The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-07
Select Storp.
THE MIsER'S LESSON.

Jonas Hfay was Dorm SLlngyj he Hlu his
sweetmeats from his little brothers when he
was child and smoked his cigars alone
when he was young man.
BY the time he was forty Jonas Pray
was very rich man, though he lived as
plainly as ever, and somehow about that age
the first tender feelings he had ever known
erept into his heart He fell in love with
abuxom, good-tempered young woman nam
ed Sara Woolwich, and offered himself to
her. He was not an Unlocking man, and
when he chose could make himself agree
able Sara liked him and accepted him.
Jonas meant to be liberal to her at first,
but after brief honeymoon his old habits
resumed their way, and, at last, the second
winter of their married life coming on, Sara
found that all her remarks about her shabby
summer hat had no effect whatever, and
that she might wait long while without
having such thing as a comfortable cloak
suggested to her. She had been a poor
girl, and had no trousseau to speak of, and
she found it necessary to put her pride in
her pocket and ask for what she needed.
1t is hard enough for wife to do that, but
to be refused was something she had not
calculated on.
She knew her husband had bank ac-
count; that there was no reason she should
not dress well. But when she had said,
playfully, "Jonas, shall l buy myself some
winter things to-day? l need shawl
dreadfully," he had answered, II thought
you were too sensible woman to run after
the fashions, Sara. I'm sure you have
very decent things that you might wear a
long while yet"
''That shows how much men know" ;"
Sara answered, determined to be pleasant
and not to show that she was hurt. "You
would not like your wife to look shabby ?"
"Well, no, said Jonas; "no, but really,
Sara, money is so scarce just now. Don't
you think you might make what you have
do little longer?"
allow 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. j."
His wife looked at him and said nothing.
ECONOMY is a great thing, Sara" said
Jonas, uneasily. at would be dreadful to
die in the workhouse, you know; and you
don't care for other peoples admiration, do
you, Sara, when you know your Jonas likes
you as we'll in your well-saved clothes !?
We won't call them shabby, Sara, only
well-saved' -
"Call them what you please, Jonas, :"
said Sara. ''They merit both epithets." p"
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 it ALTO see the pinched
lines about his mouth, the anxious look in
his eyes.
Poor Sara remembered stories she had
read of misers-how they starved them
selves 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, Il don't 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 cheap-cheap things fade SO.
[ have made everything | had to do for two
years. | did not like to ask. have not
spent one penny of your money for clothes.
You know you gave me two pairs Of gloves
in our honeymoon; I have them still.
"What a good, careful girl, " said Jonas,
caressing her dark hair as she came and sat
beside him.
eyes, have been careful. It is my
nature to be CAREFUL said Sara. "Few
mems wives would have done so much.
Now, look at these things, my dear
He looked at them long and lingeringly.
He knew his wife was reasonable, and that
the things were, and long had been, unfit
for her to wear. But his money tugged at
his heart-strings.
Suppose you wear them one winter
more, Sara" he said "Just one"
"The shawl is very thin she said. II