The Washington critic., 1886-01-16
A WOMAN'S TACT.

My story begins where others end-I
was safely married; that was done with,
and Henry and I were settled at n New
York boarding house. The honey.
moon was over, and the prose of mar.
ried life about to begin.
The first Saturday evening after my
arrival in the city when my husband
came in he laid $50 in bills on the
table.
This is my weeks salary, my dear"
he said; "now let us consult how to
manage so as to put by something
every week"
THAT is right" answered, think
ing what prodigy of foresight and
wisdom Henry was.
"Sixteen dollars for our board" he
continued, "and 81 for washing; that
leaves $12. Half that sum we will di-
vide between us for clothing and cur.
rent expenses, and the rest we will pu,
by each week for a rainy day; is not
that what they call it?"'
"What darling you are - cried,
rushing TO put my arms round his neck,
for had read in all the good.advice
books that this was exactly the right
way to begin.
"Do you think 50 a week will be suf.
ticient for you, my love?' he asked.
was an innocent young thing,
fresh from the country, and the
thought of being an expense to Henry,
at all, was dismal idea to my mind.
II seemed like the end of all the roses
and romance which had made us so
happy. If he had said half a dollar Il
week / would have said Yes, just the
same.
So he handed me So and placed the
same sum in the side pocket of his
vest. Then he took down the large
old family Bible which my mother had
given me, and opening it near the be-
ginning, placed 50 and 81 bill between
its leaves. We then went down stairs to-
gethcr, in procession, as 1t were, to pay
the landlady, and returned as pleased
and happy young couple as ever was
seen.
1--WE will want to go somewhere
sometimes" said Harry, making the
announcement as though it was sud
den and wonderful discovery.
That is true" answered; and, as
we had already counted out all our
money, felt dismayed.
"Let us look over the washing book, +"
l suggested. This was done, and saw
that 81 week would be enough for
the laundress, if did up some of the
small articles myself. This amendment
was proposed and carried, though
Henry said he did not altogether like
the idea. Still this only gave us 81
week for excursions, concerts, etc
1T will not do" said Henry, 'to
take any part of what we have laid by"
We can each pay our own way out
of our So Il week." proposed.
Darling, | cannot let you pay when
| take you out" he answered
Then let us each take 80 cents less
and that will make SO week"
II am thinking" he said, chow ]
can keep up genteel appearance on
less than So week"
1.-TWO is enough for me-" rcplicd
and then with these, our wcighty af-
fairs, all arranged, we went out to see
the beauties displayed in the windows
ON Broadway, which, we agreed, would
On Monday morning | began to cal
culatc how should manage my two
dollars a week allowance for pin money.
My simple wardrobe had been bought
and made in the country, and contained
such articles as pink and blue calico
dresses and white aprons. a few days
observations had shown me that this
style was not admissible in New York
boarding house. Therefore, either my
one brown wool or my dark blue silk
had to be worn every day, Foresee-
ing that these would not last always,
i set myself to calculate how long l
would have to save my allowance to
compass the purchase of some new
dresses and bonnet. Accordingly,
for three weeks continued to put by
my pin money. On the fourth Satur-
day evening Henry asked me how much
money i had
"Six dollars" answered; he looked
surprised.
you will not need any this week,
then" he said, "and | have some en-
ira expenses to meet"
OF course ] said nothing. My feel
ings were shy and delicate. could
not ask Henry for money, far less could
contend with him about it, "Any.
thing rather than that" / said to my
self, The very idea of being a trouble
to him at all overwhelmed me.
Thus the matter went on for several
weeks. Every Saturday evening he
asked me If / had any money, and
every time answered truly, naming
the sum which remained. Meantime
spring had come on, and had neither
dress nor bonnet suitable to appeer in.
A yellow-haired girl in the Boarding
house used to ask me, with languid
drawl, and seemingly in the politest
manner, If ! would not go shopping
with her; and she would detail to me at
the lunch table, and in the presence of
the other ladies, what special bargains
were to be had at the Broadway or
Sixth avenue stores. She managed to
appear in q variety of new dresses, and
then she would descant upon the EN-.
broidered muslin robes and pongees in
which all the other ladies duly appeared
| as the warm weather came on,
At length an idea struck me and |
acted upon it. The next Saturday
morning | went out and spent all the
money had left. | could not make
pnrchogao IN thn I