Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-16
From ahe Portsmouth journal.
ENCOURAGE YOUR OWN

Franklin a to his young wife, when he
saw her bemoaning a new coffee-pot melted
down on the hot stove She never forgot
her impression on seeing the brilliant article
leaning first like the tower of Pisa, and then
sinking into obscurity, like rich man reti-
ring from business TO become mere shi-
ming lump ofruins nor did she forget the
remark. Neither was she mindful of anoth-
er favorte sentiment of her Franklin -
Economy is so legibly written on all the
works OF creation, it is a virtue which no
one should despise."
Every opportunity that offered for the ex-
ercIse of this virtue was duly improved
The cellar door never opened without exhib-
itlng an evidence of it--for behind il hung
huge momento in the shape of rag bag,
OF about bushel capacity-an open recep-
ticle for every little shred of cloth. Now
and then it would receive larger deposite
in the shape of an old dress which had I'M
dergoae the mutations of fashion as well as
sundry rents from the door catch-and hav-
ing become too fragile by frequent ablu-
tons, was in consequence passed to this
last depository Of all things cotton.-
These last deposits, however, were not usu-
ally made IN a moment-nor always without
bright colors-where it had been worn, & c.,
all seemed to plead that it might once again
renew its age in bed covering. 1t is
brought to the SIT won't bear quilt
ing" is the verdict, and is consigned to its
resting place.
In the course Of year the ponderous bag
gradually fills to Overlooking; aud as true
economy does not consist in boarding up,
h.,. A L.
account, Lucy is on lookout for market
for her stock There is rap at the door
'Do you want to buy any tin ware, marm"
"Belieye not to-day-have more now than
we like to keep bright"
"But have some of the best you ever
saw---al made by machinery, and cheap as
dirt. Just look at this cake box-all plan
ished tin, bright as looking-glass."
"What do you ask for it p
"Only dollar, in rags-or cash, rs cents"
AT the sound of rags, the long collecting
stock comes over her mind-and the cake
box being desirable article, she concludes
to take il, and the rag bag is hung in the
pedlar's steelyards
'Just twenty pounds, marin at cent
and. a half a pound they come to thirty
cents So want seventy cents to make us
square"
The burden Of the rag bag was removed
from her mind, and the shining purchase
was before her--so the seventy cents were
paid over without calculation, and after
answering in the negative the inquiry
Nothing else, marin? he departed to gath
er up all the rags in the neighborhood
Lucy closed the door, placed her pur-
chase in the closet and hung up the empty
rag bag for re-fling.
When Mr. Franklin q had seated
himself by the Preside that evening, con-
ming over as usual the events of the day, he
remarked
think Lucy, have received lesson
to-day which will make me more careful
hereafter.
Well, Frank, you know we must live and
learn" so let me hear what it is.
When was sitting at my desk to-day,
making out bills, Jew travelling merchant
came in and offered me "some superior
steel pens ofhis own importation," as he said
at nine shillings groce. thought could
not get them cheaper of an importer, and
so l took groce. few hours after |
CHANGED 10 step into store near market
square, and who should see but the same
Jew merchant packing up dozen boxes of
pens he had just purchased But what made
me feel bad was to learn that the fellow had
to pay only seventy-fve cents per groce for
them.
What said Lucy, did you pay the Jew
double price for importing only from Market
square to your shop?
did so indeed, but will never do it again.
that's certain and the only way 10 be Sc
cure from such knaves, is to make rule,
which you may write down and stick up
over the mantel piece:
Neper to purchase an article of travelling
pedlar Chich can be Obtained at a regular
store.
There must be one exception TO this rule
Frank must add" Ercept when ace pav
in old rags"
Better not add it, Lucy, sooner burn your
rags.
Burn my rags2 why, where is your econo-
my, Frank guess you will think rags are
ofsome value when you see what have pur-
chased with them to-day.
(The closet is now opened and the cake
box makes its appearance.) Do you think
now our old rags are ONO value?
Mr. a. was little abashed, and was
almost disposed to accede to the exception. |
How many pounds ofrags did you give, my
dear, for that splendid affair?
The price was one dollar in rags, or seven
ty-6ve cents in cash. As wanted to trade
away the rags | concluded to pay for it in
that way. They weighed twenty pounds
not quite so much as expected, and SO
paid him 80 cents to make cup the dollar.
And so, Lucy, he has got your rags for
less than quarter of cent pound, if his