Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-01-22

nau shared his privations and sorrows?
When he reached his abode dingy
house In an obscure back street. he
found his wife working upan pile Of
shirts; this she had done for many
years TO exc out their meager exist
ence. Josiah was not unused to the
sight, since he had witnessed 1t day
after day, but now he felt within his
soul an impulse of indignation that his
wife should be doing such work; so,
while his wife gazed in astonishment
at her liege lord, who never before In
all their married life had returned so
early from the store, he stalked gran
diloquently TO the pile of shirts. gath
cred them up and cast them out OF the
door
Josiah Reynolds exclaimed the
amazement-str wife, ARE you
erazyy'
NO, Maria, am not, but do feel
rather strange here" said Josiah, tap
ping his forehead. but crazy or not,
you shall make no more shirts for
Wringer & Starchem."
But. my dear, what shall we do?
l made three dollars week out of
them; we cant get along without the
money"
Mrs. Reynolds answered Josiah,
with an air of dignity, 'the wife of the
junior member of the firm of Alden II
Reynolds does not need to make shirts
at three dollars a week"
Maria was ready to burst into tears.
Never before had her dear Josiah
called her Mrs. Reynolds; moreover he
frightened her with his strange actions
and incoherent talk. and with wom-
ans reasoning she concluded he was
insane. SO The tears that had been
gathering burst forth like torrent, ac-
companied by storm of sobs.
my dear Maria, what is the mat
ter? exclaimed the now awakened
husband; have l said or done any
thing to offend you?"
NO" sobbed Maria, "only go-gone
and gogot crazy!"
why, Maria, | am not crazy; what
do you mean by saying so?''
What do you mean by talking
about the firm of Alden & Reynolds
when you are only clerk getting fif-
teen dollars a week.
This was more than Josiah could
stand. What. He, partner in the
firm, accused of being a clerk at fifteen
dollars week? 1t was an insult. In
voice of Indignation he said:
Madam, | wish you to understand
that | am neither fool nor crazy. This
morning Mr.. Alden took me into part
nership; | hasten to tell you the good
news, and you accuse me of being in
sane; nice encouragement is 1t not?"
"Oh, Josiah, | am so gladp' said
''is 1t really and truly true?"
'Yes, it Is true; and, moreover. Mr..
Alden is coming to live with us, and
when he dies he will leave all his
wealth to me. Maria, we are rich. No
more pinching and contriving; we can
live like human beings, and the chill
dren can have chance to be some
body"
'Oh, 10. siah, l am so gladr' said
Maria, and again the fioodgate of tears
was opened; but this time the tears
were those of joy, and We're soon dried
up under her sun of happiness.
Now. Maria. as soon as the chill
dren come we will have little ex-
cursion and celebrate the birthday of
the junior member of the firm of Alden
& Reynolds"
In the bosom of his family, Josiah,
kind and benlgnant, celebrated the day
which opened to him and his such de.
lightful prospects.
Next morning Josiah went to his
work at the usual hour. The rest OF
the help congratulated him-some hon
estly, some enviously-but all sub
seryiently. He Informed Mr.. Allen
that he could not receive him till
week had passed, for he was about to
move into a new house.
You know, Mr.. Alden" he said,
''it would not do for the firm to live
in such a neighborhood as that in
which | formerly lived"
mo, certainly not assented Mr.. AL
den.
In week everything was arranged.
Mr.. Alden was installed with his new
partner in Il fine house. nicely fur
nished. 1t was true Josiah was obliged
TO run in debt for the furnishings, but
then the firm was good for it, Mar
tha had her music teacher; Alfred was
sent to college: Maria was not allowed
TO do much of any work, except to
oversee the girl; the children were
finely dressed. and everything went as
naturally as If the family had never
economical on fifteen dollars IA week
Mr.. Alden made his will. leaving his
entire wealth to Josiah; but despite
the kind care of Maria, he daily grew
weaker. He never went to the store
but Josiah, now always neatly dressed
and with II bud on his coat, kept the
business up to its usual standard