Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-07-01
How Mother Managed to Live cheapIy.

You see how it is, my dear" he said.
taking her soft hand, which had never
done very hard work, and patting it
reassuringly. I'm very poor-only Il
thousand a year, dear. and we shall have
a struggle to get along At first
Il don't NINA that in the least. she
Interrupted, stoutly.
And" he continued. I've shall have
to come down to strict economy. But, il
YOU could only manage as my mother
does we shall pull through nicely
And how does your mother manage
dear?' she asked, smiling at the notion
of the mother-in-law cropping out al
ready.
Il don't know" replied the lover, but
she always manages to have everything
neat and cheerful, and something de-
Hcious to eat--and she does it all her
self. You know! So that we always get
along beautifully. and make both ends
meet and father and | still have plenty
of spending money.
You see, when woman is always hir-
ing her laundry work done. and her
gowns and bonnets made, and her scrub
bing and stove backing done, and all
that sore of thing-why, it just walks
into mans income and takes his breath
away"
The young woman looked for a mo-
ment as if her breath was taken, but
she wisely concealed her dismay. and, be-
ing one of the stout-hearted of the earth
she determined to learn few things of
Johns mother, and so went to her house
for long visit the very next day.
Upon the termination of this visit, one
morning. John received, to his amaze
ment a little package containing his en-
gagement ring, accompanied by the fol-
lowing letter:
Il have learned how your mother man
ages and | am going to explain it to
you. since you confessed you didn't
know. | find that she is a wife, a moth
er Il housekeeper, a business manager
a hired girl, a laundress, Il seamstress,
Il member and patCheF. a dairy maid. Il
cook, nurse, II kitchen gardener and Il
general slave for n family from in the
morning until 10 at night; and almost
wept when | kissed her bandit was so
hard and wrinkled and corded and un-
kissed,
When l saw her polishing the stoves
carrying big buckets of water and great
armfuls of wood. often splitting the
wood, | asked her why John didn't do
such things for her. john she repeat
ed. 'Johnr-and she sat down with a
perfectly dazed look. as if | had asked
her why the angels didn't come down
and scrub for her.
Why-John'-sh said in a trem-
bling, bewildered way, he works in the
office from 8 until 4. you know. and
when he comes home he is very tired ;
or else-or e!se-he goes down town
Now, | have become strongly imhued
with the conviction that | do not care
to be 50 good a manager as your moth
or If the wife must do all sorts Of
drudgery. so must the husband: if she
must cook. he must carry the water; if
she must make butter. he must milk the
cows. You have allowed your mother
to do everything, and all that you have
to say of her is that she is an excellent
manager
Il do not care for such a reputation,
unless my husband earns the name also:
and, Judging from your lack of consid-
GRAFTON for your mother, | am quite sure
You are not the man | thought you were
OF one whom | would care to marry. As
the son is, the husband is, is a safe and
happy rule to follow"
10 the letter closed, and John porf-
deered.. He is bordering yet.-PhiladeI-
pha Inquirer.