The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-05-09


economy early, and fortunately had married
a girl with taste and habits similar to his
own. Both desired to rise in the world,
and she, forgetting herself, bent all her
energies toward his progress and success,
She did her own housework for years made
her own clothes and those Of her children
and in every way saved that John might
be rich and influential. Her history was
like that of thousands of other New Eng
land women-she wore herself out Tor her
family. She never had time for social life
and not very great amount OF time for
reading, tho she kept up as wall as posi-
BILE with the thought of the day; but her
one aim was to have her husband highly
honored.
John Crawford was good husband, tho
not always considerable. He thought no
body quite so good and helpful as Betsey,
nobody cooked so well, nobody was more
saving, and he was proud to rise by her
help. He failed sometimes to consider
how large a matter that help had been in
his life. If he had been asked who made
his money he would have replied, without
hesitation, 81 made it," That Betsey
was entitled to half or even a third, would
never have occurred to him. He provided
for her and the children all they seemed to
need. He was the head of the family, and
that headship had made him somewhat
selfish and domineerng
As the children grew older, and Mrs.
Crawford looked out into the future real
izng the possibility of leaving the world
before her husband, she thought much of
their condition under a changed home. Mr..
Crawford would marry again, probably,
and her children might have little or none
of the property which they together had
struggled to earn.
One evening she said, as they sat before
the open fire. the children having gone to
bed: "John it seems to me things are
UNEQUAL in the world. You and l have
been proud to have you succeed. We both
love the children, and want everything
done for them. What if should die, and
you should marry again and have other
children"
"Why, Betsey, you don't think l could
forget our own precious children? No
second wife could or would influence me
against my children. You and l have
worked together, and l should feel dis
honorable to leave them helpless, and
care for Others. You must think me a
villain"
''Oh no, John; but have seen cases like
that. Only the other day the Rev. Cor
nelius Jones married a young wife, and
gave her all his property, leaving nothing
to his three daughters. Now, if minister
would do that, what should we expect of
others?"
"There must have been peculiar circum-
stances. He could not have been in his
right mind
"You know, John, if you were to die,
should receive third of what | have
helped you earn, and the rest would 90 to
the children; while if l were to die, moth
ing would go to the children. | should
like to have at least, the third which the
law considers mine, go to them at my death
as it does in some countries of the Old
World, where man cannot marry a
4; I, hou cd
his first children"
But that would be a great inconven-
ienoe," replied Mr.. Crawford. IA man
has money in his business, and to take out
a third if his wife dies might sadly EN-
barrass him. Or even the use Of a third
set apart for them, might cripple him."
Better that there be little incon-
venience than the wrong done to children,
said Mrs. Crawford. "The husband may
lose every cent of what the wife has strug
gled and saved all her life to help him &C
cumulate. Marriage is a partnership and like
other partnerships must suffer some change
and inconvenience, it may be, if one OF the
partners dies. There must necessarily
be new adjustment Of interests. ~
But the law allows you to make will
and give away your property, my DEAR just
as it does me-"
eyes what have inherited before or
since my marriage; but | have inherited
none. and you have not We have made
ours together, and you have often said
that you owe as much to my skill and
economy as to your foresight and ability"
"And so | do it is true; but the law
makes no provision about our common
property"
But make it yourself, then, John, if
the law does not. Make a will so that in
case of my death, my two daughters shall
have at least third of all you're worth at
that time, Or, if you prefer put third
might feel it ought to be half-in my name,
OF perhaps the home, and let that 90 to
your daughters. "
But if put the home in your name, so
that in case of losses, something would be
saved from creditors, | should want it
willed back to me at your death, so that
could still have home and do as / liked
with IL ;,