St. Landry democrat., 1880-04-24
PUTTING HIMSELF IN HER PLACE,

PUTTING HIMSELF IN HER PLACE.
Mrs. Gray stood looking out of the
window, while her husband put on his
hat and gloves, preparatory to going into
town. They had just risen from nicely
spread table, and the room was neatly
and tastefully furnished.
There were 10 indications of poverty
there, yet Mrs. Gray's voice and manner
were faltering as she asked for some
postage-stamps.
How many?n asked her husband,
curly.
-''Three will do. thought l would
write to mother and the girls
did you ever reckon up, my dear,
how much you spend for postage stamps,
in the course of the year?' asked Mr..
Gray, as he lit his fragrant cigar.
"Well, let us see. You write, at least,
five letters week, which is fifteen cents,
and fifty-two times fifteen are seven dol
lars and eighty cents a year, to say moth
ing of paper and envelopes. haven
correspondent in the world, outside my
business
"Your friends" said his wife, i" live
near you, while mine are in another
State. Do you wish me to give up writ
ing to them?'' And her face took On an
extra tinge of color.
"By no means. | only mentioned the
cost of the thing. But must 60. Good
bye
"Albertr' she said, timidly.
Mr.. Gray turned back.
"Can YOU leave me five or six dollarse
want to 90 down town to-day
live or six dollarsr' exclaimed Mr..
Gray, in establishment. "What on
earth can you want with five or six dol
lars?'
Il knew you would wonder, but have
needed some money for a long time to
get few necessary articles
Il gave You two dollars last week.
81 know it; and l used it for materials
to work up for our church fair
"Church fiddlestickn' said Mr.. Gray,
contemptuously. "Well, l can't see
what you need five or six dollars for.''
g Here is a list of what 1 need" said
Mrs. Gray, handing a little slip Of paper
to her husband:
pair kid gloves $500
! slippers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 2OO
e., Balbriggan hose OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 100
e e4sps de iisss:: ::: IS
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1915
=" Crepe de Hsse! What is that?'
Fulfilling for the neck
"Will it wash?" ..
"No.n
Il thought so. A sheer waste of
money. What fools women are! What
would a man think of putting piece of
stiff, white, papery nothing, around his
neck, that cost fifty cents. And four
dollars for gloves and slippers! Well, 1
must say, Annie, you are growing ex-
travagant. Ipay for your dresses, bon
nets and all the essentials, without a
murmur, that is, said he, with sundry
recollections to the contrary, when
they come within reasonable bounds.
But these little things, things which are
of no earthly account, l should think you
might do without
"They are what no lady can do with
out The slippers are to save my nice
walking-boots You yourself noticed my
gloves, last Sunday, and said you de-
tested a soiled, or torn, glove. Stock
ings are rather necessary in our land,
and
"Say no more. But why is it that
these wants come up all at once?''
90 For the simple reason, that, hither-
, to, have bought them myself, with
money earned by plain sewing. But
since my illness-in the autumn-it hurts
my side to sew much, and have had to
give it up"
Mrs. Gray enjoyed her husbands hor-
riied look.
plain sewing! Annie, I thought you
had more PRIDE
!" I had too much pride to beg Of you
for what could earn myself" said she,
with some spirit.
''Well, here are four dollars and
a-half. Try to make that do And he
hurried off.
Mrs. Gray sighed.
He means well,' she said, g but
men seem to think women are like chill
dren-not to be trusted with money!
- Meantime, Mr.. Gray was soliloquiz-
ing.
:. Strange, how extravagant women
are. Annie is one of the best in the
world, but she does not know
the worth OF money any more than a
child. That four dollars and-haf will
be all spent before night. Women can't
keep money"
Mrs. Gray went down town, as intend
ed; but she walked instead of riding, in
order to save her money. While down
town, she felt faint and hungry, from
her walk, and would have liked lunch,
but she had no money to spare.
20, by the way, Annie, did you go
down town to-day?' asked Mr.. Gray, at
night.
YES" she replied.