Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-16
The Lesson.

The Lesson.
Papa, papa mamma wants to
speak to you before you go down.
Tell mamma to hurry along then.
/ haven't moment to spare this
morning"
And Mr.. Jordan drew OH his gloves
with an assumption of business-like
impotence.
What is it, my dear! p he asked,
as plump, black-eyed little lady
came tripping along the hall, adjust
ing the strings of her white bib-apron
as she came.
"Why, Ernest, to tell you the truth
my finances have given out. | would
like you to leave me ten dollars this
morning"
Mr.. Jordan's countenance fell.
MARY" he said solemnly, '"do you
take me for Rothschild, or for a
John Jacob Astor?"
Neither the one nor the other"
81 never saw anything like the
manner in which this family consumes
money. One would really imagine
that gold was melted down and fed
out to the children by the spoonful
It's not six weeks give you my
word, Mrs. Jordan, it's not six weeks
since | gave you a fifty dollar bill I"
Dear me-" said his wife, beginning
to get little impatient, chow long
do you suppose fifty dollars will last
family like ours? Are you aware
of the price of provisions ?"
81 am aware of everything, ma'am
And | really think you should make
it study to economist ~
Mrs. Jordon colored Indignantly.
She was bright, sunny-tempered
little woman, but she had not the
patience of Griselda of old, and she
keenly felt the injustice of her hus.
bands remarks.
Dear me-" she said, "if | were a
man | would cut my tongue out
sooner than make such harranging
about ten dollars | dare say you
speak it without giving the matter a
second thought"
Mr.. Jordon held up both his hands
in deprecating reproof.
"My DEAR" he said you have very
little idea Of the pinching and econo-
MIXING that is necessary in the life of
business man. Here is the ten dol
lars-pray make it last as long as
possible"
Mrs. Jordan took the money with
little grimace.
Now, why couldn't he have given
1T to me graciously ?" she thought.
It's bad enough to have to 90 begging
for every cent without having it
thrown so unwillingly in ones face.
| wish he would give me a regular
allowance-but men are SO queer !"
Mrs. Jordan did not go back to the
nursery where the dimpled baby was
in process of bath and tie two
next Jordans were sailing their shoes
in the tub, greatly to Nurse Ryan's
dismay. She sat down by the parlor
window, resting her cheek on one
hand and gazing mechanically out up
on the street, as if she were turning
some vague possibility over in her
mind.
AT length she rose. with eyes spark
ling and cheeks rosy as peaches.
"I'll do it," said Mrs. Jordan. "I'll
do it the very first opportunity get. u
II was two or three days subsequent.
ly to the financial interview above de.
scribed that Mr.. Jordan came home,
looking very hurried and important.
"Mary," said he, 81 wish you would
pack my valisc I'm going to Albany
tomorrow on business for client"
very WE'LL" said Mrs. Mary, with
"a light flashing into her eyes which
he never saw. Men are so blind at
times
81 shall be back tomorrow night"
he said.
"Then | will expect you and keep
dinner waiting
Mr.. Jordan had scarcely trotted
away from the front door, with his
valise on one arm and his new silk
umbrella under the other, than Mary
went up to her room and speedily as.
sumed bonnet, shawl and gloves.
81 am in luck,' said Mrs. Jordan
TO herself didn't expect whole
day to complete my operations in"
She made very pretty tout ensem-
BILE as she surveyed herself in the
glass. Black hair, with a purplish