Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-08-01

ing to listen a moment to the measured
brea,hings of lis,le Willie, sat down to
her sewing.
"My namc.' he said, sis William
Carter. My father died when I wa.
young, and was bound out as an ap-
prenilce to shoemaker, with the usual
provision Of schooling. did as well
as most boys do generally at school; and
as was very fond Of reading, | made
the most Of my spare time and the adj
van,ages of the Apprentices Library.
Probably the books tha, helped the emost
were the sensible writings of William
Goblet. Following his example, de-
iermined to give myself useful educa-
ton, and have TO some extent succeed
ed. But mans education is lrfe-long
process; and the more learn, the more
| see before me. y.
Il was hardly out Of my time when
fell in love with my Mary there. whom
some people think very pretty, but
whom know to be very good.''
Mary looked up with such bright,
loving smile, as TO fully justify some
people in their notion.
"When | had been one year iourney-
man, and laid up few dollars (for had
strong motive to be saying) we were
married. / boarded at her fathers and
she bound shoes for the shop where /
worked. We lived few weeks at her
home; but il was not our home the
home we wanted-so we determined 10
set up housekeeping. 1t was rather a
small set up, but we made it answer. l
spent week in house-hun,ing. Some
were too dear, some too shabby. AT
last ] found this place. II was new anc
clean, Highland airy, and | though, il
would do. got il for fifty dollars a
year-aEd though the rents all round ad-
vanced, our landlord is satisfied with
that, or takes it in preference to risking
a worse tenant. The place was naked
enough. and we had little to pu, in il
save ourselves; but We went cheerfully
10 work, earned all we could-saved all
we could--and you see the result"
Il see; but confess do not UNDER
stand it, said /, willing to hear him ex-
plain the economies of this modest and
beautiful home.
"Well, it is simple enough. When
Mary and | moved ourselves here and
took possession, with table, two chairs,
cooking stove, a saucepan or two, and
cot bed with straw mattrass, the first
thing we did was to hold counsel-of-
war. Nov, Mary, my love- said /.
there we are. We have next to nothing,
and we have every thing to get, and no.
body bu, ourselves to help ourselves
ave found that we could earn, on an
average, eight dollars week. We de-
termined 70 live as cheaply as possible,
save all We could, and make us home.
Our rent was one dollar week-oLr fu-
ell, light, water rent, and some little mat
ters dollar more. We have allowed
the same amount for our clothing. and
by buying the best things, and keeping
them carefully, we dress well enough for
that. Even my wife is satisfied with
her wardrobe, and finds that raw silk at
six shillings yard is cheaper, in the
long run, than calico al one shilling.-
That makes three dollars week. and
we had still our living to pay for. That
cost Us, with three in our family, just
one dollar week more. 10
Zone dollar apiece" =
..No--one dollar for all. You seem
surprised; but we have reckoned il over
and over. Ii cost more at FIRST, but now
we have learned to live both better and
chcaper-so that we have clear surplus
Of four dollars week, after paying all
expenses Of rent, fire, light. water, cloth
ing aud food. do not count our luxu-
ries, such as an evening at the theatre,
a concert, or little treat to our friends
when we give party"
! know smile came over my face. for
he continued: 1
Yes, give party; and we have some
pleasant ones, assure. Sometimes we
have dozen guests, which is quite en-
ongh for comfort, and our treat OF choc-
olate, cakes, blanc-mange, etc., costs as
much ac two dollars; but this is not We
ry often. Out of our surplus, which
comes. you see, to two hundred dollars
a year--we have bought all you see, and
have money In tho bank"
Il see il ALL" said I-s.all but the liv-
ing. Many mechanic spends more
than that for cigars, to say nothing ol
liquor. Pray tell me precisely how you
livc.r
with pleasure. First Of all, then,
smoke no cigars and chew no tobacco,
and Mary takes no snuff"
Here the pleasant smile came in. bu,
there was no interruption: for Mary
seemed to think her husband knew wha,
be was about, and could talk very well
without her aid.
II have not drank glass Of liquor
since the day was married, except q
glass Of wine about four times a year,
on Christmas, New Years, Fou.th oil
July. and Willie's birthday. The las,
is our especial holiday. had read en-
ough physiology TO make up my mind
that tea and coffee contained no nutri-
ment, and were poisons beside; and
tried.a vegetable diet long enough to like
II better than mixed one, and 10 find