Washington telegraph., 1907-12-06
It
Builds
Force
JJ-7



sewing would be extra.
So you see, If 1t want for you,
at the end of the year MIR. Fletcher
would be most hundred dollars in
debt. That is the way It will be II
you have good luck and actually kill
yourself-that is, till it's proper for
him to marry again.
Nov, when | said you was waste
full. l meant that you waste yourself
and your strength over things that
don't pay. What you are doing now
is good example. You ought to know
that 1t don't pay to braid cotton rags.
Another thing, you wait on the boys
too much Let them wait on you.
| And don't say you amt good for
much; If you hold yourself cheap.
everybody else will hold you cheap,
too
Il stopped then and waited for Mary
to speak, but she didn't say word.
Her face was white and drawn and
She wouldn't look at me. l tell you,
that cut. She didn't speak to me at
all the rest of the day, and II 1t had
been so could I'd have gone home
that night.
"They say you never can cell what
woman will do. and I guess maybe
It's SO. The next morning Mary act
ed as If nothing had happened She
looked dretful pale and dragged out,
but she talked about things and SEEM
ed Just as pleasant as size ever was.
| didn't know what to make of It, and
1t made me feel awful. thought my
talk hadn't done bit of good, and
she was just going on the same as
ever We got the morning work done
and went into the setting-room.
stood looking out of the window when
all to ones Mary says: Look, Ase-
nath. and heard the stove door open.
Il looked. and there was Mary stuff
fing those old cotton braiding-rags into
the fire. | never had anything sur
prise me much more. and please me,
too. l just went and helped her, and
then We hugged each other and cried
little, | guess.
81 didn't sleep much last night,
she says, when We sat down. Shed
taken comfortable chair. and she
| didn't have bit of work In her hands,
for the first time since I'd been there.
But I did an awful lot OF thinking,
and, 'Senath, bless you for speak
ing as you did I'm never going to
make another braided rug of any
kind as long as l live, and I'm not 60
ing to make any more patchwork, I'm
not going to work when I'm tired. and
won't mend more than half as much
as ! have done. Then, l am going TO
take more comfort. I'm going to or
der the boys around and get lot of
work out of them. I'm going to call
amongst the neighbors. and go to
things at the village If l feel like it.
I'm going to read more, and have a
window full of plants, and make knit
edging-that's something I've always
longed to do. but never had time
for
We'll, the next time | went there,
Mary she looked ten years younger.
She was happy and interested in
things, and she had time to read and
|
plants.
"One day she spoke about what II
said to her, and she looked kinder
sober. Just think. she says, how
l work to save old rags and things
like that, and mended and patched,
and how much do you think I really
saved? After / changed my plans
that time kept strict account, and
how much do you s'pose l spent! 1t
wasn't much over $50. and got my
self some extra clothes. and | sub
scribed to magazines. and bought
some music. too. out Of it.
Mr. Fletcher come In Just then.
Yes he says. my wife is getting aw-
ful extravagant She spent $50 more
| last year than usual but what do
you spose she got with it? Why, what
with her looking happier to say moth
ing of better dressed, and what with
pleasant evenings. and young COM
pany over to see the boys. why. we've
all taken $50 worth of comfort apiece.
! Yes, $500 worth OF comfort for the
family. And / don't know how much
more has been sDread around the
| neighborbood
Well, Mary often SAYS ! saved her
/ life that time. and think maybe
! did
Must you go? Wen, come again.
What's that? You'll try In the future
to be moro economical of yourself?
l hope you VIII, dear. for I've seen you
! was working tOc. hard