West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-12
A WIFE'S WAGES.
How Mrs. Jarvis Secured Paw for
Her Services.

tdef SerVlcoS.
The following sketch is wrought out
OF substantial materials. the experience
OF many n woman in married life. and
Its vivid character, with the practical
moral it CARES, is excuse enough for
its appearance mere:
"Wcll, Nettie, what do YOU wantP'
said Mr.. Jarvis TO his wife, who stood
looking rather anxiously mt him. after
he had paid the factory hands their
week S wages
"Why, Donald" said she, al thought
as had worked for you all the week, |
would come for my wages, too You
pay Jane two dollars week, surely |
earn that, and would like very much
TO have it rs my own"
"Pshaw, Nett.e, how ridiculous YOU
talk. You know that all have belongs
TO you and the children-and dor't |
furnish the house and evcrylhnoP What
under the sun would you do with the
money # YOU had it?''
II know, Donald, that Won buy the
neceSsaries for us all, and am willing
". i
ike little money of my very own. We
have been married fifteen years. and in
all that time i do not seem to have
earned q dollar. As far as money is
concerned / might a well be slave.
can not buy quart of berries, or a
book, without asking you for the money,
and should like TO be little more in
dependent.
Mr. jarvis, proprietor OF Jarvis mills.
worth thou sands and thousands of dol
lars, laughed deri.ively.
re fine one to talk of indie
pcndence, " lie said. IF you would start
out to make your own living YOU d fetch
up ut the poor-house soon enough. for
what could you do to earn a livinpp
The girls in the factory know how TO do
their work and they earn their wages.
When | have paid them of my duty is
done, but l have TO board and clOthe
you, and take care of YOU when YOU are
sick. Ii had to do that for the girls
would have precious little money left. |
can tell YOU
Donald, gave up good trade when
i married you. For five years had
supported myself by it, and many time
since have envied myself the purse of
those days. As for my not earning any
thing now, l leave il to YOU TO saw
whether it would be possible TO hire an
other TO take my place; and how much
do you suppose it would cost to do with
out me yearP I know the girls have
It.lc after paying thsir expenses. but
they enjoy that little 80 much. Allie
" atson imports herself and mother
with her wages, and they both dress
better than / do. Jennie Hart is help
ing her father 10 pay the mortgage on
the farm, and she is happy that She can
90 So Even Jane, the kitchen Girl.
has more freedom than !, for out Of her
own money She is laying by presents for
her relatives, and will send them
christmas. Yesterday au Indian
woman was at the house with such
handsome be1dwork TO sell. and all
though j wanted some very much. had
not O dollar, / felt like crying when
Jane bought half dozen OF the arti-
cles ! wanted s0 much You often saw
tina; all YOU have Is mine but five dol
lars would have given me more pleas
urc yesterday than your hundreds of
thousands Of dollars worth of property
did"
No doubt Of that. Mrs. Jarvis. You
have no idea Of the value of money. and
woId have enjoyed buying n lot of
bead trash that would not be worth
cent Co anybody. Jane needs "a guar
dian q Doe fools away her money Ike
That Sine WIFI Doc iu the county poor
hou yet he don't look out It's
very lucky. indeed, that the men do
mold Che money for there not one
woman .n hundred who knows how
tO it'
'for shame. Donald Jarvis, You
know Un. tori r..Ir CAS- rrrr.. ..r,.r ar.rf..