Year: 1875

Work.


The Brunswicker has the follow
ing: One morning about two weeks
ago Mrs. McGoochen beamed blandly
across the break fast table on her hus-
band and informed him that she had
concluded to discharge the hired girl
and do her own work This announce
mcnt startled Mr. McGoochen almost
as much as if she had declared her
determination to commit suicide. He
had long known that hired help p was a
heavy drain upon his meagre salary,
but his wife had educated him to re-
gard it as indispensable, and he had
made up his mind to endure it tor
ever. That she should voluntarily
offer to dispense with the service of Il
girl was something for which he was
not prepared. Looking at her With
an expression which hope and doubt
painfully mingled, he said


"You-why-you can't do 1t,
Eliza"


Cant do it, indeed! I'd like to
know what's the reason? Lots OF
women in this town do a great deal
more, an think nothing OF it. Our
family's small--just you and me and
Henry Ward-and if l can't do the
work for US three I'd better go to a
hospital and be done with it.


What put you into the notion 2
asked her husband, hardly yet recov-
cred from his surprise.


well, Peter" she replied, speak
ing in a tender, self-reproving tone,
I'll tell you. I've been thinking
lately how hard you have to work.
and how little { have done TO assist
you, in comparison with what | might
and ought to do, and it appears to me
that [ should try to reduce our ex.
penses as much as possible, and the
best way / know of is to do my own
housework. We are poor, Just max
ing beginning in lie, and it is my
duty to help you"


With voice almost choked with
emotion at this unexpected evidence
of his wiie's devotion and energy, he
fee bly, essayed to break her resolution,
saying that he didn't want her to be n
slave for him; that she was too deli
cate for the task she contemplated;
that all he asked of her was continued
love and sympathy


''Oh, that is all romance" inter-
rupted Mrs. McGoochen. It's high
time that my love and sympathy were
assuming a practical form. III dis
charge the girl this very day. But
there is one condition, Peter.


Name it my noble wife. !"
That new carpet you thought we
were unable to get. Now, if | do my
own work it will save at least hun
dred dollars year, and you can GER
tainly afford the carpct.


''Of course, my love, if You are sat
isfed you are not undertaking more
than you can perform.


She was satisfied. and SO it was set
tied Mack lugged the carpet home
at noon, and found the girl gone. His
wife was gone, too, but she returned
shortly, having only been around tell
ing the neighbors that she was now
doing her own work. Dinner was
tate, but then it was the first meal by
her fair fingers, and he could make
allowance for the novelty of the po-
sition in which she found herself
placed.


Acting on her suggestion, Mack
brought home new rocking chair
when he came to supper. They were
saving hundred dollars year, and
could we'll afford such little things
| When his wife returned from heI
visit TO the rest Of her neighbors
whom she had been informing that
she was now doing her work, she was
| delighted with the new chair and de-
/ clared that they must have full sci
of furniture TO match it. "Y ou know
Peter, that I will more than save the
cost of it in the course of year, and
| will feel so proud to know that my
labor secured it. This was said sc
beseechingly, and she hung so loving
ly on his neck the while that Mack
couldn't resist the appeal. The fur.
niture was sent down the next day.
About three days after, Mrs. Nc
! Goochen coaxed Peter into buying
her a silk dress, and the next day
| she wheedled him out of set OF jew
elry. 1t was the same old plea she
was tightening the expenses so much
by doing her own work that she fel
| that she was entitled to somethins
extra. It would amount to more. sh.
reasoned, than the hire of girl. ant
Peter could we'll afford to give it tt
her.


Mack began to get uneasy. Was
there. after all, any saving in doing
without hired girl2 Wouldn't tha
sort of economy bankrupt him in les:
than year? He got piece of paper
and a pencil and figured:


Expenses one week without help:
/ Carpet............... $40 o.
| r ~
Dress and jewelry elry-...--.........--...-.--... 80
Total. $50 O
| Cost of help one week. q
Balance in favor of a domestic......-.-sI4s O
Mr.. McGoochen was astounded
Graspin the paper and his hat, h
made rapid strides for home. Open
ing the door, the first object that me
his frenzied gaze was the hired girl
| The best life policy-Keep out o
debt.