Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-06-26

bring that question up afterwards
The smallest possible allowance fol
family of six seemed to be ten dol
lars week, and she must leave out
wood and wages and where was the
the margin for incidentals- OWL
and the children's clothing. books,
and the wear and tear generally, tc
say nothing of charity?
| Yes; it seemed as if they could
not get on with less than fifty dollars
a month for the running expenses
and she would ask her husband fol
that amount as the just due.
She was convinced it would be right
to do so. His income was eighteen
hundred dollars a years, and he
ought to afford regular sum for the
family, the amount not being nearly
as important as the regularity of its
appearance. For herself-well, she
could not ask Charlie for personal
allowance, even if she had been mar
rled seven years, and might be sup
posed to have grown grasping and
self-asserting, according to her dis
clpline. But she would ask him for
an allowance for the children; and
at the rate they wore out shoes and
tore up garments she thought five
dollars a month little enough for three.
She would not err on the side of av-
arice, even if she did on that of per-
tlnacity. So, calm in her new re-
solve, she bathed her eyes, smoothed
her brow, brushed her still wavy
brown hair away from a fair though
somewhat worn face, and met her
husband at dinner with CHEEKY
smile. After dinner Mr.. Barnard
announced that he was obliged to 90
down town.
every well, 1 will sit up for you
then," said Minnie.
''Don't what is the use you'll
get tired and sleepy"
Because 1 have something to say,
Charlie, and there isn't any other
time"
"Why not say it now?''
because | want more time than
you feel able to give, with one hand
on the door knob and your hat in the
other" she said pleasantly.
"What the mischief is to pay now,
| wonder?" thought Mr.. Barnard, but
he said, "Well, I'll wait half an
hour" So they adjourned to the
little parlor, the furniture of which
looked rather dingy after several
years service.
''It's about money, Charlie" she
said brightly, looking up into his
/ think, than | otherwise
should, if l knew how much L had to
to spend. But you must remember
that it is not for my own individual
qualification =
.sOh, pshaw! Minnie," interrupt
ed Mr.. Barnard impatiently. ''Why
are you always pestering me about
money? / always give you all you
ask for.
II am not going to pester you any
more, Charlie l simply want to
tell you so. l would much prefer
never to ask you for money, and have
concluded not to do so any more. l
want you to please take the response
bilitv of the accounts and the orders
Yourself, if you cannot give me a fX-
ed amount for expenses. L have
been looking into the accounts, and
find with the strictest economy that
we can scarcely get on with less than
this estimate and she handed him
the memorandum she had prepared
that morning.
''But you know very well, Minnie
| can't bother with these things"
"Somebody must bother with then
Charlie, and if you wish me to con
tinue to do so / must know eXactl.
how much am to spend, and not b.
obliged to 90 to you for every dolla
; as | want it. The expenses are no
, mine, they are for the family as
whole"
"Well, if that's all, goodnight,
t and Charlie went out, wonderin
: what under the sun possessed
Y Minnie any way.
h But Minnie abided her time. Sh
thought one cry was enough for tn;
4 day. so she took her mending baske
s and while the children were busy ;
V their lessons, and her needle flew
" and out, she carefully thought over h
d resources, by which she could earn
S little pocket money and be just
% little independent, even though 81
is had a husband who was not ungene
re Gus but thoughtless of her want
|, She used to play the piano credits
20 bly, in her girlhood, but was nc
" long unused to practice. She mig
le revive her taste for painting, and a
he ply it to purposes of decorative ar
l. but that would take much more tim
to than she could spare from her fan
~ ly. Finally a question from Ph
il, yawning over his history lesson, ga
er her the dawning of an idea. Nj
hit nioht found her at her desk, WHIT
he for two hours, completely absorbt
k. she had been writing skeleton pla
on of simple historical articles for chi
on rem. which from time to time S
. meant to enlarge and fill up in an
10 tertaining style at her leisure. lie
40 tofore her brain and nerve had be