Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-10

MIA L . Al NIL III, lOt
knowledge of my friends, this absurd
farce will end, without any more un-
pleasantness." So
Monday morning came, all too soon;
for try as he would, he could not get the
attention of Annie, when he endeavored
to broach the. subject of the projected
trip. Fidgetting with his knife and fork,
he cleared his throat, at last, and in
nervous way made the plunge.
Mrs. Gray elevated her eyebrows.
''To the islandp Pray for what? It
is hardly the season for excursions
Mr.. Raymond really pitied his friends
evident distress, SO he said, jokingly:
"Why, you see, Mrs. Gray, we want
to get off for a time, as we used to when
we were boys"
The lady smiled, sgrimly, and said:
"Albert is, as you see, too extravagant
by half. I cannot, in the present state
OF our finances, give my consent to his
going" With these words, spoken with
great composure, she walked off, leaving
the gentlemen to themselves.
"By heavens, Albert, 1 never would
stand that!'' said Frank, vehemently
'sTo be tutored like schoolboy!
Haven't you any money at the store? If
not, call upon me for any amount, and
let us hurry, or we shall be late.''
''No. I'm afraid 1 cannot go. I am
pledged not to take any money from the
store, and it would not be right to accept
any from YOU
Glad of an excuse, Mr.. Gray then told
his friend the secret of his wife's conduct.
SS"hoxxy hot iS ST Git caiH Eron1
"Well, Pm glad to have my faith in
womankind restored; but isn't she over
doing the matter? Did you ever. refuse
her money before others?'
q think l did, last summer, when
Mrs. Osgood was visiting her.. They
wished to go and see a friend- living in
Biddeford. thought it was foolish, and
told them SO; and finally refused my
wife the money. The truth isl apolo-
getically, g had met with some 1osses,
and felt that we must economize.
s"Why not shaFe allowed her TO use
her own Judgment? Perhaps she IN
tended to economic in other ways said
Frank.
Il believe she said something of the
kind. But to. tell the. truth, / had got
into theAway of thinking that women
needed to be continually curbed, or they
would run into extrayagances.''
ssIt's shame to treat high-spirited
woman in that way"
81 realize it now fully, more fully than
you can, unless you go through with my
experience. Annie said she had done
plain sewing to pay for things she needed,
rather than ask me for the money.
understand it now; for would far rather
have earned the money for our trip by
saving wood, than have asked for it.
Fancy having to always ask -
s.Do you know, Albert, I am glad this
happened? l may marry sometime; in
fact, I'm thinking of it strongly, and
now I shall avoid the course you have
taken. Otherwise, I presume 1 might
have done Just the same. I believe a
great many men do. - ~ A
"DoP why, yes My mother never
had a penny without asking father for it,
and she helped earn it all, and was pru-
dence and industry personified. I'll
turn over a new leaf. All. here come
our friends!''
Mr.. RAYMOND. to Mr.. Gray's great re-
lief, said it would be impossible for him
to go on the proposed trip, owing to un-
| forseen circumstances, whereupon Mr..
Gray, in an off-hand manner, proposed,
that as Frank could not go, they should
all come to his house that evening again.
My wife will be glad to see you,"
| said he.
| The week had passed, and i" Richard
was himself again. or could be if he
chose. But his wife had mirrored his
past actions so truly and forcibly, that
he had no wish to repeat himself. Annie
had taken care to curb his extravagances,
! by giving him always a little less than
be asked for, and invariably inquiring
! just how he he spent it, and, meantime,
reckoning up how much he had had each
day, with great exactness. All this, as
he knew, was copied from his own GUS
| tom. Besides, he reflected, if he found
| it so disagreeable for week, how much
more SO must it seem year after year,
with no prospect of changed In short,
! he felt himself to be the nfeanest man in
existence. .s'Tis one half to own il, =
and the other half to reform, we sus-
pect. &
'sThere,. Albert said his wife, .sI
am glad the farce is ended. = Resume
your prerogatiye.
t was tuesday evening" athaIf-pSs1
six precisely, when Mrs. Gray said this,
At the same time, she handed her hus-
band his pocket-book; and then returned
to her seat. - ~, ...s,Ei f...,, Il
Mr.. Gray counted the money care
fully, and then divided it into two equal
piles. - a.l,..
This accomplished, he crossed o4el
to- bis wife, and placed one in her lap,
saying: il e - se f.7a
ssHenceforth, we will share alike.
Buy what you choose. !, 1 have faith in
your prudence and Judgment. am not
infalhble. Why need e sit in judgment
upon youP''
Mrs. Gray's eyes glistened with pride
and happiness, as she replied: -. -
q Believe me, Albert, you will never
have cause to regret this; for now l shall
have an opportunity to use my reason
ing faculties ss 4si
lie never did regret it.-Peterson'
Magazine. .i,7s