The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-04-02
A THRIFTY
WIFE
By HELEN JANE BAYLEY

(Copyright.)

I've can't afford it, john
We can. Mary"
no; John. you are too free with
y11r money. We must look out for the
r1iay day"
The man shrugged his shoulders
tou're always harping on that rainy
day. which is in the future, and always
will be-
We cannot be too sure; and there
ace the children"
You make them burdens too heavy
to be borne" the man grumbled.
Mary and John Sherman are a
couple who heard their wedding bells
peat out ten years ago. Then he was
. young man of good character, with
IA excellent position and heart full
OF love for his bride. She was a
young woman. thrifty, good man.
ager and devoted to her husband. To.
day they stand as far apart as though
the world divided them. Why?
Perhaps neither could tell exactly:
yet the little scene just given is a
good example of their conversations
Two fine children, boy and girl,
have been added to their lives. The
parents are wildly fond of them, and
yet they cannot agree about them.
The father is now q partner in the
business and producing an income suf-
ficient not only to give his wife and
children advantages and a pleasant
lite. but enough to add to his property,
aud he feels that this is the time to en-.
10y prosperity.
The mother. her thrift developed
fato niggardliness. grudges almost
every cent which is spent upon any
thing except bare necessities. Her
very virtues, developed too much on
one side, have grown into obsessions.
Jack came home one evening with Z
sore throat. His mother gave him
some quinine. wrapped up his neck
ia the stocking from his left foot. and
put him to bed. This stocking REM
edy was favorite one with her. DC
cupied with other duties. she said
nothing to the father about the child S
silment.
Next day Jack looked very feverisil,
but as she wished the house clear. tc
clean 1t thoroughly. she sent the boy
OF.
AS he went out the door the little
fellow said plaintively: Mamma,
don't feel we'll. truly"
GHNnpn 1,n hok NV,
Il your cold is no better, mother'll
make you some lard and molasses
when you come home" and with the
seeds Of disease already sown, he was
sent out into the cold.
Mary worked and shaved, exposing
herself in washing windows, saving a
few cents, but wearing out her flesh
and nerves. and depriving a very de-
serving woman. who needed the work
and was accustomed to it, of the little
money the tasks would have earned.
At noon, sneezing herself, Mary sent
her two children back to school. Little
Marie was not sick, but about half
after-two she returned, leading Jack,
who vas ina raging fever. The house
was damp and cold, and the furnace
ice was out.
1T seems as if all worries come at
once, Mary complained, angry at
fate.
Let me telephone for papa" Marie
suggested.
The mother returned with asperity:
You must think your father is made
OF money. I wonder what would be-
come Of us il l wasn't always looking
out Tor the pennies. We'd be bad off
when the rainy day arrives" and sub
lued by the threat Of that awful day
at retribution which had fallen upon
hcr ears since babyhood, Marie
wrapped up her little brother and tried
to amuse him while the mother built
the furnace fire. wasting much more
in trying to ignite the dead Goals than
if she had dumped the crate and be-
gun afresh. and thus she tried to dry
the damp house.
So interested did she become in this
work that she thoroughly forgot her
sick child. her own wet clothing, and
the terrible cold which was settling
upon her, and SO it was that John
found no dinner when he returned; a
shivery house: his wife almost unable
10 speak, and his. son SO i'll that he
treclbled all his way to the doctors.
fearing he could not get physician to
the house in time to be Of assistance.
For the following two weeks three
trained nurses managed affairs. while
servant looked after the kitchen
one. and at times two. skilled physi.
clans fought to save the lives of the
children and the mother. When all
three we're recovered. Mary had only
TO say:
Dear me: it is wonderful how little
am appreciated. Just see what it
was to have little laid by for a
rainy day."
John. being human. naturally could
not help answering: But, my dear
it you had not been foolish and mig.