The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-11
JOHN HENRY'S THEORY.
IRv a ri cnrhat.I


Little girl" said John Henry to his
wife one evening, II have some strong
notions about business principles being
applicable to every occupation in life
You know I have a stated income. and
when / was a bachelor I knew to a
penny where that money went Very
convenient it was, too. for / was sure
what to count on when any extra ex-
pense came up. Now, 1 don't want 10
restrict YOU one bit. but it's nice to be
exact and buslnessllke. and II We eacLi
kept little account book at the end
of a year we'd know exactly how mucn
we'd spent and whether we'd got to
retrench or might expand a little Now,
tomorrow night Ill bring nome Two
nice little books. and Wen account for
every penny in them and compare at
the end Of each month"
The next evening. true to his word.
John Henry drew from his pocket two
pretty little leather bound books, a
blue one for Mrs John and a red one
for himself. She was apparently rec
onciled to the idea and was really en-
thusiastic over his purchase.
For several months all went very
smooth apparently, but the hours of
tears and pouts and sobs and rub
b1ngs out and writing in again and
adding and subtracting which Mrs
John spent in trying to make the re
celved' and paid" columns balance
We're not TO be lost sight of in the
or it,, and any troubles he may have
had were expressed in an entirely diff
lerent manner and audible only to the
unresponsive ears of the office boy
ON the first evening of each month
Mr. and Mrs John Henry, in perfect
mutual trust and confidence went over
together item by item the accounts in
the little books and discussed the Nar1-
atons in the price of beefsteak and the
advisa biity of intrusting another ven
der of meats with the care OF the family
larder Also the cost of keeping John
Henfy'S cigar box repIenished- But
Mrs John always ended by declaring
she would go without a spring bonnet
rather than have him smoke cheaper
tobacco.
1T is 50 injurious anyway. that one
must have the best If one smokes at
all" she said.
One beautiful autumn day an old
school friend of Mrs. Johns came to
town and Immediately hunted up that
lady. Now, Mrs. John had intended to
lunch that day on a sup and a bite, for
the grocer had not come, and the cup
board very nearly resem bled the pro-
verbal one Of Mother Goose fame. So
when the friend made her appearance
perilOusly near the noon hour Mrs.
John was in a flutter
Henry entertained part ocular auticipa-
especially desired to make q good impress
sion She examined her purse Yes. there
was plenty in it, She would take her
friend down town to lunch at a fashion
able cafe. As they were drinking their
after dinner coffee the friend mentioned
sired TO see. Had Mrs John seen it2 No.
Mrs John had not John Henry had in
SO many other things to occupy the time.
At The friends suggestion % see it that
and ended by buying two tickets instead
Of one When they came out tit was rain
ing. and the friend Immediately ordered a
carriage to take her to the station There
was nothing for ii but Mrs John shorld
bin as she aIighted at her own door
When John Henry arrived that night
his wife was in bed IN a high fever and
suffering from severe headache The
next day when she was able 10 hobble
about she got out the little blue note
book. and with tears blistering the
make a balance 1t was impossible to
put the whole amount Of Yesterdays
would in the world That evening was the
6 o clock. through Worrying. figuring. and
planning Mrs John had worked herself
almost into hysteria After dinner John
custom said nothing about fhe account
utterly unconscious After awhile She
John, dear" she said with tears in
her voice. IT couldn't make my book bal
ance this month. though I've worked over
it all the afternoon"
John Henry muttered an exclamation
under his breath which might have sound
ed to the office boy something like
Thank the Lordi' then turned and look
ed her
And is it that which has worked you
into such q fever. and given you these
he continued Il couldn't make mine come
out right. either, but it didn't worry me
to that extent. In the long run I don't
know that it does us any good to be for
ever hageling over the comparative values
of an Irish stew and a p0rterhOuse steak
or discussing the amount Of enjoyment
and benefit of a regular theater ticket
as rf4G haf n
you say to dropping the thing alto
gerher2'
Mrs Johns face grew clearer and her
eyes brighter than they had for thirty
six hours. She went over to John Henry
and put her arms around his neck.
Anything YOU say is right" she whis-
pered. '.You re a darling old boy, and I'm
so glad 1 married You.
DEATHS AND FUNERALS