The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-05-08
a STORY FOR HgsRASDS.

Mrs. Gray stood looking out of the win
gloves, preparatory to going down town.
They had Just risen from a nicely spread
table, and the room was neatly and taste
fully 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 many?n asked her husband
CURLY.
Three will do. | thought | 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 year," asked Mr.. Gray, as he
lit his fragrant cigar. well. let MS see.
You write at least five letters Il week,
which is fifteen cents, and fifty-two times
fifteen are seven dollars and eighty cents a
year, to say nothing Of paper and envelopes.
| haven't a correspondent in the world,
outside my business
S'Your friends" said the wife, live
near you, willie mine are in another state.
Do you wish me to give up writing to
them ?" and her face took ON an extra
tinge of color.
by no means. merely mentioned the
cost of the thing. But must go. Good
by
albert, she said, timidly.
Mr.. Gray turned back.
Can you leave me five or six dollars?
I want to go down Owl to-day"
Five or Six dollars exclaimed Mr..
Gray in astonishment. ''What on earth
can you want with five or six dollars?''
II knew you would wonder, but I nave
needed some money for a long time to get
a few necessary articles.
81 gave YOU two dollars last week.
II know it; and I used it for material to
work up for our church fair"
Church fiddlesticks.'' said Mr.. Gray,
contemptuously. well. | cant see what
you need with five or six dollars.
Here is a list of what 7 need" said
Mrs. Gray, handing a little slip OF paper to
her husband:
One pair kid ........ 81 90
one pair KID slippers. .."....... : %
light pair Balbriggan ose...."......... ! 10
slteslh; -. -
%
Crepe de lisse! What is thate:"
'Ruffling for the neck"
'.Will it wash
Ne
II thought SC. \. sheer waste of money.
What fools women are. What would a
man think Of putting a piece Of stiff. white
papery nothing around his neck, that cost
fifty cents ?and four dollars for gloves and
slippers? Well, ! must say, Annie, you
are growing ex~travagant. pay for your
dresses, bonnets. and all the essentials,
without a murmer: that is, said he, with
sundry recollections to the contrary, when
they come within reasonable bounds. But
these little things-things which are of no
earthly account should think you might
do without
They are things which no lady can do
without. The slippers are to save my nice
walking boots. You yourself noticed my
gloves last Sunday, and said you detested
q soiled or torn glove. Stockings are
rather necessary in our land, and"
Say no more. But why is it that these
wants come all at once ,"
For the simple reason that hitherto |
have bought them myself, with money
earned by plain sewing. But since my
illness, i'll the autumn, it hurts my side to
sew much, and have had to give it up
Mrs. Gray enjoyed her husbands horri-
fled look.
plain sewing. Annie, | thought you
had more pride"
Il had too much pride to f of you
what | could carr myself" said She, with
some spirit.
'.Well. here is four dollars and a half.
Try to make that do" And he hurried
off.
Mrs. Gray sighed.
',He means WE'LL she said, but lei
seem to think women are like children
not to be trusted with money.
Meanwhile Mr.. Gray was ~soliloquizing:
ssStrange how extravagant women are.
Annie is one Of the best in the world, but
she does not know the worth of money any
more than a child. That four dollars and
a halt will be spent before night. Women
can't keep money.
Mrs. Gray went down town, as intended;
but she walked instead of riding, ia order
to save her money. While down, she felt
faint and hungry from her walk, and would
have liked a lunch, but she had no money
to spare.
'Oh, by the way Annie, did you go
down town. to-day?' asked Mr.. Gray, at
night.
Yes, she replied.
'Spent every cent, I'll be bound iok-
ingly.
mo, | have exactly two 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 come to me?'
Because it was out of the way; and be-
canse 70 tell the truth. felt too cross