Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-05-03
HER SILVER SPOONS.
THEY REMAINED HER PROPERTY, BUT
 WERE VERY COSTLY.

fused to Risk Them Any More-A Little Story Bearing on the Question of the wife's Property Rights.
 The following story was told in pa per read by Mrs. M. J. Cogeeshall at meeting of the Womans Suffrage so- oiety of Des Moines and published in The Saturday Review of that city:
 Today, when we women have not out grown the pretty fad of collecting sou venir spoons, the great variety and beauty of which were unknown to our grandmothers, allow mo to recall the story of a great aunt of ours who also loved spoons, but whose plain cupboard drawer contained no sets of dainty after dinner coffees like those from which we love to sip as we sit in our clubs and talk of culture.
 This aunt when young woman was a teacher in a country school until she had saved enough money to indulge her great desire for set of silver spoons. She was married soon after to the young man of her choice. Six years passed by years of hard work and economy for both, happy years, though no children had come to bless their union-when by a sudden illness the husband was taken away. The day after the funeral the grieved wife was surprised by the en- trance to her home of the two brothers of her husband, bringing with them the village lawyer. They told her they had come to set value upon their brothers property, in order that she might know what part of it was hers.
 She held her peace as they set down the worth of each article of furniture in the little home, until they finally came to the box of spoons
 Then she spoke and said: ''These are mine l bought them with my own money before l was married "
 "Yes, ma 'am," said the lawyer, ''but you know. ma am, that after la- dy is married everything belongs in law to her husband. ''
 So all the little property was divided, the brothers taking half, and she took the spoons with the rest at the price that had been set upon them. But it obliged her to give up the home, and
 
 rented rooms and began lifo anew. Oe- cas1onally teaching a school and always sewing when possible, she supported herself very comfortably for about three years, when a lifelong friend of her husband, an excellent man, offered her his hand in marriage.
 She liked him well, and her friends told her it was the best thing to do, and she thought with pleasure of again be- ing mistress of a home So they were married
 In few years her husbands s health declined, and for many months she gave him most tender and unceasing care She had few times spoken to him about making will, but as it seemed an unpleasant subject she had ceased to mention it. Finally the end camo There had come to attend the funeral his nearest relative, anephew from New England, whom she had never seen be- fore. In day or two he brought two men to the cottage to appraise the prop erty, and agaln was there price set upon the well preserved spoons. On the evening of that day as she was prepar ing supper the nephew entered the kitchen and said;- Aunt Liza, am disposed to be very easy with you. The worth of all of unele's property has been carefully estimated, and will al low you to include in your half of it any article of furniture you may choose.
 And again she paid the price of her first darling purchase of silverware, but there was not enough left after the hal was taken for her to keep tho house and lot, so they went into the hands of strangers, and with her cat Aunt Liza again went into cozy, but hired rooms. She was pattorn of thrift and tidiness, as smart widower of the neighborhood was woll aware, and in less than a year he made a call upon the comedy matron. He was wise enough to mako his first visit short but fingered moment in the door and suggested that in the near future they become better acquainted
 Sho answered. "I am living here very comfortably, and think, MT Johnson, that it will not be worth while for you to call, ' and closing the door hastily sine turned to her cat and said:
 "No. Tommy 1 have bought those spoons three times, and l don't intend to risk them any more. 7"
 Bought the Ship That Brought Him.