The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-10-30
SARA'S SHAWL,

feelings crept into his heart. He fall in
love with buxOm, good-tempered young
woman named Sara Woolrich, and offered
himself to her. He was not an ill-look-
ing man, and when he chose could make
himself agreeable. Sara liked him and
accepted him.
Jonas meant to be liberal to her and
was at first, but after brief honeymoon
of happiness his old habits resumed their
sway, and at last, the second winter of
their married life coming on, Sara found
that all her remarks about her shabby
summer hat had no effect whatever, and
she might wait long while without hay
ing such a thing as comfortable cloak
suggested to her. She had been poor
girl, and had no trousseau to speak of,
and she found it necessary to put her
pride in her pocket and ask for what she
needed.
1t was hard enough for wife to do
that, but to be refused was something
she bad not calculated on.
She knew her husband had a large
bank account-that there was no reason
why she should not dress as well as any
lady in the land. But when she had said
playfully, Jonas, shall 1 buy myself
some winter things to-day? l need a
shawl dreadfully," he answered, II
thought you were too sensible woman
to run after the fashions, Sara. I'm sure
you have very decent things that you
might wear a great while yet"
THAT shows how much men know"
Sara answered, determined to be pleas
ant and not show that she was hurt.
you'd not like your wife to look shah
by, JOnas?'
''Well, no. said Jonas, ''no; but really,
Sara, money is so scarce just now. Don't
you think you might make what you
have do little while longer?"
''How much longer?" she asked
quietly.
sob, don't know" said Jonas. 81
had an aunt who left me something when
she died, who wore the same shawl and
bonnet sixteen years, and boosted of it,
tool"
His wife looked at him and said moth
ing.
Economy is Il great thing, Sara"
said Jonas, uneasily. at would be
dreadful to die in the work house, you
know; and you don't care for other peo-
pies admiration do you, Sara, when you
know your Jonas likes you as well in
your well-saved clothes? We won't call
them shabby, Sara, only well-saved'.'
"Call them what you please, JONAS"
said Sara. "They merit both epithets."
She sat quietly with her hands folded
on the table before her while. Her
temper was rising fast, but she had sense
enough to crush it down.
a miser is the victim of vice that
masters him-just as drunkard is.
Jonas was ashamed of himself even as he
spoke, and she knew it, AS she looked
at him little while grief came instead
of anger.
There was SO much that was good
about Jonas. 1t was terrible to see this
canker creeping over it all; to see the
pinched lines about his mouth. the
strange, anxious look in his eyes
Poor Sara remembered stories she had
read of misers; how they star Jed them
selves while they counted their gold;
how some of them died in the dark to
save candles, and how, through a long
illness, one of the wealthiest of these
men refused to have a pillow bought for
him, or even little saucepan in which
to heat his porridge. Would Jonas grow
to be as bad as these? Once or twice of
late he had found fault with the amount
of butter used, and moaned over his
butchers bill. But men generally did
something of that sort, she had heard;
and men knew nothing about dress.
She arose softly and went out of the
room and brought back her bonnet and
shawl and put them on the table before
him
Jonas, dear" she said, II don't want
you to think me unreasonable; look at
these, see how shabby they are. They
were nice when we were married, but
they were cheap-cheap things fade so.
/ have made everything had do for two
years. did not Ike to ask. | have not
spent one penny of your money for
clothes. You know you gave me two
pairs of gloves during our honeymoon
have them STILL"
what good, careful girl said
Jonas, caressing her dark hair, as she
came and sat on low stool beside him.
Eyes, have been careful. 1t is my
nature to be-" said Sara. "Few rich
mems wives would have done so much.
Now look at these things, my dear"
Jonas looked. There came time af-
terward when it seemed to him that the
faded tint of that shawl, its dingy palm
leaves of yellow brown, and the wilted
flowers and shabby ribbon of the bonnet
had been scared into his brain He
looked at them long and lingeringly. He
knew his wife was reasonable, and that
the things were, and long had been, I'M
fit for her to wear. But his money
tugged at his heartstrings.
Suppose you wear them one winter
more, Sara" he said. "Just one"
"The shawl is very thin" she said II
Ill Al. IL 4