The Osceola times., 1888-09-08
CHANGING ENDS.
The Old Money Question In n New Light
A Short Story with Moral.

The Old Money Question In n New Light
short Story With Moral.
II was an unfortunate day for me
when my wife's uncle died and left his
only niece fortune of fifty thousand
dollars. Before that unlucky money
came into her possession, Mary was a
meek, amiable woman, quite model
wife. Now sha is changed. / think
there should be law made prohibiting
women from possessing property. /
have discovered by sad experience that
moneyed woman is tyrant.
Before Mary became a wealthy wo-
man, we were comparatively poor, but
happy.
A short time after my wife became
wealthy, became poorer than ever.
My business decreased, and needed
money. / naturally thought had only
TO apply to Mary, and she would gladly
let me have all | needed. Confident in
this belief, one day asked her for fifty
dollars.
Fifty dollars!" she exclaimed. "Why,
John, what do you need with so much
money! What are you going to do
with itp"
II have to settle little bill, my dear" p"
! answered, rather meekly.
"A little bill Well, ] must say you
have aqueer idea Of the value of money,
II you call fifty dollars a small sum. II
it came out of your pocket, you would
not consider 1t such an insignificant
amount, l imagine"
II hate to trouble you, Mary" said,
still more meekly, "but am out OF
money, and you see"-
''Oh, don't go on all day about it. or
course, shall have to let you have it.;
but do hope you will learn some time
that money does not grow on trees"
This was my first experience in ask
ing Mary for money, and l found it a
very disagreeable one. But my in
creasing business troubles made it
necessary for me to apply TO her again
soon. Choosing a time when she
seemed in cheerful and kind mood, l
asked her for twenty-five dollars.
"What do you want to do with itp"
she asked, frown darkening her brow.
"Well, my dear, you see my business
suit is looking rather shabby, and l
thought
"Oh, understand, you want to buy
new suit What is the matter with
the suit you are wearing? II is not
worn out. 1t seems to me you are
wanting TO waste money for something
all the time"
"But, Mary, all the other fellows
have new
There, there, the same old story!
You want new suit because Jim Smith
has one. That is just about as good a
reason as man can give for his extrav-
agant fancies. Next, you will be want
ing a new silk hat because Judge Jones
wears one. There, will give you fif-
teen dollars, That will buy suit nice
enough for you, and hope you will
not come to me in a week, asking for
more. really can not afford to humor
your extravagant fancies."
took the money with the determine
ton not to ask for any more under any
circumstances. But my financial
troubles soon made me reconsider that
resolve, and several times since then
have been compelled to ask Mary for
money. II she would give 1t un.
grudgingly, should not mind asking
for it, but her constant grumblings at
my extravaganza, and her lectures on
economy, have become the dread of my
life. have watched her for days to find
O favorable moment to ask for sum
of money much needed. But in vain
no matter how pleasant and amiable she
appeared, as soon as hinted the word
'money," she became sour and disa-
greeable.
| do not like independent women.
They are not womanly or amiable.
Mary was once one of the most amiable
and womanly of women. She is so nc
longes. Independence has changed
her She has become disagreeably as
sertive, and seldom asks my advice
about any thing. She used to be as
meek as a lamb when she came to ask
me for money to pay the butcher or the
washerwoman, and If grumbled lit
tie at her extravaganza, she would look
quite frightened She is never fright
ened now, and she buys as many bon
nets and dresses as she wants, without
consulting me about the matter II
may be convenient to have wealthy
wife, but it is not at all times agree
able. l greatly prefer holding the
purse strings myself, even If the purse
is rather light. Perhaps, in the old
DAYS, when Mary was the one to ask,
and / was the one to give,
grumbled more than was necessary
about the giving. / do not feel alto
gether guiltless. but l am well punish.
ed."-M A. Wilson, IN Minnedpolis