Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-03-13
A WIFE'S SURPRISE.

invest it?"
Hiram Graham, sitting just outside
of the open door, to enjoy the grate-
ful GOODNESS of the summer evening,
threw aside his papers as he spoke,
and awaited his wife's reply. His
wife, busy over her sewing, did not
answer him Immediately.
"Come," he said, "let me have your
opinion. I'll bet you've made up your
mind what to do with it long ago.
You know the saying, "A man to save
money and q woman to spend it, "
and he laughed good -naturedly.
Yes, Mrs. Graham had made up
her mind long ago. The thought of
a time when they should be clear of
debt, and some of their surplus earn
ings could be expended for home
comforts, had helped her to make
over and repair many and old gar
ment that she was about TO throw
away in despair; it had encouraged
her to contend with numberless in
conveniences. But now the time had
really come, she felt strange reluct-
ance about revealing her thoughts.
She was oppressed with fear that
her long-cherished plans might be
dashed to the earth. However, she
commenced bravely CROUCH.
II have thought we would repaint
the house some pretty color, such as a
silver grey, and have shutters put up
at the windows the right shade of
green to harmonlze with the color of
the house-the same as the green
leaves Of the poplar harmonize with
the soft grey of its trunk and bran
ches-"
"Why, Jennie" exclaimed Mr..
Graham, "there is good coat of paint
on the house now. And there is no
color as durable as red lead, in my es-
timation.'
"And," continued his wife, 81
would have the yard closed in with a
neat picket fence
II don't see any use in tearing down
that fence. The rails are as good and
sound as they were twenty years
ago."
"Please don't interrupt me, Hiram.
| would fepaper the rooms, buy new
ingram carpet for the parlor and
muslin curtains for the windows"
"Thunderation What is the sense
of having curtains if you have shut
ters? Besides, these paper curtains
answer every purpose, as far as l can
soc. The paper on the walls is per-
feCtly whole. 1t is true that you
have patched it considerably; but that
don't show much. And as for the
carpet-why, haven't you got new
rag CARPET in the room now?"
eyes, but that would be for the
sitting-room. And ] would have a
bay window made off the south side
of the sitting-room for house plants" ;"
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at
this.
"Now, Jennie" he said, | never
said anything about it, but have al
ways thought it kind of foolish to
spend as much money and time as
you do fussing with flowers out doors;
but when you come to make flower
beds of-that beats me p
"Hiram," said Mrs. Graham, "you
asked me for my opinion. Now please
don't interrupt me"
every we'll. Go ahead"
II would have portico built over
where your sitting, and woodhouse
and large cool pantry, that I need
so much, on the back of the kitchen.
One part of the woodhouse would be
finished off, where the cook stove
could stand in warm weather, 1t
would be 30 much cooler for us to eat
in, Besides this, there are many lit
tie adornments, such as pictures, etc.,
that | would add afterward."
''Whyl" eclaimed Mr.. Graham, "if
we were to go into that it would take
every cent of the money"
"Well, we earned it to invest in
something, didn't we?'
eyes, but | want to invest my
money iu something that will bring
me in some kind Of an income"
"It would bring US the best of all
incomes-not in dollars, but what is
better farm joy and happiness.
Life would have fuller and purer
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