The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-05-08
THE SEtOND TINE.

THE SEtOND TINE.
The Hon. John Crawford had become
a prominent man in the community.
He had begun life in poverty, had learn
ed economy early, and fortunately had
married 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 ofother New
England wOmen-she wore herself out
for her family. She never had time for
social life, and not very great amount
of time for reading, tho she kept up
rs we'll as possible with the thought OF
the day; but her one aim was to have
her husband honored.
John Crawford was good husband,
tho not always considerate. He thought
nobody quite so good and helpful rs
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 matter that
help had been in his life If he had
been asked who made his money he
would have replied, without hesitation,
Il made it." That Betsey was entit-
led to half or even a third, would nev-
er have occurred to him. He provided
for her and the children all they SEEM
ed to need He was the head of the
family. and that headship had made
him somewhat selfish and Iomineering
As the children grew older, and Mrs.
Crawford looked out into the future
and realized 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 child
rcn might have little or none of the
propertywhich they together had strug-
gled to earn.
One evening she said, rs they sat be-
fore the open fire, the children having
gone to bed: ''JOhn, it seems to me
things are unequal in the world. You
and | have worked hard. and | have
been proud to have You succeed. We
both love the children, and want every
thing done for them. What if | should
die, and you should marry again and
have other children?"
why, Betsey, you don't think |
could forget our own precious children!
No second wife could or would influence
me against my children. You and |
have worked together, and | should
feel dishonorahle to leave them helpless,
and care for others. You must think
me Il william"
"Oh no, John; but | have seen cases
like that. Only the other day the Rev.
Cornelius Jones married Il young wife,
and gave her all his property, leaving
nothing to his three daughters. Now,
if a minister would do that, what should
we expect of others:'
,Therc must have been peculiar cir
cumstances. He could not have been
in his ri ight mind"
"You know, John, if you were to die
| should receive Il third of what have
| helped YOU to earn. and the rest would
90 to the children; while if | were to
die, nothing would 90 to the children
| should like to have at least, the thir,
which the law considers mine. 90 tC
| them at my death. rs it does in some
countries of the Old World, where Il
man cannot marry a second time till
he has settled a portion on his first
! cliIdren.'
! Bat that would b. Il 9relt incon,
venience," replied Mr.. Crawford A
man has money in business, and to take
/ out a third if his wife dies might sadly
/ embarraS; him. Or evcu the uSr of Il
, third. set apart for them. might cripple
| him
"Brtter that there bc Il little incon,
! venience than the wrong done to chill
/ drcn." said Mrs. Crawford. The hus-
band may lose every cent of what the
| wife has struggled and saved all her
life to help him accumulate. Mar
ria@c is partnership, must suffer
$ pmc change and Inconvenience. it ma V
be. if one of the partners dies. There
must. necessarily. he new aa juStmcnt
of interests
But the law allows You to make Il
will and give away your property, my
dear, just rs it does me"
Yes. what | have inherited before
or since my marriage. But | have in
herited none, and YOU have not. We