The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-08-26
AUNT JUD|TH'S
SPOONS.
The Part They Played In the Life
of Peggy and Dick.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

mad Few rich friends, and their rela-
tives had confined themselves to furni-
ture and useful articles for the small
fat Peggy's girl companions had
given her centerpieces and lingerie,
and Dicks Office colleagues had dubbed
together and had presented a cut glass
punch bowl.
But Aunt Judith gave silver spoons,
heavy, solid and richly chased.
II think it was lovely of her." said
the little wife as she set her own table
for the first time. "a little good silver
is such herp. Some day we will buy
forks and knives to match, won't we,
Dicky, boyy"
Sure" said Dick easily. They've
got to appreciate me at the office soon.
l won't let them grind me down this
way always"
But a raise in salary was slow in
coming. Dicks worth was evidently
not as apparent to his employers as to
himself, and gradually the furniture
and carpets began to grow shabby, and
the silver spoons were still the only
sign of elegance in the Merritts' home.
Peggy polished them every day.
"You see," she told Aunt Judith, who
came from her little home town t.
visit them, eve don't seem really poor
when we can sip our tea from shining
silver"
at is you who brighten things up"
ypit
cheerful face
"Oh"-suddenly Peggy's voice broke
and her eyes filled-"oh, Aunt Judith,
you don't know how hard it is to smile
sometimes"
"Why, child"-there was consterna-
ton in the old lady's tone-"aren't you
happy?"
Its ON account of Dick Things
aren't going right with him at the Of
fee. They don't seem to get on with
him or he doesn't with them, and he
gets blue, and it isn't easy for me to
cheer him up"
Il see," said shrewd Aunt Judith,
and that night she asked the young
husband, "How are things at the Of
fice?"
Rotten" was the Illuminating re-
ply. "They promised to give me
raise a year ago, but they haven't
done it."
"Why not?" asked Aunt Judith.
"They don't appreciate me-" Dick
flung out.
Perhaps" Aunt Judith began and
then stopped. 81 am not going to help
him out" was her mental comment.
"He has his own lesson to learn"
But Aunt Judith did not realize that
while Dick was learning his lesson
Peggy must suffer.
"He thinks too much Of himself"
was her further thought as the days
went on. T'll let him work hard until
some of the conceit is taken out of
him"
And with that she packed her bag
and went back to her little home town.
Dick was not made Of stern stuff,
and as the days went by the clouds on
his face grew darker and darker, and
at last he came home early one after
noon and threw himself heavily into
the chair.
"Weli, I'm out Of job" he said as
Peggy crossed the room to welcome
him.
"Dickw Her voice came TREMENDOUSLY.
"They said they didn't want me any
more; that l wasn't any good. And
it's the truth. I am not any good.
Peggy
She knelt down beside him. "You
are the dearest thing in the world to
me, Richard" she said. and her arms
went around his neck.
For moment he let them stay there;
then he flung them off. you'll begin
to see how worthless I am after a
time" he said I'm no good, Peggy.
A man who can't keep his job and sup
port his wife might as we'll be dead"
Then as he saw the sick horror in
her face he gathered her into his
arms. 81 didn't mean just that" he
murmured, "but don't know what
has got into me. l can't see things
right any more"
After that Dicks days were spent in
search of work and Peggy's in sewing
on little white garments which she
made from her own wedding lingerie
She had not written to Aunt Judith OF
the bad state of affairs, and there was
no one else, for Peggy was an orphan,
and so was Dick.
The meals became so scant in sub
stance that at last Dick said: "It's
hardly worth while to serve boiled po-
tatoes with silver spoons, is it, Peggy?
You'd better let me pawn them and
pay the rent"
ooh. nor Peggy's hand was over her
heart. "Oh, nor
"Well, the first thing you know we'll
be set out in the street"
Then into Peggy's face had come
something that Dick had never seen
before-a white look of contempt.
"If | were man." she said slowly.
81 would break stones on the road
rather than not be able to support my
wife"
For a moment Dick stared at her;
then he flung himself out of the room.
After he had gone Peggy cried hope
lessly. But at last she wiped her eyes.
gathered up the silver spoons, and she,
too, went out.
When she came back she had the
money for the rent and the materials
for good dinner, for the spoons were
heavy and had brought a good price.
She cooked the dinner and waited for
Dick. But he did not come. The food