Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-05-16

nave always Helu youi puioo ooiihSo oo
tightly that it has been hard enough to
ask for my own necessities, leaving 9th
ers out altogether. Many time dol
lar or two would have enabled to do some
poor man or woman untold good, but al
though you have always said that all
your property was mine, | never could
and cannot now command single dol
lar of it."
'Lucky you couldn't. if you wanted
to spend it on beggars."
Donald, you know that l would spend
money as wisely as you do. Who was 1t
that. only last week. gave a poor, lame
beggar FIVE dollars to pay his fare to Bur-
ton, and then saw him throw his crutch-
es away and make for the nearest saloon?
Your wife could not do worse if trusted
with few dollars. You say that the
money is all mine, you spend as you
please, while 1 cannot spend dollar
without asking you for it and telling
what want it for. Any beggar can get
it in the same wayl Christmas you
bought the presents and expected US to
be grateful for them. A shawl for me,
the very color l cannot wear, set of
furs for Lucy that she did not need,
drum for Robin that has been nuisance
ever since. and lot of worthless toys
that were broken up in week. There
was forty or fifty dollars of my money
just the same as thrown away yet when
l ask you to trust me with five dollars
week you cannot imagine what use have
for it. and fear it will be wasted. l am
sure could not spend fifty dollars more
foolishly If l tried it,
WELL snapped the proprietor, 81
guess it is my own money, and I can
spend it as please. Iguess you'll know
it, too. when you get another present" ;"
'Oh, it is your money then. under
stood you to say that it was all mine,
and presumed to protest again your
spending it so foolishly. If it is your
own of course you have right to spend
it as you please but it seems to me that
a woman who left parents, brothers and
sisters and all her friends, to make
home for you among strangers, a woman
who has given her whole life to you for
fifteen years, may be looked upon with
as much favor as you give to beggars,
who are very likely to be imposters. l
know you very seldom turn them off
without help. Perhaps | would be more
successful if l appealed to you as
beggar. l might say: Kind sir, please
allow me out of your abundant means
small pittance for my comfort. 1t is
true, | have enough to eat, and do not
suffer for clothing; but though | work
for my master from morning till night,
and If his children happen to be sick,
from night till morning again, yet he
does not pay me so much as he does his
cook, and | am often greatly distressed
for want of triAing sum he would not
mind giving to a perfect stranger. The
other day while he was away from home
had to 90 to the next station to see a
dear friend who was ill, and not having
dollar of my own, | was obliged to
borrow the money from the cook. l was
SO mortified And not long since the
berry woman came with such nice berries
to sell, and my little girl. who was not
we'll, wanted some very much, but | had
not even five cents to pay for handful
for her. Yesterday friend came to ask
me to assist in a work of charity. 1t
was worthy object, and l longed so
much to give little money for so good
purpose. but, though the wife of a rich
man, / had no money. Of course
might ask my husband for money, and
if | told him what | wanted of it, and
he approved Of my purpose. and was in
good humor, he would give it to me; but,
sir it is terribly slavlsh to have to do
so, even if l could run to him every time
1 wanted anything. People say I am a
fortunate woman because | am rich but
l often envy the factory girls their abil,
ity to earn and spend their own money.
And sometimes get so wild thinking
} of my helplessness that if it were not fol
my children l think would drop into
J the river and end it ALL"
"Nettie Nettie Jarvis! What are
you saying?" cried the startled husband
at last, for the far-away look in her eyes
as if she did not see him, but was look
ing to some higher power to help her
touched his pride if it did not his heart
, for he had good deal of pride in {
t selfish sort of way. He was proud t.
be able to support his family as we'll a
l he did. He was proud that when hi
children needed new shoes he could tel
T wife to take them to Crispin's and ge
? what they needed. He did it with
. royal flourish. He was lot one of thos
| stingy kind he liked to spend money
and when Nettie, who was once the mos
e spirited young lady of his acquaintance
D came meekly to him for dress or
4 l olool h. 70, onkoI Ia rr