Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-09-20
CHANGING ENDS.
Thu Old IIoney Question In = Vow Light
A Short story With q Moral.


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 she is changed. l think
there should be law made prohibiting
women from possessing property. I
have discovered by sad experience that
Q moneyed woman is a tyrant.
Before Mary became a wealthy wo-
man. We we're comparatively poor, but
happy.
A short time after nay wife became
wealthy. l became poorer than ever.
Ay business decreased, and l needed
money. naturally thought had only
to apply to Mary. and she would gladly
let me have all needed. Confident in
this belief. l one day asked her for fifty
dollars.
"Fifty dollarsw she exclaimed. 'Why,
join. what do you need with so much
money! What are you going to do
with it!"
81 have to settle a little bill. my dear"
I answered, rather meekly.
"A little bill! Well, must say you
have aqueer idea of the value of money.
IL you call fifty dollars small sum. II
it came out of your pocket. you would
not consider it such an insignificant
amount. imagine"
81 hate to trouble you. Mary" said.
still moro meekly, ''but l an 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 1 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 1 found it a
very disagreeable one. But my in
creasing business troubles made it
necessary for me to apply to her again
soon. Choosing time when she
seemed in q cheerful and kind mood, l
asked her for twenty-five dollars.
''What do you want to do with it,"
she asked, . frown darkening her brow.
"Wel. my dear, you SEQ my business
suit is looking rather shabby, and l
thought
'Oh. understand. you want to buy
new suit What il the matter with
the suit you are wearing? 1t 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 now
''Therc. there. the same old story!
You want new suit because Jim Smith
has one. That is just about as good a
reason as a man can give for his extrav-
agant fancies. Next. you will be want
ing new silk hat because Judge Jones
wears One There. l will give you if
teen dollars, That will buy a suit nice
enough for you. and l hope you will
not come to me in week. asking for
more. really can not afford to hu,nOr
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. If she would give it 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. l have watched her for days to find
q favorable moment to ask for sum
of money much needed. But in vain;
no matter how pleasant and amiable she
appeared. as soon rs limited the word
"money," she became sour and disa-
greeable.
I 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 no
longer. 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 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
quito frightened. She is never fright
ened now, and she buys as many bon.
nets and dresses as she wants, withou,
consulting me about the matter. II
may bo convenient to have q wealthy
wife. but it is not at all times agree.
able I greatly prefer holding the
purse strings myself. even if the purse
b rather light Perhaps. in the old
days, when Mary was the one to ask,
and / was the ono to give,
ezumbled more than was necessary