Year: 1879

chickens that Nellie had so assiduously
watched /; then the wheat and oats.
and everything that could well be spared
went to swell the income.


Chester was jublant over the result.


Il tell you, Nellie said he, it's worth
everything to have good wife, We have
been wonderfully prospered Mr.. Goldthwait
wants to get the farm back into his hands,
but he can't do it, for the second payment is
ready for hin, and have considerable mon.
oy besides.


Nellie heard all this and reioiced with
him but she began to wonder vaguely when
she was to receive her share of the wonder
iul income.


Not cent had she in the once well. filled
purse; and as she ruetully surveyed her
boots she fully realized that even the strong
ties, supposed to exist between sole and up.
per leather, must yield to the footsteps of
time. She was so hard on boots And
who wouldn't be- she said to herself grim.
| y, trotting all over the house, and out into
the yard every half hour to see if stray
hawk is after my chickens?'
When the cold November winds began to
blow Mrs. Nellie said to herself:
Ut is no use my lace bonnet and white
gloves look ridiculous at this season. and
my boots grow worse and worse. | must
stay at home from church.
But no, her husband would not listen TO
that he felt lost without her company, and
"A.


her alto in the choir. So, without telling
him the cause of the opposition, she re.
trimmed her old hat, mended her second
best kids, and patched her boot, with the aid
of an awl to pierce the SOLE Not being a
cobbler by profession her fingers received
some wounds which made her feel almost
exasperated and she concluded that if men
were not as blind as bats by nature Chester
would see that she needed some new ones.
He, innocent heart, thought she looked un-
commonly well, as she appeared on Sunday
morning, arrayed in her old things, and,
although she took pains to put the worst
foot forward as she stepped into the carriage
Chester only thought, What q pretty foot
my wife has got.


His new broadcloth suit, so stout and
strongly made, was warranted to last a year
at least, and what should he know of wo.
mans wants d?


Monday morning Nellie scrubbed out her
clothes with more than usual celerity; for
torturng thoughts make ones hands move
quickly and the day before, while in Sab
bath School, she had been horriied to see
that her impromptu cobbling was proving
treacherous, and her boot gaping in deris-
ion.


'Iwonder if Chester expects my clothes
will last forever" said she to herself. Maybe |
he expects I'll ask him for money, but
cannot Oh dear, cannot! Haven't l |
earned anything, I'd like to know And |
isn't it right for him to give me part of
the gain? l guess l could take care of my.
self better than he does itp and if few
tears ran down her cheeks think it not
strange, oh ye lovers of independence


That night, on his return from the village,
Chester tossed bundle into her lap saying


I've got some splendid cloth there for |
vest, Nellie; | have always bought my
clothing ready-made, but | knew you could |
make it so nicely-and it will save two dol. |
lars.


Nellie told him she wouldItry to do it, and
then, as if the thonght had just occurred to |
her, she added


BY the way. Chester, l think must have
some new boots some time this week.


We'll, I'd go to Stesrns' and get some
then, if were you. He's just got his new
goods, and Chester unfolded his newspaper
and began to read,


Poor Nellie bit her lip, and wondered if
other husbands were as slow to take the
hint as hers was proving himself to be. She
said not another word, however, and the
next afternoon got ready for her shopping
expedtion-she could fortunately wear rub
bers-and waited for her liege lord to provide
her with the necessary funds,


But he sat writing at his desk, oblvious of
all domestic cares, and at length she said
with an assumed nonchalance:


Can you let me have some money, Ches.
terY


'Oh yes, you haven't any, have you? and
he drew out his wallet and began to count
bills therein


There's ive-that must go to Mr.. Jack
son for the use of his team; and three-my
tax exactly; ten that goes for
new sleigh robe; and two-you can have
that l guess, separating it from the rest
will that do?'


Nellie's face grew white and then red and
her heart beat so that she could hardly an
swer:


Il will try to make it,


Chester looked up, thinking her voice did
not sound just natural, but she had turned
toward the window.


There's some change you can have, too
said he, adding several pieces of scrip to the
bill


She took the money and thrust it into her
purse, and walked rapidly away but her
thoughts ran somewhat after this fashion:


And so my claim is last and least in his
estimation. | suppose that is the reason
that so many women grow so sort of anti
quated they hate to beg


her husbands ears would have tingled
could he have known these reflections, but
as it was, he only looked after her and
thought what a fortunate fellow he was to
get such a wife.


After purchasing an inferior pair of boots
Mrs. Nellie found that she had thirty cents
which was speedily invested in
pins, needles and thread, and she returned
home resolved to labor and to wait little
while longer.


A few days after this, as she was bending
over the table trying to cut Chester's vest,
Miss Eunice Perkins called, and after few
minutes desultory chat the worthy spinster
drew from her pocketa paper, which she hand
ed to Nellie, saying as she did SO: