, 1889-09-04

ia ~ vi NOuAoo II III vi
us need a little more we arrange that
matter between us. But one thing, Dick,
l never ask her what she did with her
money, any more than / expect to nc
count to her for the spending of mine.
She has just as good n right to that fifty
dollars, to use as she pleases, as l have to
three times as much
"Why, man alive, my wife is n SPLEEN
did financier. She was brought up to
handle money, while l had to learn. You
see my father was a rich man and hand
ed me any sum l wanted at any time.
Then there came a day when he lost his
property, and when / | began reading law
l had not a cent to call my own. 1t was
pretty hard, l tell you, to keep down my
extravagant tastes. | had to begin at
the foot of the ladder and work up. But
Amy helped. But now my business is
on n firm footing and there is no more
need for her to use her own money. L
rebelled against it ut the time. What
she has of her own is safely invested,
with the understanding that she shall
ave what she desires for her own ex-
penses."
Dick Rosenberg listened attentively,
in%terrupting with a word now and then.
When he came to go he said, I'll try
your plan, Tom, with my wife. 1 always
somehow felt as If a woman was not
always been with Belle when she made
purchases and paid for them myself"
my word for it, Dick, you will have
more money at the end of a year if Mrs.
Rosenberg buys her own things"
That evening there were no callers,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Rosenberg stationed
themselves in the library with books and
work. The lady of the house worked
htfully, watched the flames in the glow
ing fire, hesitated, opened her mouth to
speak once or twice, at last gained cour-
age and gave u%tterance:
"Mrs. Franklin came in this afternoon
to ask me to go shopping with her to-
morrow morning. She has seen some
goods she would like to consult me about,
and as l said l needed n dress, she sug-
gested that l get it at the same time. !
didn't know whether it would be conven-
lent for me to have any money now or
not. II it is not, perhaps | can have
enough for car fares, and then / can help
her with her things"
Belle trembled as her husband began.
First no laid down his paper and pushed
1t aside.
THE very idea of your having TO come
to me for car faresl No, / don't mean it
isn't right, as he saw the moisture gather
in Mrs. R~osenberg's eye. 81 have been
meaning Che did not say for how long, TO
nave a little talk with you upon the
money question. Belle, l always thought
it was the mans place to manage all the
money. | will tell you how it was in
my home. My father was n poor boy.
He was sent out at 10 years of age to
shift for himself. He did all kinds of
hard. cold work, and received hard, cold
treatment. He tried several trades. and
at last decided to go into n factory, learn
all there was to learn about the business,
and get up by degrees into a good bust
ness. He did 30.
I'm my early years he had quite q good
-alary-several thousand dollars n year.
Bu' there was one thing l always OBJ
served, and that was that though he
gave literally and spent lavishly him
self, he never trusted my mother with
much money. He trusted her, but those
were not days when women were eN-
pected to control things. They always
asked their husbands what to do and
what to buy. Anyway, it was so in my
fathers family, and in his brothers fam
lilies, and other families 1 knew about.
''Why, my mother had no pocketbook
of her own. She always went to my
father for every cent.
when / married, l supposed that l
ought to keep my money in my own
hands, but l have made up my mind
that l have been all wrong. Tomorrow
is your birthday, Belle. I'm going to
celebrate by beginning to live as l mean
to so on"
To Mrs. Rosenberg's surprise he was
holding out to her n new pocketbook of
the most approved style. Mrs. Rosen-
berg took it, and the faint color in her
cheeks deepened as on examining it
she discovered a fifty dollar bill neatly
folded and lying within.
"It is only what 1 propose to hand
you at the beginning of each month
hereafter" said her husband, looking
on with pleased interest.
Just fancy, reader, how she felt She
who had been accustomed to come and
ask for the sum of ten cents!
Mrs. Franklin and Mrs. Rosenberg did
their shopping together. And it must
be owned that Mrs. Franklin was sur
prised at the number of dainty trifles
that her friend purchased. When at last
she spent 81 for half n dozen handker-
chiefs, she exclaimed; Edna, do you
think I'm growing extravagant? had
a large birthday present, so you see
can afford a few things"
But in n few days Mrs. Franklin OBJ
served to her husband, "What a long
birthday present Belle Rosenberg had
She seems to have plenty of money in
these days for all that she needs"
AS for Mr.. Rosenberg, he never re,
GREETED that he decided to make his wife
partner in home affairs. He no longer
had occasion to be ashamed of her APP
pearance in public, MOI needed he to Ia.
ment any undue extravaganza in her.
"Dick, you are not robbing youiser'.
or the interests of your house, or any
thing, are your" she vcntured one day,
adding, II do wish every wife could have
her allowance"