Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-03-21
Mr.. AND MRS. BOWSER.
The Question Of Pin Money and How It
Was Settled.


Was Settled.
Before our marriage mother insisted that
we settle one important question, viz, what
allowance | was to have weekly. When
broached the subject Mr.. Bowser promptly
replied:
Half of all have or earn is. or will be-
yours When you want money you will sim
ply go to the family pocketbook and take
it and use it as your judgment Dictates"
When told mother what he said, she re-
plied
THAT is too generous I never knew q
man to make such an offer that he didn't
afterward pinch his wife down to so cents q
week"
When the question incidentally came up
again, later on, Mr.. Bowser took occasion to
observe:
There will always be money in the house,
and don't want to marry woman whom
could not trust to use it for our best interest.
It will belong to you as much as to me, and
you need never ask for a dollar"
A few weeks after our marriage an agent
called at our house with some fancy work,
drawer and made some purchases. That
evening when Mr.. Bowser came home I
proudly pointed to my tides and mats and
said:
"Those were purchased with our money,
Mr. Bowser"
How our money!
"Why, took bill from the family wal
let"
You didl Who gave you permission to
fling my money around for gimcrackss"
Doesn't half Of it belong to mes"
"Not by long shotl"
'But before we were married you said it
would"
That's in theory, of course Twill see that
you are not tempted again. When you want
amount down on my cash book and figure our
expenses"
The next week wanted new bonnet, and
asked Mr. Bowser for SIS.
Fifteen what!" he gasped as he looked up
Dollars"
"What forr'
"To buy bonnet"
must be crazy | can't afford any such ex-
travagance."
But you said you could trust my judg-
ment."
"Never didl No woman on earth has judg-
ment enough to use $40 bill"
"And you said had only to ask you when
wanted money"
"But | meant to have explained to you,
Mrs. Bcwser. There are times when the best
Of us may be hard up Never ask me at tax
time Never ask me when have coal to buy.
Never ask in the spring when l shall be max
ing repairs. Don't ask during the holiday
season, for then am buying presents. In
fact, when can spare any money will give
it to you without your asking"
"But you once said a wife must feel mean
without money, and that you believed in q
weekly allowance" protested
81 still say SO and still believe so. think
it would be more satisfactory to both Of US
Mrs Bowser, name the sum you are willing
to take"
"For pin money!
"Of course. Women are always wanting
little trifes, and l shall give you weekly
salary to buy them How muchp'
"I-I hardly know"
"Could you get everything on IS a weekm
II think could"
every well This is Saturday. Here's
your salary. When Saturday comes hold
out your hand for your money. don't be-
Heve in wife crawling and begging for
money"
The next week held out my hand and my
salary was promptly handed over, but when
the succeeding Saturday arrived Mr.. Bowser
observed:
"Let's seel You have had $40. presume
that every red cent of it has been squandered.
brought"
"But wasn't it mine, to use as thought
bestg"
Theoretically, yes; butshould you become
spendthrift, who would be responsible for
ita The possession Of plenty of money has
been the ruination of many women"
"Never ruined q man, supposeF'
"Possibly, but that's not the question Let
Us figure"
$50 we will, Mr.. Bowserl Your income
last week was $40. You gave me S. How
have you used the resta"
"Are you crazya" he gasped.
"No, sir! How did you use that money!
He looked at me a long time and then hand
ed me my salary and the subject was drop
ped The next week, however, he cut me
down dollar. and the second week got but
two.
"I-I don't understand" said as looked
at the bill
"Its all can spare"
'Then it's all right. and I'll try and make
it do"
At the end of the sixth or seventh week
asked for my salary and arrears, and Mr..
Bowser jumped up and demanded:
"What salarya What arrearsa If you
want money why don't you ask for it, the
same as other wives dol What are you trying
to get atg'
"Dont have weekly salaryp
"Not that ever heard of"
'But you said-I thought you were going
tO-ton-
"Going to Texasa Oh, mol Mrs. Bowser,
you have been exposed to the measles, and
you are over excited. If you want quarter
or fifty cents here it is, but please control
your nerves little better"
"But don't get S. a weekp'
"Not that know Of"
"And you 60 back on yoIr word, do your
"Mrs. Bowser, the term go back is slangy.
Please don't use it at our ireside If occa-
don should ever arise whon you felt the need