The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-03

Rather than W ear crown upon my brow,
I'd lie forever hero among the datsies-
A Ruie That Did Not Work Both Ways.
There lived In China n silk merchant
who hail wise wife She saw. to her
sorrow. that her husband, while good
business man, wac Careless about
money, and careless abont his habits.
He spent more money than he made.
and would after while become poor.
10 warn him would hardly do; and
she dared not scold him; for then he
might get divorce from her. A
scoldiDg wife Is regarded in China rs
bad one, and her husband may make
that reason enough for separation.
This shrowd woman tried another
way to reform her husband and save
money. Whenever she could, she
took piece OF fine silk from the store
and hid 1t where 1t would be safe and
yet not found by the merchant.
After few years the careless man
had as many debts as his goods In the
store were WORTH. and no money to
pay. His creditors, unwilling to lose
their money, made him give over to
them his silks. Poor fellow! He was
without business and without pro-
perty. Now he took time to think
OF his folly, and he repented
heartily. But that would not
bring back business or silks. He
kept the news Of his misfortune from
his wife as long as he could. but was
forced to tell her at last. Then he
said that all was lost. and that he
must begin life anew, but as q com.
mon workman; yet he was willing to
work hard II he might but rise again.
''All Is not lost" said his wife. Il
can help you out Of trouble and start
you anew in the silk trade"
"How?' asked the husband.
Come aud see" was her reply.
Then she led him to the room where
were hidden the pieces OF silk, and
she told him that he might take and
sell those and 80 continue his BUSH
ness.
but where did you get all this
silk" he asked. 1T Is tho very best,
and will bring large price. There is
enough here to start me at once IN
business.
do you ask men where they get
their goods. as long as you SEQ that
they are valuable and are sold to you
at q reasonable price" asked she.
The merchant started In business
! again. and was very successful. He
huJ really Reformed. and became q
fairly good man; SO his wife had no
luELleT uetu 10 5dF0 up silh VI ulOuby
| for time of trouble.
When he had regelned his fortune
she told him how she had taken his
| own silks Ia his time OF neglect and
| carefessness, and kept them for his
time of need. This pleased the man
greatly, 0nd he told his friends
that his wife had reformed him and
made him successful.
nhe story spread through the city.
and the wife of bookseller thought
she would try the same method to
rescue her husband from ruin and loss
OF business II 1t came. though he was
not a careless man like the other.
Every day she visited the store and
carried home q book or two. These
she hid aud kept carefully for the time
of difficulty that she expected.
After a number OF years the book
seller was forced to sell out his bust
ness to pay his debts. He had very
little property left over; but when he
told his wife his misfortune, che smil.
ed and said that he need give himself
no trouble; she had forseen, aud pre-
pared for that very dithculty. Then
she told him what she had done, and
led him to tie room whore she had
stored up great pile OF books.
| Here" said she. ARE enough to be-
| gin anew; and they are all yours. Be.
gin your business tomorrow, and tell
the people that it Is owing to your
wife's forethought that you can start
anew with 0 large stock, and not u
debt on it."
Tho cheerful look of the bookseller
did not last, when he examined closely
the books tbs wife had stored up. As
he examined one after another his face
grew longer and longer. until he turn.
cd to her in anger and said:
You are partly the cause OF my
| failure. You took the books away
from my store when they might have
been sold at good price, and i lost
all they were worth In cash. They
are books that must be renewed each
year, and old almanacs. They are en-
tirely worthless"
She meant to do right and show her.
self shrewd woman but almanacs
were not the books to keep over
=. sydney CIApKF