The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-01-18
GAN you STAND On YOUR LEGS?

"; W. ~F AJoCH; AHN III
man, asked him this question; but he an
swered, with a laugh, and a rather sheep
ish look. that he was going to be married
in a fortnight. "And I'm not so young,
sir, he added, looking brayely up, I'm
turned two-and-twenty."
"Well, l call that young-too young,
unless people are a bit prepared for a rainy
day. III had married at twenty-five, |
should never have had a ~fve-pound note
saved, or been in the place [ am to-day.
You have been a steady lad, but l cannot
see that you have had much chance of saw
ing. a man who marries should be able
to stand firm on his own legs, and not need
to borrow a crutch from anybody else"
Ben looked down at a sturdy pair of
limbs, as if the foreman were aiinding to
those supports, even when he knew that
Mr.. Tyson was not thinking of these at all.
What | meaL is, have you a few pounds
to fall back on if you should be out Of
workos''
well, nc, sir. l have a few, but it will
take all | have and a trifle Susan has saved
to furnish a little place to start in."
"And If sickness comes?"
But / hope it will not, sir. / have al
ways been well and strong, and 80 has
Susan" said Ben.
what does your mother say to it?
Surely, you feel that you owe something
to her. She has worked hard, and de-
prived herself of many comforts to bring
up her boys and put trades in their fingers.
Do you not think that you should try to
repay her by staying with her for a few
years, before you take some one else to
maintain"
Ben had to own that mother was rather
against the marriage. 'She likes Susan;
says she does not think l could have a bet
ter wife, only it would be wiser to wait a
few years, till-till-"
It'll what, man? Out with it" said
Mr.. Tyson.
It'll | could be sure of standing firm on
my own legs" replied Ben, looking some
what shamefaced.
"And she is a wise woman. She and /,
too, Ben, have seen more Christmas days
than you and Susan have. We should like
to give you the benefit of the experience
our old heads have gathered as they have
been growing gray. Think better of it,
Ben, and wait awhile until you can marry
prudently. Let your pretty Susan stay in
her place, and put a few more pounds in
the savings bank. Go OF working your
self and cheering your good mother with
the sight of a grateful son at her ireside-
a son who remembers what she has done
for him, and wishes to show that he is
grateful by tightening her cares in turn.
Remember there are slack times in our
trade, and you cannot insure altogether
against sickness.
"Get firm on your legs, | say, so that a
trying time will not brighten you by show
ing you also an empty cupboard. Wait
lad, and few years hence, you will thank
your mother and me-"
1t was very good advice, no doubt. At
first. Ben wondered if he could by any
means follow it.
But his coming wedding had been talk
ed of. Susan had given notice to leave
her place. though she had required a good
deal Of persuading to do this. How could
he go and tell her, after she had taken
such a step, that it would be better to
wait a while longer?
He feared that she would think him
changeable, and be angry. He dreaded
that his shopmates would laugh at him,
and that he would have to stand many a
jest and inquiry as to when the wedding
was to come off, or be told that the girl had
rued and was looking for a better bargain.
So, for fear of these lesser trials, Ben
Wadsworth took the more important step,
which linked his life with Susan's till death
should part them.
I'm sure she will be a good wife,
mother said Ben, as if a~pologizing for
his marriage, ''and it is a good thing to
get such a one."
"a good thing, but done at the wrong
time, Ben. You two young creatures have
tied a knot with your tongues that you
cannot unite with your teeth. You have
spent every sixpence you could raise to put
a few sticks of furniture into two rooms;
and I am not so sure that these are all
paid for.n
Ben WINGED at the words, for his mother
had guessed the truth, and that out of his
weekly wages a portion would have TO go
until the debt was paid.
He could spare ii, however. It was the
busy time, and house painters were max
ing long hours and good wages; but a slack
time followed the busy one, and then it
was hard work to live upon what was
earned during three days a week, inst cad
of six.
Then a baby was born, and the young
mother did not gain strength very fast;
and there was a doctors bill to pay, and a
little body to iced and closhe, besides the
two grown-up ones.
Ben was not standing on his own legs
by any means. His widowed mother had
worked hard for her sons, and she was toll
ing still for her own support, when she
might reasonably have hoped for help in
return. But Ben's hands were full; an
.:f:.-w x-;ro lao,ad an tho arm which tho /