Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-05-19
THE FIRM OF THOMPSON & co.
Farmer Thompson laid down tho
Weekly Forum with q grunt

Farmer Thompson laid down tn
Weekly Forum with grunt,
Well, what's tho matter now que
rled hls good spouse, Minerva, VIII,
sat mending double compound irac
tare 10 tho right leg Of pair Of IN
mentionables.
Oh, nothing was the response ut
tered In u tone Of concentrated aar
casm, which rightly interpreted, lnean
that In theioplnlon OF John Thompson
all the world and the rest of mankind
we're on tho way to destruction
Now Minerva justified her name
Tor she was q wise woman aud held
her peace well knowing that she
would not long DO kept in ignorance
as to the cause Of her llegc lords dis
turbance.
While John Is silently chewing the
cad Of his bitter fancies, and Minerva
Is healing tho rent in Joe's pants, let
us make her acquaintance,
AT last Joe's neither garment IN in
order tor another days campaign, and
Minerva takes up the paper. With
the instinct OF true houscmother she
turns first to the page devoted to fam
lily interests. After few moments
silent perusa she suddenly cycla'ms,
Good! ] wish every man could sec
this, at tho same time reading aloud
the following sentences;
Even the most perfect family life
can never entirely swallow up individ-
ualty. IL is hardly tair to ascribc al
together to natural depravily that
strong desire, common to all human
beings, for something they could call
exclusively their own. The wife or
daughter, he she ever so aflec,lonate,
will be happier and better in many
ways if she is allowed to feel herself
partner IN the family fortunes, instead
OF a mere pensoner upon the husbands
or fathers bounty, even though he
may deal out the money with n lavish
hand. And when the wife ard chill
dron do thoir part toward making that
money, as is generally the case among
farmers, it would seem but simple JUS
lice that each should have stated
yearly share OF the income.
Well, it strikes me that we men are
about played out and the sooner we
take ourselves out OF the world the
better, remarked John dolefully.
Oh no! we cant possibly spare you
yet, laughingly replied the wife, at
the same time going on with her read.
ing.
After season of profound medita-
ton John breaks the silence by say
ing, l cant see why you should be so
stirred up on this subject, tor I'm sure
I've always given you all the money
you asked for.
And so, indeed, you have, and it's
because you've always been so good
and reasonable in that respect that
I've never said before what I've often
thought, that l wonld rather have a
certain share--as the eggs and butter
money, for instance-which | can call
my own from year to year, than a
much larger sum that l must ask for
every time want few dollars.
don't think you men ever realize how
women hate to ask for money, even
when they know it will be cheertully
given. And then all men are not as
kind as you are. There's sister Marys
husband, who can never give cent
without a scowl; though shes worked
as hard as he to make and save. |
know she had rather face a loaded
cannon any time than ask him for
money, rich as he is. l declare it
makes my blood boil sometimes when
l think of it; I'm almost ready to
take the stump for woman's rights.
Go ahead, 60 ahead, said John,
laughing, I'm sure you can speechity
with the best nf them. Wen have
parson Blown give out an appoint
ment for you next Sunday-subject
Woman's right in butter and eggs.
Then there's another thing I've been
wanting to speak to you about for
some time, continued Minerva, who
was thoroughly in earnest, and meant
to have her say out. Walter told me
awhile ago that he wished father
would let him work out this summer,
and have his own earnings. l don't