Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-03

: = a L.
When / had been one year a Jour
neyman and had laid up few dollars,
| (for had a strong motive to be saving
We were married. boarded with her
father, and she bound shoes for the shop
where worked. We lived a few weeks
at her fathers but it was not our home
the home that we wanted--so we deter :
mined to set up housekeeping. 1t was
rather small set up but we made it an
swer. spent week in househunting.
Some were too dear, and some too shah
by. At last found this place. 1t was
new and clean, high and airy, and !
thought it would do. ! gotit for $50
year-and though the rents around have
advanced our landlord is satisfied with
that, or takes it in preference to risking
worse tenant. The place was naked
enough. and we had little to put in it. to
serve ourselves we went cheerfully to
work, earned all we could. saved. all we
could, and you see what is the result.
Il see, but l confess do not under
stand it, said 1, willing to hear him ex-
plain the economies of his modest and
beautiful home.
We'll. it is simple enough. When
Mary and ! moved ourselves here and
took possession with table, two chairs,
cooking stove, saucepan or two. and
cot-bed with straw msttrass, the first
thing we did was to hold a council OF
war
Now Mary, my love- said 1. here
we are.-We have next to nothing, and
we have everything to get. and nobody
but ourselves
We found that we could on an average
earn eight dollars a week. We determ-
ined to live as cheaply as possible, save
all we could and make ourselves at home.
Our rent was dollar a week-our fuel,
light, water-renL and some little matters
dollar more. We have allowed the
same amount for our clothing, and buy
ing the best thiEgs and keeping them
carefully, we dress well enough for that.
Even my wife is satisfied with her ward
robe, AMI finds that raw silk at six shil-
lings yard is cheaper. in the long run,
than calico at shilling. That makes
three dollars week, and we have our
living to pay for. That does US with
three in our family, just one dollar
week more
One dollar piece ?
|
surprised but we have reckoned it over.
1t cost us more at first, but now we have
learned to live both better and cheaper
so that we have clear surplus OF four
dollars a week, after paying all expenses
of rent, fire, light. chothing and food.
do not count out luxuries. such as an
evening at a concert, or little treat of
our friends when we give party.
know smile came over my face, for
he continued
Yes, give party, and we have some
pleasant ones, assure you. Sometimes
we have dozen guests, which is quiet
enough for comfort, and our treat is chOc-
olate, cakes, bIance mango. &c, costs as
much as two dollars but this is not very
often. Out of our surplus which comes
you see, to two hundred dollars year
we have bought all you see, and have
money in the bank
L see it ALL, said 1, all but the living
Many mechanic spends more than
that for cigars to say nothing of liquor.
Pray tell me precisely how You live.
With pleasure. First Of all then, 1
smoke no cigars, chew no tobacco, and
Mary takes no snuff
Here the pleasant smile came in, but
there was no interruption, for Mary SEEM
ed to think that her husband knew what
he was about, and could talk without her
aid.
L have not drank glass of liquor
since the day was married. had read
enough physiology to make up my mind
that tea and coffee contained no nutri-
ment, and were poisonous besides and
tried vegetable diet long enough to like
it better than a mixed one, and to find
that it agreed with me better. and as we
have read and experienced together, of
course Mary thinks as l do
But what do you eat and drink ?
asked, curious to see how far this self
thaugbt philosopher had progressed in
the laws Of health.
Come this way and will show you,
he said, taking light and leading the
way into capaciOus store room. Here,
first of all, is mill which cost me twelve
shillings. 1t grinds all my grain. gives
me the freshest and most beautiful meal
and saves tolls and profits. This is a
barrel of wheat. 1t costs less than two
cents a pound, and II pound of wheat n
day, you know, is food enough for any
man. We make it into bread, mush, pies
and cakes. Here is a barrel Of potatoes.
There are some beans, box of rice.
tapioca and macaroni. Here is a barrel
of apples, the best can find in the mar
ket Here is box of sugar, and this is
our butter jar. We take quart OfcOuntry
milk day buy my other things down
town, by the box or barrel, wherever l
can get them best and cheapest.
Making what We eat as mu,h h or bread.
and all made coarse, without bol.ing-and
potatoes, or hominy, or rice, the staple.
a.. al. .n.;I.. en- thnt q dnllnr q mall