Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-08-02

nothing 10 support hhch iamily 'oi'
u farm lle was astonnded At the
cost of sugar, and the coffee and tea,
aud tho dozens of little outgoes every
week. II must DO there was something
wrong somewhere, All his pct theories
were getting knocked IN tho head, In
vain Phebc reasoned with him showed
him how long supplies could reason
ably bc made to last proposed re-
trenching on cake Tor tea. but Of course
he would not hear Of that, lle liked
cake, She never spoke of rctrenchins
on cigars, though some women would,
But all her 'arguiying' was without
avail,
A man convinced against his Will,
Ia Of tho same opinion still
Somehow the more he thought Of il
the more convinced ho was that his
wife could hardly be u wise manager.
Ilc was disappointed because the money
did not pile up quite as he cSpcclcd.-
This was another demolished theory
which considerably set him back. But
then he remembered an old adagC
which says, n man must ask his wiie's
leave to thrive, and hc was somewhat
comlortcd. Phcbc was young. She
might yet he induced to change hcl
way OF doing business. Perhaps he
had been too indulgcnt himself, and
had provided too laviSlly for the sup
posed wants of the household. lie
might, and indeed he must turn over q
new leaf. In other words, he would
tighten the thumb-scrcws u little, and
see il the effect on his victim would
not be salutary,
Phcbc had grown very reluctant tc
ask for what was really needed in tho
house, so sure was she of that adverse
criticism so intensely humiliating to Q
woman of fine nature. If water vii
wear II stone, so will perpetual fault
finding cat away happiness. IfPhcb(
had been more self-asscrting in tho
start, it would have been far better
She could have educated the young
man into reasonable householder
But instead she took the wrong course
and, by dress making in over hours
contrived to earn II little money. This
went to exc out the scanty allowanc,
her husband thought muniiicent fol
the expenses Of SO small family.
When supper was over, Ridge drove
to the village in his fresh, cool suit, tc
get the evening mail. 1t would have
been u rest and rcfrcshment to 60 out,
too, but there was the supper to cleal
away, the milk to set, little Aleck tc
care for, and Ridge would have thought
all things going to wreck and ruin il
she should so desert the skip.
Uncle Alcck is at home, Phebe !
said Ridge one evening in great excite.
ment, as he returned with letter.
Now | need not tell you how import.
ant it is for all of us that we make a
good impression on him. My uncle is
good man, but he has his peculiar
notions. He was always lccturing me
on economy. If he gets the impression
that we are living extravagantly, he
may cut me off with II shilling. Try
to have little Aleck at his best, and, il
possible, keep him from crying. We
must study to provide his favorite
dishes, for he always feels crusty if his
meals do not please. have laid by q
little money, though not half what
expected-our living expenses have
been so high but | know that Uncle
Aleck will be gratifed to know that
have saved even a little
There are number Of things we
need, suggested Phebe, wearily. q
suppose your uncle Aleck will always
prefer white sugar in his coffee, and il
is much the best for everything. We
have none. And the coffee pot is Sc
leaky l can hardly make coffee in it
and the tea kettle is great trouble fol
the same reason. They really ough
to be mended.
sAnd the same of half the tin-wart
in the house, l suppose he said with q
lofty smile. us he lighted his cigar.
sit is very true said Phebe, with nc
smile either.
Now, don't it seem to you, Phebe,
he said, argumentatively, 'that three
years is very short time for tin-war'
to last? l think my Aunt Lucind;
has pieces she bought forty years ago.
'Tin-ware is not what it used%o be.
Il know women say so, but after al
it depends a good deal upon the way i
is used.
Whereupon followed a discourse OIL