Year: 1872

1


Il give it out of my money said |,
growing bolder. Il only asked you to
leave il at the door for me-


Your money What do you moan !?


Il mean what / say-mV money. Have
| no right to spend moncy,as well as your
don't approve of the Masons, but that
does not hinder you from spending money
and time Tor them, just as much " you
have n mind


John looked at mo quite amazed, and
at my sudden outbreak. You see, had
always been the most smiable OF wives.
Then he broke out quite triumphantly -


Come, now. who earns the money that
maintains this familyr


You and /, together


'76gether' Well, should like to see
the first cent you have earned in tho seven
years we have been married. Together !!
Well, call that pretty rich


My spirits were visibly declining under
his ridicule, but l kept on as boldly as
could.


When we were married, you thought,
or pretended to think yourself very happy
in assuming the care of my board bills and
wardrobe. didn't ask it Of you. You
asked me to be ysur wife, knowing we'll
what that meant


AS nearly as | remember interrupted
John, you were mighty ready to accept
mo-


'Granted-to save argument said I.
eoloring. Well, we stood up In church
together; you promised to love, cherish,
&c, and so did l.


You also promised TO obey me-


And obey. too said |; but you in re-
turn endowed me with your worldly
goods, and Tho minister pronounced us
man and Wife; and so we havo lived
along together till now


Yes said John. complacently; 'and |
think have done what l agreed, and
made a pretty good husband. | really
think you ought to be thankful when you
sec how some wives live


Well said /, / think | have been =
prudent, domestic wife, and ] don't feel
one atom more of gratitude to you for
being q decent husband, than you ought
to feel 10 me for being decent wife. Is
it any more merit that you keep your mar
riage promise than that keep mine p


Sarah, you positively are very acrimo-
NOUS to night Don't you think you had
better go to bed p


No, sir. Well, meant imo We have laid
by money enough to buy this house, and
still have some in the bank


Thanks to my hard work = chinied in
John


More thanks, said /, TO the perfect
good health we have always had. We
made all those promises for better or for
worse Now, it has been for the better
with us all the time Had you been sick.
or any honest misfortune befallen you,
should have managed some way to re.
duce our expenses, so that you would
feel the burden as little as might be.
Had been sick, more care would havo
fallen on you. But We have helped zach
other save, and now | claim an equal
right with you in spending money"


'Whew. Why, that is treason. But
60 on


If we occupied the respective posi-
tions of superior and subordinate. |
should do what do for you for fixed
stipend, and no question would be asked
as 10 the use made of it. Being equals.
| will not ask compensation as servant.
But because the contract we have made
is lifelong, and not easily broken, / do
not therefore call it very magnanimous
in prosperous man to accept these ser
vices and render in return only my board
and the least amount that will creditably
clothc me-


You see, was growing irate. Johns
temper, too, was evidently on the rise.


What do you mean by services9
Housework, | am sure 3 home is as
much for your satisfaction as for mine;
and am sure the tailor does not leave
much of my sewing to you to do


Il don't complain of housework, nor Of
doing your sewing. But do think the
burden of little Johnny has all fallen on
me-


1T strikes me- said he, with a provok-
ing complaoency of tone. thut if you
earned his living you would have less 10
say about the burden falling on you


john said /, answer me honestly.
Do you work any harder or any longer
now than you did before he was born "


Il don't know as l do said he; i al
ways worked hard enough


We'll, and so did L But now as to
Johnny presume you will allow your
self half owner of him, as the law al
lows You entire control Of him. How
much do you do for him p
Il maintain him. do my part


No, John, you are wrong; you don't
do you parl. From the first you never
have. Did not weary months 60 by in
which you bore no part whatever of tho
burden p


We'll, that is curious complaining;
what would you have had me do !?


You might have got servant, In