River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-04-30
A POCKET-PIECE.

ieT HduuS LHlug SHe very seldom
did-looked ruefully at the breakfast
table with its array of unwashed
dishes, at the pile of mending in her
work basket near the window. and,
last and longest, at the heap of letters
In hoy -.
They were bills, every one of them;
even the MISUNDERSTANDING square
white envelope, which no one could
have suspected of being dun, held
the DOCTORS memorandum of the sum
due ''fOr professional services during
past six months"
There were bills from the grocer,
from the butcher and the baker, the
traditional candlestick-maker being
formidably represented by the gas
company with its quarterly statement.
The total made her sick at heart
Yet she had tried so hard to be
economical hard. she thought
bitterly, as she remembered in her
secret soul that JOhnnie's attack of
pneumonia might have been averted
by stout rubber boots and by new and
warm under clothing in place of the
old Aannels she had patched and darn
ed so faithfully.
The new garments had to be pur-
chased after all, in spite of her short
sighted thrift. They were the Doc
tors first prescription after the crisis
was past.
She thought, too, how, 20 save the
expense of a sick nurse, which they
could so ill affOrG, she had tried to
care for the sick boy day and night,
at time when her own physical sys-
tenn called for rest. OF course, she
had broken down in the effort, with
the result that she, as well as johnnie,
had to be nursed, and the doctor had
two patients instead of one. We all
of us make such mistakes, now and
then.
Well, there was no use in crying
over split milk; at all events, she had
no time to sit down for any such pur-
pose, so she went about her duties
with willing hands, if with a heavy
heart.
There was one thing she could do,
If only John could be made to CON
sent. The new cloak, which made
such heavy item in Draper & De
Lanes bill, and which John had given
her for Christmas, could be returned.
She had not worn it, and its pur-
chase had been conditional on her APP
proval.
John, who, as every one will under
stand, was her husband, Mr.. Ruther-
was a bOOkkeeper in downtown store,
with a salary which scarcely sufficed,
with strict economy, to buy bread and
butter, clothes and shelter, for his
little family.
Still, they managed to keep a mod
crate bank account, and this was the
first time they had really run behind
hand. But while she was sick there
had been no one to watch and guard
against all possible leaks, ard the gro
Gerry bill was double what il ought to
have been. As for generous, warm
hearted John, he had never stopped to
count dollars, much less pennies, with
his wife ana boy living ill, the house
had been kept like an oven, and the
amount of coal and gas used had been
frightful.
She thought of all this again and
again through the long day, and there
was small wonder if her children
found her absent-minded more than
once. That sum total haunted her like
a nightmare, and for the first time in
her life she dreaded her husband 5
coming, because of the burden of care
which awaited him.
She put the hateful envelopes out of
sight-at Least he should eat his sup
per in peace md comfOrt-and made
the children tidy for their father 5
home-co ming. The fact that New
Years Is legal holiday in no wise
shorten, Il his DAYS work; the books
must be posted before taking account
of stock.
1t was long after dark, when at last
she heard the sound of his latch key
in the lock of the front door, and she
fastened to hurry up supper, as the
children rushed pell nell to welcome
their father He came in smiling, as
usual, the center If small tumult of
joyful noise. MAYBE you think it
isn't cold out of DOORS" he said
brightly. Supper most readye I'm
as hungry rs hunter. And then,
with glance at the mantel. mo let
ters?- only one delivery to-day. re-
men ber :"
Il think they might have let you Oft
early this afternoon, she answered
evasiyely.
Impossible, my dear" he replied,
'why this is the very busiest part of
my year Don't you know that, little
woman
Il ought to, by this time" she said,
with a sorry attempt at laugh; "but
. couldn't help hoping all the same;
come, supper is ready"
Both Mrs. Ruther and her husband
had long ago tacitly agreed to surren-
der to the children the first hour or so
after his return every evening. 1t was
the ''children's hour" and unless
there CHANGED to be company at tea,
all conversation in which they could
not take part was postponed until
after their early bedtime.
BY and by that came, and the little
flock said good night, and went up
stairs with their mother to be tucked
away for the night.
Then hush fell on the household,
and Mr. Ruther lit his pipe, and drew
the evening paper from his pocket.
When his wife came down again and
took the seat on the other side of the ia
bic with her sewing, he laid the newspa-
per down, and looked up with the air
of man who has important news to
tell What do YOU think, Nell?' he
said, Tom Whittemore is going out
TO St Paul. "
so far2" she answered. "lle will
be quite a loss to you, won't he?"
well. YES. / shall miss him. we
have always been good friends, you
know. but I'm not sure that his going
won't be n rather good thing for Us,
as it is for him lie has a good offer
out there, good salary, and the chance
of an interest in the businesS-an offer
he can't afford to refuse. The thing
that concerns us most, however, is that
he wants me to take his place in The
Building Fund At just what II cost
him. $500, and SO a month to the
Fund.
Il don't quite understand. "
20 YES. you do, if you will think
moment Don't you know he got hi'
house by joining a building assoeia
ton. and the rent of the house goes Il
the purchase money. He has paid fiv,
hundred on it, and the rent now is 81
month.
Is that so? Why, it is a better one
than this. which costs us so more.
(Which goes into our landlord
poeket-yes. 1t really is a wonderful
chance for us, because the property
has advanced in value since he bought
it, and is certain to increase in the flu
ture lint he wants ready money Il