The Husband's Pocket Money
The following article is reproduced from the Birmingham Weekly Post,
dated September 24th 1927;
the author is unknown.
Many of the residents of the poorer districts not only regard the Birmingham Municipal Bank officials
as the keepers of their money, but expect them to be able to give advice on a thousand and one subjects. “I want to have a talk with
you,” said an investor to a branch manager, who invited the man into the office. There was unfolded a tale of domestic difficulties.
“My wife,” he said, “can’t understand how it is now that I’ve given up the beer that I never have any money. You know why it is. As
soon as I get my pocket money I bring it to you, and now it is a decent little sum. I didn’t want to tell her what I have been doing
with it because I wanted to her have a good holiday – the first since we were married. Now the time has come when she must be told,
because she is beginning to think I am spending the money in a way I should not. Can you help me?”
The manager pondered the matter
for a minute, and then asked if the man would like him to tell the wife about the way the money was being saved. “You’d be doing me
a bit of good if you would, sir,” was the grateful reply. “I’ll do it with pleasure,” replied the manager, “but don’t you say anything
to your wife.”
He made enquiries about the time the husband and wife were likely to be at home, and arranged with the man that
he would call at that time. That evening the manager wrote telling the woman that he wanted to see her and her husband, and that he
would call. Next day when the husband returned home he found his wife greatly excited about the letter from the bank. “What does it
mean, I wonder?” she asked her husband. “Probably somebody’s banked something for you,” was the reply.