The National tribune., 1891-01-15


thereof he learned TO bride his tongue.
During the carly months Of their marriage
Patty noted with satisfaction that the table
supplies, as 10 dry groceries, were fairly lib
eral, bat lattcrly there had been a decided
diminution. She said nothing for a couple
Of weeks, until satisfied that the shortage
was not aCSental. Then she said
Jointly, bring home more sugar and tea
and coffee than you did last week; twice
as much. And ] want some cheese and
/ macaroni, aud some salt mackerel"
A." Why, Patty, is that sugar and coffee gone
already?"
Patty deigned no reply.
declare" continued her husband,
harshly; you are pretty extravagant.
Why, Lid'ann could make things 60 twice
as far y -
oh " interrupted Patty, as she scalded
and dried the milk crooks, f" Lid'ann was no
hand at cooking. i heard you say il once
when John and / came to dinner. You spoke
up ut the table and said her coffee was dish
water. j remember, because her eyes filed
with tears; she felt guilty-lke, / expect.
Then John says to me going home: Why,
Mrs. Sourbeck must be a little close i'm her
cooking
Mr. Sourbeck flushed hOtly. Then peo-
pie really did see things. lie knew that
sharp Patty did not hold Lidann guilty.
Then, JOnty,n and Patty polished away
at the tiu pans, the kitchen shades, don't
forget; and the shoes for Susie"
Mr.. Sourbcck brought home the groceries
as directed, but he had forgotten" the
! shades and shoes.
The next market day Mistress Patty left
] the breakfast work undOne. and stood in her
hest pNRyn tyaifinfr bor buubop1
Why, Patty, what's this? ' asks Mr.
Sourbecll as he came in after hitching up.
You going to t0wn?n
Yes, dear, for some things You are such
forgetiul man but, then, really lisa wom-
ans place TO buy things needed in the
house"
Things needed, gasped her husband in
perpleMty; what things? who f0r?'
Why, man alive" and the new wife
pinched her husbands arm, laughing lightly;
>" do you think women and children find
clothes on bushes. 1t is nearly Spring, and
there's plenty needed. want a dress, and
Susie and Fanny must have calicoes for
dresses and aprons. Then Joey is TO have
rubber boots, and there are shoes and stock
ings -
But the money, Mrs. Sourbeck!" broke
out Jonathan angrily. You said nothing of
that nor asked me if had il TO give"
Oh the money!" with a little childless
grimace. Did you not swear, with all my
worldly goods j thee endOw?' OF course
things are common between man and wife.
What's yours is mine and the children's, isn't
it?n
Smiling still and running ahead of him.
she climbed up into the buggy and serenely
waited for her lord. In vain the tyrannical,
parsimOniOus man tried 20 refer back TO
questions Of economy and the necessity of
saving.
His talk Of poverty was all laughed down.
Then he brought up the note due next
December. Ii was now March.
Never mind, Jointly. Harvest is between
THIS and the note" was all the consolation
he got
Wait for me here spell at Aunt Sallie's,
and III come back and 20 TO the store with
you" remarked Jonathan sullenly, as he
drove up 10 his relatives gate in the village
Patty climbed out, nodded, and ran into the
house; but no sooner had Mr.. Sourbeck
turned the next corner toward the postoflice |
than Patty babe Aunty Sallie good-by and |
scurried down the street storeward.
III was nearly an hour later when Jonathan |
Sourbeck intercepted his wife as she was |
gaily making her way toward the ribbon
counter.
Didn't tell you to waltz" in low,
fierce voice.
Yes, +" ratified Patty, unconcernedly: "but |
j thought we would save time by my coming |
right along Everything is bought MY |
dress-the sweetest dark-blue cashmere /
all the things for Susie and Fanny, Joeys |
boots, and some sheets and towels Oh! I'm |
a buyer" and the lady continued 10 smile.
NOu-got-the-thing s-without-me?"
Yes, indeed; men never buy the right
things"
"And the bill2" gasped Jonathan.
Oh! that" sweetly. Why, here; only
$40; no, II Is $3.50; that's alb
The man seemed angry enough TO strike
his wife
She never WINGED The owner Of the
store, Mr. Brice, and the richest man in the
village, had himself served her, and now
stood behind the counter smiling.
=" III settle for this later II was whis-
per, but Patty caught it,
" OF course" and she looked straight back
at him. " Mr. Brice says your credit If good
and you can wait till harvest If you want
10. No, Mr. Brice," turning TO that gentle
man. IN get the carpet, maybe next
time. j want Mr.. Sourbeck 10 help me
decide between the brown and the oakland
green"
Carpetsi Carpets Was the woman
madf The only carpets they ever had were
made by Lid'ann. How he remember the
long Winter evenings when she cut and
sewed those rainbow-hued rags and piled up |
an old clOthes-baske with the big bright |
balls
"And how's Brother S0urbeck ?" remarked /
the stOrekeeper, now coming up and shaking |
hands. And Brother Sourbecz dared not
refuse TO shake hands with a man who might /
20 10 the Legislature.
Fine weather Mr.. sourbeck; leetle cold. |
Easy times on the farm this reason Of the /
year. EhI just the time TO buy new car
pets and curtains for the new wife" and Mr.. |
Briee winsed
Jonathan SourbecI was very proud Of his |
credit As a man Of means
Wen see later about that, he said, quite |
calmly.
The oak-and-gTeen is a particularly fine |
piece Of goods Your wife is a woman of |
taste, and a fine jewel, you know, must have
a good setting"
Mr. SouTbeck rubbed bis hands aud tried
TO look pleased. Praising his wife was
really pralsing him. lie produced his wallet
and paid the bill; nor did he have the moral
courage 10 forbid his wife credit before so
distinguished a man.
Got all you want nOW2" Queried iona
than, RlO0mily, a. the purchases were being
slowed under the buggy-seat.
a Aan IL A. n