Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-11-14
FROSTBURG, MD, NOVEMBER IA, 1885.
SELECT STORY.
THE MISER'S LESSON.

Jonas Pray was born stingy; he
hid his sweetmeats from his little
brothers when he was a child, and
smoked his cigars alone when he was
a young man.
By the time he was forty Jonas
Pray was very rich man, though he
lived as plainly as ever, aid some
how, about that time the first tender
feelings he had ever known crept into
his heart. He fell in love with IL
buxom, good-tempered young woman
named Sara Woolwlch, and offered
himself to her. He was not an i'll
looking man, and when he chose
could make himself agreeable. Sara
liked and accepted him.
Jonas meant to be liberal to her at
first, but after a brief honeymoon his
old habits resumed their ay,iand, at
last, the second winter of their mar
ried life coming ON, Sara found that
all her remarks about her shabby
summer hat had no effect whatever,
and that she might wait a long while
without having such a thing as q
comfortable cloak suggested to her.
She had been a poor girl, and had no
trousseau to speak Of, and she found
1t necessary to put her pride in her
pocket and ask for what she needed
1t is hard enough for wife to do
that, bnt to be refused was some
thing she had not calculated on.
She knew her husband had bank
account; that there was no reason
she should not dress well. Eut when
she had said playfully, "Jonas, shall
| buy myself some winter things to-
day Ineed shawl dreadfully,' he
had answered, Il thought you were
too sensible Il woman to run after the
fashions, Sara. | am sure you have
very decent things that you might
wear long time yet"
"That shows how much men
know" Sara answered, determined to
be pleasant and not show that she
was hurt. "You would not like your
wife to look shabby?'
"Well, no." sand Jonas; ''no, but
really, Sara, money is so scarce just
now. Don't you think. you might
make what you have do a little
longer"
GLOW much longer ?" she asked,
quietly.
"Oh, don't know" said Jonas Il
had an aunt who left me something
when she died who wore the same
shawl and bonnet sixteen years, and
boasted of it, too"
His wife looked at him and said
nothing.
"Economy is a great thing, Sara"
smd Jonas, uneasiiy. at would be
dreadful to die in the workhouse, Ven
know; and you don't care for other
peoples admiration, do you Sara,
when you know your Jonas likes you
as well in your well'saved clothes !?
We will not call them shabby Cara,
only we'll saved"
"Call them what you please. They
certainly merit both epithets."
Her temper was rising fast, but she
had sense enough to crush it down.
As she looked at him little while,
grief came instead of anger.
There was much that was good
about Jonas. 1t was terrible to see
this canker creeping over 1t ALTO
see the pinched lines about the
mouth, the anxious look in his eyes.
Poor Sara remembered stories she
had read of misers-how they starv-
ed themselves while they counted
their. gold. Would Jonas grow as
bad as these: How could she tell ?
She arose softly and went out of the
room, and brought back her bonnet
and shawl, and put them on the table
before him.
Jonas, DEAR she said, 81 do not
want YOU to think me unreasonable
Look at these; see how shabby they
are. They were nice when We were
married, but they were cheap, very
chcap-cheap things fade so. l have
made everything | had do for two
wears. did not like to ask. | have
not spent one penny of your money
for clothes. You gave me two pair
of gloves in our honeymoon have
them still"
"What Il good, careful girl" sai(
Jonas, caressing her dark hair, as sh'