The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-04-04

What a fine attempt at a beautiful
day it was yesterday l lOnged for ;
walk before sitting down to my letters
Then l remembered the new book
must send TO Dicks wife, and the long
ing seconded by the errand gave suf
fcient reason for the walk.
When / came to the pretty house
and peeped into the green corner oil
the veranda where Fanny usually sat
no Fanny was to be seen. Only little
Marion with her blocks.
Where's mama?" | asked.
.'Oh, man.a's dot a headache" the
tiny maid replied, not even stopping &c
look up at Aunt Sibyl. After the top
most block had been successfully put
in place, she volunteered: Papa
didn't div her tbs dis mornin' an
he didn't div her any dold dollars when
she asst him, an dess dat divved her a
headate'
At this point Tatsu brought her
mending to our corner and l made my
way to Fanny's room. Poor girl! But
| need not have spent thought in
for she was fast asleep, just where she
had thrown herself across the bed.
Sleep is a better comforter than John
Kendrich Bangs, thought l, as l put the
book on Fannys table and stole away.
In the afternoon the teacups were all
set out, but the gusts Of rain beat
against the large window, the blinds
ratified and everything was noisy, even
my waiting tea table. No. not every
thing, the bell and / kept quiet, as not
even a tinkle came in prelude to call
Jus THE time for letters, but the spirit
did not move. 1t was busy in it's mem
cry of Dicks troubled home. 1t was fill
ed with a vision of family purses and
the problems they bring. What pity
for instance, that Dick, the soul OF
honor, should tie up his purse strings in
a knot that Fanny could not unite!
| was in no mood for letters, to be
sure, but why not write to Dick?
found could think with the point of my
pencil, and this was what l thought:
MY Dear Dick:-Isn't this devotion:
And you saw your Aunt Sibyl only yes
terday! | want your cooperation in a
matter can more easily write than tell
and | appeal to the judge in you.
1T is a money matter, of course, but
not charity this time. A woman l know
is clever and charming, loves her hus-
band and is an excellent housekeeDeT
and hOmemaker. L happen TO know that
while her husband has good income,
they could not afford their present style
of living but for her careful managing.
Yet she breads asking him for money;
he gives it out so grudgIngly, even if he
is silent | believe she would go with
out actual necessities rather than ask
for herself.
He earns the money, forsOOth, there
fore it is his and his alOnei Very we'll,
what does he pay her for keeping his
home, nursing; him, dressing, training
and teaching his child? He would like
some money as well as love if he did all
this for her. To cap the climax, she put
all her doT-er into their house, which
otherwise would not have been theirs.
Yet she must ask him for money to buy
his food. or to cloIhe his wife and child,
at the risk of sometimes being refused!
"She didn't tell me anything Of this.
How l discovered it does not matter.
What you can do to help me with your
legal acumen is more to the point. Now,
what would you advise. Might she ask
her husband for a separate allowance
for her own needs? Or would you have
a common treasury from which each
could draw? Or would you put all the
money you earn in the bank in Fanny's
name, asking her for it whenever you
needed any, just as she has had TO
come to you all these
why, Dick. what am | writing?
did not mean to tell you so soon. Did
you know l meant Fanny? Did you
know that Fanny cried herself to sleep
this morning because you were surly
when she reminded you of Maria's bilT?
Was it your little Marian who 'dessed
dat dived her headate?'
Dick, my dear boy, I'm ashamed for
you. If you love Fanny you must trust
her in everything money included.
Now you have my diagnosis, you may
listen to my prescription.
"Confide in Fan. Make a system of
ysur spending. Strike an average for
a months income; put in the bank
something for Marian's education and
something for the rainy day. Leave
something to give away. Then put the
rest in Fanny's hands. She will make
it go farther than you did, and there
will be no more begging for money, 10
more frowns and no more heartaches-
L can do no better than tell you
of Johns way of having family purse.
| kept the accounts and he brought me
the money as 1 needed it. Ask him to
give me money? Never. 1t was all ours,