Gerald, leaning over to capture one par
ticular curl of reddish brown hair tina
was dropping in spirals of gold over tn,
fair forehead, and giving it an affection
ate little twitch. Don't know that
without your telling me!
"But l wish | could help YOU criet
out Mabel "Oh, | wish | knew of any
way to earn money myself
Gerald May looked at her with al
amused smile
"My dear said he, lone would as soor
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 OF
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 a 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
7 al Al, 9
sex2'
"Gerald laughed good humoredly,
"Pour out the tea cara, he said she
fore you go ON rhapsodizing. OF course
know that you are dear little puss,
and can make an omlette or a shirt equal
to any woman in Christendom, but you
can't write stirring book nor paint a
grand picture"
"Ofcourse | don't aspire to any such
greatness as that" said Mabel impatient
ly, "but can sing"
"You We got a nice little voice enough,
said her husband, ''for the parlor, but as
to making money out of it, | hardly
think you'll find it so easy
"You don think | can do anything y
cried Mabel, half Indignantly, ''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 a slen-
der sum to the income which otherwise
would have been quite insufficient for
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.
"Oh, dear, this isn't the way to get rich.
We must make little more money,
somehow. | cant write love stories and
poetry, and | won sew for starvation
prices, and I don see my way clear 10
being shop girl, even if anybody would
employ me, because there dear old Ger
aid to be looked after and kept comfort.
able. But do think could sing if only
| obtained a chance NJ Martelli, al
school, used to say | had a good soprano
IL ask Mrs. Lacy to let me practice q
little on her piano, and then | II try my
fortune. Gerald would say it was all
nonsense. but then | don mean to ask
Gerald advice"
| And three or four weeks afterwards
when Mrs. May presented herself, trem-
bling and f1uttering, before Signor SIEVE
70, that musical autocrat viewed her will
favorable eyes through an immense pail
| of tortoise Shpll pVa-OsaGSpc
"You advertised for a soprano, sir,
SAID Mabel, turning .carmine and white
| by turns.
"Certainly, madame. | did" said The
| Signor, ''for re choir OF st. Eudocia."
"Will you please try me-?
"Wiz &c greatest Of pleasure, mad
ame," briskly opening the huge CRANE
piano, which stood like family coffin il
the middle of the ROOM and what vii
you singP
/ "Whatever you please, sir"
'Signor 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 OF
the wings OF the sublime harmony Ma
bells voice scared ike bird
Signor Severe nodded when the ari;
was over and rubbed his hands glee
fully.
"Madame," said he, sit Is strong, it i
sweet You have one good idea of tim'
and tune; eou know how to manage q
voice.
And you Will give me triall'
Mabel's heart was beating so rapidly
that she could hardly speak,
The signor nodded.
"And if re musical committee accep
you mind, Madame, / do not say re,
will, for of all committees, musical com
mittees are re most capricious--we viii
give you re zalarie Of $400 re year.
play re organ; | lead re choir, when i
will be lead at all, with comical shru,
of his shoulders, s1and shall you mos
Ordially recommend.
Mabel May tripped home as if he
, light feet were flying over rose-colore,
clouds instead Of muddy march pave
ments.
. Why, that was almost as much a
Mcssrs. Stint & Scrape paid Gerald 70
his drudgery S400.
1t would nearly double their little in
come at once and enable them to lay some
thing by for the rainy day that comes
every one sooner or later.
1t was late one Sunday night whe
Gerald May sat yasning before his so
itary FIRE.
Mabel had been spending the day an
evening with friend or at least SO sh
said and Gerald was beginning to rea
ize how lonely home was without i
pervading spirit.
AT length the door opened and Nab,
| cane In. rosy and aimpled, and wrappe
!, in huge shawl
5 Have YOU been very lonesome, deari
1 she said, radiantly.
I A.I've felt Just exactly like Robinsa
; i Crusoe on his desert island. said Geral,
: with 4 grimace And what sort of
!. day have you had, httle woman
81 @Oh, pleasant enough, eVasiveI
3 lssBut tell me, Gerald. fsow have W
r whiled away tile time
r. Ave been to . fashionable church
: said Mr.. May, st Endocia. and I mn
- take you there, MahsA |. % hear the musi