The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-17
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A STORY FOR HUSBANDS.

!
Mrs. Gray stood looking out of the win
dow, while her husband put on his hat and
gloves preparatory to his going down town.
They had just risen from a nicely spread
table, and the room was neatly and taste
fully furnished
There was no indication of poverty there,
yet Mrs. Gray's voice and manner were
faltering as she asked for some postage
stamps.
"How many?" asked her husband,
curtly.
"Three will do. 1 thought I would
write to mother and the girls
aDid you ever reckon up, my dear, how
much you spend for postage stamps in the
course of year ?" asked Mr. Gray, as he
lit his fragrant cigar. "Well, let us see.
You write at least FIVE letters week, which
are fifteen cents, and ffty-two times fifteen
are seven dollars and eighty cents year,
to say nothing of paper and envelopes. [
haven't correspondent in the world out
side my business" "
"Your friends, said the wife, Give near
you, while mine are in another state. Do
you wish me to give up writing to them ?"
and her face took on an extra tinge of
color.
sBy no means merely mentioned the
cost of the thing. But must go. Good
bye"
oAlbert ?" she said, timidly.
Mr. Gray turned back.
'Can you leave me FIVE or six dollars :?
I want to go down town to-day"
| Give or six dollars r exclaimed Mr..
GRAY. in astonishment. "What on earth
can you want with five or six dollars ?"
II knew you would wonder, but have
needed some money for long time to get
few necessary articles"
II gave you two dollars last week"
II know it, and | used it for material
to work up for our church fair"
sChurch fddlesticks !" said Mr.. Gray,
contemptuously. "Well, 1 can't see what
YOU need with five or six dollars"
"Here is a list of what | need, said
Mrs. Gray, handing little slip of paper to
her husband
pair kid gloves. 90
| Z" slippers. ers..........".................. 200
Balbriggan hose....................... LOO
Silesia 70 70
Crepe de lisse. 90
Total. ............... .....................SD.l 10
"Crepe de lisse What is that y
''Ruf1ing for the neck
''Will it wash p
"No."
II thoughtso 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, | must say, Annie, you
are growing extravagant. l pay for your
dresses, bonnets and all the essentials, with
out murmur, that is, said he, with sun
dry recollections to the contrary, "when
they come within reasonable bounds. But
these little things-things which are of no
earthly account-I should think you might
do without"
'They are what no lady can do without
The slippers are to save my nice walking
boots You yourself noticed my gloves
last Sunday, and said you detested soiled
or torn glove Stockings are rather ne
cessary in our land, and"
"Say no more But why is it that these
wants all come at once ?"
''For the simple reason that hitherto |
have bought them myself with money [
earned by plain sewing. But since my
illness-in autumn-it hurts my side to
sew much, and | had to give it up.
Mrs. Gray enjoyed her husbands horri-
fed look.
''Plain sewing! Annie, 1 thought you
had too much pride.
II had too much pride to beg of you
what | could earn myself said she, with
some spirit.
"WeIl, here is four dollars and half.
Try to make that do And he hurried
off,
Mrs. Gray sighed.
ale means we'll, she said, ''but men
seem to think women are like children
not to be trusted with money"
Meanwhile Mr.. Gray was soliloquizing /:
"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 child. That four dollars and
a half will be spent before night. Women
can't keep money"
Mrs. Gray went down town, as intended;
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 a lunch, but she had no
money to spare.
aOh, by the way, Annie, did you go
down town today" asked Mr.. Gray at
night.
| ''Yes," she replied.