The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-06-06
OTTAWA, ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, l845.

what have you got there, my dear ?
said her husband, when the meats had
been removed: that's something new,
isn't it,
i hope you'll like it, for its so cheap,
and very nice, do assure YOU said FL
len, smiling, as she proceeded to cut the
pastry.
'Humph! = said Merivae, who had al
ways been good liver. and had never
found very cheap dishes remarkably
good.
Il have given you both kinds, to see
which you like best said his wife.
What are they! said Merlvale, cut
ting piece out Of the whicst pie. The
next instant his brow clowded, and he
pushed the plate away. Ellen looked
very embarrassed.
Sour as aqua.loriis.'
TRY the Other piece, dear; lis sweet
err she said, coaxingly.
Alter moment he complied.
BY George-hcre's piece Of lemon
skin as big as a shilling, and tough as a
shark-skin.' he exclaimed, putting the
plate angriIy away.
My dear, really thought they were
good
What, in Heavens name, are they ?
Lemon pies; they are very cheap
said Ellen, deprecaingly.
'Conlound cheap eatables! Is there
nothing else!
There was nothing else, to ElIen's
great sorrow and her husband rose from
the table and went out in pet. She,
poor thing, flew to her chamber and cried
heartily. 1t was the first time Merlvale
had ever used angry words TO her.
A more than usually excellent evening
meal awaited Merivale when he returned /;
so he was once more in good humor.
No allusion was made TO the past, but
lemon pies were forever after banished
from the young wife's kitchen. She had
TO turn 10 other quarters 10 retrench.
The first years expenses exceeded by
several hundred dollars Merivalc's re-.
ceipls; and, 10 make up the deficiency,
he was forced TO sell out some stock
which ne held. and which formed part Of
a little capital tina, lie had religiously re-
solved never to touch. BY this time, he
and his wife had talked over the necrssi-
ty of economy more than once; and now
they had again serious conversation on
the subject.
Suppose we move into a smaller
house. said Ellen.
That would never do replied her
husband. with physician every thing
depends on appearances and should
lose all my hes, practice if was 10 take
that method Of rctrcnching.'
'WeI!-we won't have any parties this
year, so there will be saving there. And
then, you know, they all say the first
year OF married life is the most expcn-
sve.'
The second year, however. proved rs
costly as the first, for, after the birth Of a
lovely liule daughter, it was found nee
essary 10 keep another servant, half
grown grrl who might attend the baby
and help in sewing. Then the other ser
want refused to wash for this increased
family, and the washing had to be put
out; So that, at the end Of the year, not
outstanding they gave no parties, the
expenses Of the young married couple
were found to be as great as during the
preceding year. 1t is true, Mcrivale's
business had increased, but not sufficient
~ to make up the deficiency, and then
he had been forced TO set up gig. Ac-
cordingly it became necessary again to
trench on his little capital. The third
year, in spite of a hundred shifts resor-
ted to for economy, proved more costly
than either of the Others so that, when,
at lis close, Merivale cast up his accounts,
he discovered that, since his marriage,
he had sold out more than thousand dol.
lars worth Of his stock, and owed be-
sides several small bills, which he had
managed to throw over into the fourth
year. His income, from his little CAPT.
tai, was now usl one hundred dollars
less than it had been when he was mar.
ried. And SO it went on, year after year
until nearly every share of the stock had
been sold out, for though Merivalo's bu
siness increased, so, too, did his expen
ses.
MY DEAR, said Mrs. Merivae to hel
husband, one day, Caroline is now six
years OLD, and it is time she went to dan
cling school. have been going TO spcal
10 you about i, for several days
But really can't afford II, Mrs. Mer