St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-17
A BIT OF REAL LIFE.

after dinner, having retired to that comfort
able apartment to enjoy the cigar with which
he would not profane the drawing-room at
mosphere. To him presently came his wife,
pleasant, matronly woman, not far from
his own age, and handsomely dressed, as be-
came the wife of millionaire. There was
nothing extraordinary about this couple.
They were simply rich Americans; quiet I'M
pretentious people, who lived handsomely,
went to church on Sunday, and endeavored
to bring up their children in common sense
way.
They were on excellent terms with each
other, being of domestic tastes In short,
they were. with the sole exception of being
somewhat richer than the average, very
creditable specimens of the great majority of
wel-to-do Americans who do not get into
the newspapers.
The capitalist laid down his paper as the
lady entered. Really. to judge from his
eyes, one would have said be was rather glad
TO see her. AS for her, she evidently had
something on her mind, ''and her husband,
for the time being, was of secondary impor-
lance.
Sitting down, she shaded her eyes from
the fire.
John" she said, II am troubled about
Margaret, the nursen
$50 am IL said John. ssWas thinking
about her to-day
lis there anything that can be done to
make her life pleasanter than it promises to
be after she is married."
"Well-yes, | think there is" and then
ne proceeded to detail plan which so thor
oughly conceded with his wife's views that
she actually-45 as she was-went over to
him and kissed him.
THAT'S good boy" she said. Margarets
suitor must soon be here for his usual even
ing visit. I'll give orders to have him brought
up, and you can talk to him.
After giving the necessary directions she
went back to the sitting-room. Presently a
heavy tread was heard in the passage way,
and big, sturdy man was ushered into the
library by an exceptionally neat and trusty
looking maid.
The capitalist rose and shock hands with
his somewhat abashed visitor
sThank you, Margaret .he said to the
woman. "rll ring presently. [ want to
talk little business with Mr.. Brown. You
may shut the door so that we shall not be in
terrupted."
Margaret blushingly retired, wondering
greatly in her honest heart what the ''busi-
ness' might be, and resolving that she would
make Tom tell her directly the interview was
over.
"Well, Brown" began the capitalist, after
giving the visitor chair, on which he sat as
if it were the most uncomfortable piece of
furniture in existence. swell, Brown, you
know Margaret has been with me now going
on fifteen years, and though we are very
sorry to part with her, we are glad she is
going to marry man who will make her
good husband. don't doubt you are that
kind OF man, but being good husband
isn't everything. You want to get on in the
world and make good home for you both to
pass comfortable old age in. Now, you're
a bricklayer, l believe. / don't suppose YOU
get more than So a day, and that only in
busy times. Margaret says you have rented
rooms in tenement house in Avenue B.
''That's all right, and 1 don't doubt you
will be very happy there for while, but five
years hence perhaps therd will be three or
| four children, and you will still be earning
So a day part of the time and nothing at all
the rest. You will in all human probability
| be poor laboring man all your days. Her
life and your life will be spent in crowded
tenement: your children will at best have but
poor chance to rise in the world, and they
will have no end of chances to fall-ne mat
| ter whether they are boys or girl.
Now, propose to give you show to do
better to become leading man in the
| town, to have good home of your own, in
stead OF paying rent in tenement; to have
fresh air to breathe and opportunities, if you
are industrious and enterprising. to make
fortune. will give you and Margaret 81, 900
lief,
up amazed, he had never thought of owning
so much money at once, and the idea
dazzled him eff you will go out West to a
place l know of and build yourself house
and get quarter-section Of land.
''Therc is plenty of work for good mechan-
les there, at higher wages than you can get
here, and you will see hundred WAYS in
which you can save and make investments
which will be sure to yield you good re-
turn.
Just think of it. Here, crowded,
| uDhealthful tenement. There, house OF
your own under the blue sky. Here, no
chance to do better. There, almost q certainty
with your habits and character, of laying by
a comfortable fortune. Margaret will be the
wife of one of the best men in town, instead
of perhaps taking in washing to help along
when you are out of work here.
'What do you say, Brown-will you do
| it?''
Browns eyes had lighted up, and he had
Strengthened his shoulders instinctively as
the capitalist had briefly set forth the posi-
BILE contrasts in these two lines of life. But
when the question was put Greet he hest
tated, shufiled with his feet uneasily, and at
length managed to say:
''Well, it's kind o. suddin' like. I'd like
to talk it over with Margaret before giving
an answer. It's very good of you all the
| same.'
That's all right, Brown. Talk it over as
much as you like till the wedding day, and
then let me know your decision. The 81 200
shall be ready for you the day you start for
| the West.n
The wedding day came and Margaret and
| her beau waited on their would-be benefac-
tor and, with some shamefacedness, made
known their determination to stay in the
city.
Il
The conversa ton, substantially as re-
| ported actually took place some six years
ago. Since then Mr.. and Mrs. Brown have
moved often from one tenement to another
They have three children, and Mrs. B., the
neat housemaid that was, Is earning the
major part of the household revenues by
taking in washing, for Brown, when the
cares of married life began to weigh upon
him, took to ward politics, and the children
are in a fair way to bring up In the work
house, unless some most unforeseen interpo-
stioh of Providence keeps them out Of it.
| The Hour.
A Bridc's Prcdic01neHt.
The "course Of true love'' is proverbiaily
jolly. and young lady's experience on a
train in Iowa fully confirms the popular le-
oond Tho damseI heautiful in 1,nrson and