Year: 1875

- J0hn.,s said /, !" answer me honestly
Do you work any harder or any longer
now than you did before he was born p
81 don't know as l do," said he !.
always worked hard enough"


swell, and so do 1. But now as tC
Johnny. presume you will allow your.
self half owner of him, as the law allows
your entire control over him. How much
do you do for him?" @H


% maintain him. do my part"


"No, John, you are wrong; you don't
do your part. From the first you never
have. Did not weary months go by in
which you bore no part whatever in the
burden?"


"Well, that is curious complaining
what would you have me doW
You might have got servant, in
stead of letting all the housework fall on
me; or you might have kept horse, SO
that could ride out and enjoy the fine
weather; but that is all past nOw."
should say that it cost me enough
for the doctor, nurse, ETC., without talk
ing about keeping horse"


"True, il cosS enough but I am talk
ing about the division of the burden.
Was the part you bore in the payment
of those bills equal to my part in the
matter? Would you have taken my
place for that money il il were to have
been paid you, instead of those who cared
for your


"Didn't have all his clothes to buyF'
"No, sir. went without new clothes
of any sort for a season, and the money
saved from wy wardrobe, supplied all
that was needed; and 1 might add that
all his other clothes have been got in the
same way"


"Well, really, / had no idea how much
of a martyr you were. Next you will
be clothing me in the same way. How
thankful l ought to be for so calculating
q wife!"


"Now, in these two years." said I, con.
tinuing in the face of his sneer, call OF
the care and confinement consequent on
attending the child have fallen on me.
l have managed some way to accomplish
my housewOrk and sewing as l used. 1
can hardly think how it has been done.
Did it ever occur to you to think how
many times l have been to church since
he was born?"


"YOu wouldn't expect man to take
care ola baby, would your That isn't a
mans work."


"Isn't itY' said /, bitterly, "then
wouldn't have a baby. / have been to
church Just four times, and then some
visitor mas staid with Johnny. How
many times did you ever get up in the
night to soothe him when he has been sick
and fretfulY' t.s


"How do you suppose" said he, "I
could work bv day if didn't get my
nights sleep"


"Just the same way that I do when
my night is broken, exactly"


"Well, Sarah, what is the drift of all
this talk, anyway? For don't see any
use in prolonging it."


"Well, then, it is my original state
ment-that, as l did my share OF the
family labor, and took all the care of
Johnny, and you are man in prosperous
circumstances, am. entitled to as much
money for that as if were employed
and paid by the month for the same
work, and have right to srepd money
for things thai don { suit you il, please
to do so; and l may add" said with a
sudden vehemence, that il is mean and
contemplate in you to try to oppose
or forbid my doing so"


John said no more. ! saw by the look
in his eye that he was quite angry, and
so was 1. That was the first time in our
married lie that we failed to kiss each
other good night. Indeed, 1 felt guilty,
Though l hardly knew why, but it was
late before fell asleep. 81 8 ~


The next morning all was serene. No
trace reTa ned of the evenings storm,
but no.hing more wa, said about tfe OBJ
noxious subscriptions. Next day l met
Mrs. West, and she thanked me very
heartily for doubling my money.


Dear John! He didnS mean to be
unkind, but be had never stopped to
think abor such things. When his next
settlement came, and he slipped a twenty
dollar bill into my hand anu said, "That
is for your private purse" l really
thought he was the best husband in the
world. S'sff -