The Monitor-register., 1896-04-03
THE SECOND TIME.
BY SARAH X. BOLTON.

all her energies toward his progress and
success. She did her own Homework 70,
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 England women-she wore
herself out for her family. She never
had time for social life, and not a very
great amount of time for reading, tho she
kept up as well as possible with the
thought of the day but her one aim was
to have her husband honored.
John Crawford was a good husband.
tho not always considerate. He thought
nobody 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 h made his money he would
have replied, without hesitation, II
made it" That Betsey was entitled to
half or even a third, would never have
occu rred 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 domineering.
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 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
worked hard, and have been proud to
have you succeed. We both love the
children, and want everything done for
them. What if I should die, and you
should marry again and have other
children 2"
why. Betsey, you don't think 1 could
forget our own precious children? No
second wife could or would influence me
against my children. You and I have
worked toy ether, and I should feel dis.
honorable to leave them helpless, and
care for others. You must think me a
villain"
"Oh no, John; but l have seen cases
like that. Only the other day the Rev.
Cornelius Jones married a 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 P"
"There must have been peculiar cir.
cumstances. He could not have been in
his right mind"
You know, John, if you were to die,
l should receive a third of what I have
helped you ca m, and the rest would 90
to the children; while if I were to die.
nothing would go to the children. l
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 a man cannot
marry a second time till he has settled a
portion on his first childr en
"But that would be a great ~inconven.
%ience," replied Mr.. Crawford. "a man
has money in business. and to take out a
third if his wife dies might sadly embar-
rass him. Or even the use of a third. set
apart for them, might cripple him."
Better that here be a little %inconven.
fence than a wrong done to children"
said Mrs. Crawford. "The husband NAV
lose every cent of what the wife has
struggled and saved all her life to help
him accumulate. Marriage is a partner.
ship, and, like other partnerships, must
suffer some change, and ineo nvenience it
may be, if one of the partners dies.
There must, necessarily, be a new adjust.
ment of interests"
But the law allows you to make a
will and give away your property. my
dear, just as it does me-"
"Yes what I have inherited before or
since my marriage; but l have inherited
none, and you have not. We have made
r together, and you have often said
that you W as much to my skill and
economy as to your foresight and ability"
And so l 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
nave at least a third of all you are worth
at that time, or, if you prefer, put a third
L might feel that it ought to be half
IN my name, or perhaps the home, and let
that go to our daughters"
But if put the home in your name. so
that in case Of losses something would be
saved from creditors, I should want il
willed back to me at your death, so that
l could still have a home and do as I liked
with it."
"And then nothing would go to the
children at my death +? That is not fair.
John, and l have worked too hard and
long to be willing"
well, Betsey, you can trust me to do
the right thing. l will think it over.n
and he kissed her as they closed the NOT
altogether satisfactory conversation
AS was to be expected, Betsey Craw.
ford broke down from the wear and tear
OF life, and died, leaving her two dauph-
ters to the care of a fond and not
ungenerous father. The loss was a great
n to John Crawford. She had been his
competent adviser. with tact and good
sense to keep matters right. She had
guided more than he ever suspected. He
mourned her sincerely, as did her two
devoted daughters.
he was lonely, and in time married
again, a woman considerably younger
than himself. a member of the same
church, an ambitious and not over scru.
pulous woman. When her son was born
sne became DESTROYS that every advantage
should be placed before him that he
might attain to wealth and honor. She
Mr.. Crawford, in a thousand
nameless ways, that the boy would need
most OF the property for business, to
marry well, and to carry down the family
name. The girls would doubtless marry
and be we'll provided for by their hus.