, 1884-04-03
A FEMININE FINAN-
CIER.

and mean, thoughlessly so, abSurdly and I'M
wisely so. and destroy not only their wife's
happiness, but their own also. All this
arises from u lack of perfect trust in each
other. Little Mrs. Gray's story in a late
number Of Peterson's tells us a good lesson.
The young husband and wife had just risen
from Il nicely spread table, and the room
was neatly and tastefully 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 manyF' asked her husband, CURLY.
"Three will do. 1 thought l would write
to mother and the girls"
Did you ever reckon up, my dear, how
much you spend for postage stamps in the
course of a yearl' asked Mr.. Gray, as he lit
his fragrant cigar. @Well, lot US see. You
write at least five letters a week, which Is Is
cents, and 81 times Is are s7.sO a year, to say
nothing OF paper and envelopes. | have not
a correspondent In the world outside of my
business"
"Your friends, " said the wife. "live near
you, while mine are in another state. Do
you wish me to give up my writing to
themF IND her face took IN extra tinge of
color.
HBy no mems. 1 merely mentioned the
cost Of the thing. But l must go. Good
bye"
HAlbertl" she said timidly.
Mr. Gray turned back.
Can you leave me IS or $6i l want to go
down town to-day"
Five or six dollarsl' exclaimed Mr.. Gray
in astonishment. "What on earth can you
want with - or SCR
II knew you would wonder, but 1 have
needed some money for a long time to get
SOME necessary articles"
~ gave you 81 last week"
Il know it, and 1 used 1t for materials to
work up our church fair"
"Church iddlestlcks!" said Mr.. Gray con-
teuptuously. "Why / can't see what you
neo1 with So or So"
"IIero is. a list Of what / need" said Mrs.
Gray, handing Il little slip OF paper to her
husband One pair kid gloves, 81; one pair kid
slippers, 81; one pair Balbriggan hose, 81 ST.
lesia, 25 cents; crepe de lisse, 90 cents-total,
SI75.
"Crepe de lissel What is thatF
"Rufliug for the neck"
xviii it washf7
"No.p
81 thought 30. A sheer waste of money.
What fools women nrel What would q man
think OF putting n piece OF stiff, white papery
nothing around his neck that costs so cents.
And "a Tor gloves and slippersl Well, l
AAh'S say AhhAct JOu ~ biOWiuk tALIuNh-
CANT l pay for your dresses, bonnets and
all tho essentials. without a murmur-that is
=" said lie with sundry recollections to the
contrary, "when they come within reason
able bounds. But these little things-thiugs
which are Of no earthly account-f should
thiuk you might do without"
"rhey are what nc lady can do without.
The slippers are TO save my nice Walking
boots, You yourself noticed my gloves last
Sunday, and said you detested a soiled or torn
glove. Stockings are rather necessary in our
land, and"
"Say no more. But why Is It that these
wants come all ut onceir
"For the simple reason that, hitherto, l
have bought them myself, with money earned
by plain sewing Bnt sinca my illness-in
hurts my side to sew much, and |
have had to give it up"
Mrs Gray enjoyed her husband's Mortified
look.
plain sowinGr Annie, 1 thought you had
more pride"
al had too much pride to beg of you what l
could earn myself" said she with some spirit.
well, here is $3.50. Try to make that
do And he hurried off.
Mrs. Gray sighed.
ale means well, - 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
Ami is the best little wife in the world,
but she does not know the worth Of money
any more than a child. That $I50 will be
spent before night. Women can't keep
money"
Mrs. Gray went down town as intsnded;
but she walked instead of riding, in order to
save hor money. While down, she felt faint
and hungry from her walk, and would have
liked n lunch, but she had no money to spare.
"Oh! by the way, Annie, did you go down
town to-inyt asked Mr.. Gray at supper that
night
ayes"
Spent every cent, III DO bound" jokingly.
"No, | have exactly Q cents left; but
walked both ways, got no crepe de lisse, and
went without luncheon although faint with
hunger"
Mr.. Gray looked shocked.
"Why did you not cosue to mef'
Because it was out OF my way; and be-
cause, to tell the truth, l felt too cross"
Gross with mefr
ayes with you:" and poor Armies griev-
Gnces burst forth.
7 be going along the street hungsier than
any beggar. while my husband is known
as tho successful Mr.. Grayl To have
no money in my pocket because my hus-
a thinks 1 am not to DO trusted
Before / married you 1 was in business
the same as you; that is, l earned my living
by teaching; you earned yours by trading.
Now, suppose when we married, you had
given up your business to assist me or because
1t interferod with your new duties, and | al
lowed you no money to spend as you chose.
i dressed you well, 10 be suro; but gave you
no money without the why's and wherefores
and whithers being inquired into; in short
treated you as you do meF
"Sou eNaggerats the case. Annie. Men
and women are differently situated. |
should thiuk you would be glad to be saved
the trouble Of earning a livelihood"
"But just consider the disadvantages Of an
empty purse. Put yourself in my place.
How would you like itr
"Why-if | only had to ask-frst rate
well, then, suppose you let me carry tho
pocket-book for a week"
"But, Annie. it isn't practicable. You
couldn't attend to business at the store"
o course not 1t is only your personal
expenses 1 will regulate. You come to mo
for what You wish to spend for yourself, that
is oil; and give me your word that you will
take no money from the store"
@An right III do It, just to show you
that II is easy enough. Here's the pocket.
book" IND he gave it into her hand. "But
I'll take a quarter, first, to begin on"
@What do you want Of a quarterr-
"Cigars.H
"Well, here are two 1O-cent pieces; try to
make that do. Did you ewsr reckon up how
much your cigars cost in a yearI Let me see.
You smoke at least two a day, at an average
cost Of 10 cents apiece, which amount to 81. 40
= weak. Now 50 times 40 makes sra. 30 n
The best smoking tobacco is "Little