Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-04
wealthy. had nothing left but to name the

"One dollar does not seem enough" said he,
"You have saved the child's life, and have been
at more trouble than to merely write prcscrip-
tion."
"Do you work for living" l asked, hoping
to solve the mystery.
lie smiled and held out his hand, which
showed the unquestionable marks of honest toll
"You are a mechanic ?" said, willing to know
more of him.
"Take that" he sad placing two dollar
note in my hand, with a not-to-be-refuscd air,
"and I will CRAFTY your curiosity; for there is
no use in pretending that you are not little
curious"
There was hearty, respectful freedom about
this that was irresistible. l put the note in my
pocket, and the man going to door, opened it
into closet of modern size, and displayed the
bench and tools Cf shoemaker
"You must be an extraordinary workman"
said /, looking around the room, which seemed
almost luxurious; but when looked at each
item found that it cost very little
"No, nothing extra" said he, 81 barely man.
age to earn little over dollar day. Mary
helps me some. With the housework to do,
and our boy to look after she earns enough to
make our wages average e ght dollars week.
We began with noting-we live as you see"
All this comfort, this respectabty, this al
most luxury for eight dollars week l ex-
pressed my surprise. 81 should be very sorry if
we spent so much," said he. I'VE have not,
only managed to live on that, but We have some
thing laid up in the Savings Bank.
"Wil you have the goodness" said to
explain to me how you do it?"
"With pleasure" he replied: "for you may
persuade Others, no better off than l am, to
make the best of their situation. My name is
William Garter. My father died when l was
young, and was bound out an apprentice to
with usual provisions of schooling.
did as well as boys do generally at school as I
was very fond of reading, I made the most Of
my spare time and the advantages of the Ap-
rrcntces' Library. Probably the books that
helped me most were the sensible writings of
Win. Cobbett. Following his example, deter
mined to give myself useful education, and
have to some extent succeeded. But mans ed
ucation is a life long process and the more ]
learn, the more see before me-
I" I was hardly out of my time when fell in
love with my Mary there, whom some people
think very pretty, but whom l know to be very
good"
Mary looked up with such a bright, loving
smile, as to fully justify some people in their no.
tions.
when had been one year iourneyman,
and laid up a few dollars (for l had Il strong mo-
tive to be saving) we were married. l boarded
at her fathers end she bound shoes for the shop
where worked. We lived Il few weeks at home,
but it was not our home-so we determined to
set up housekeeping. 1t was rather a small set
up but we made it answer. Ispent week in
housc-hunting. Some were too dear, some too
shabby. At last found this place. 1t was new
and clean, high and airy, and thought it would
do. got it for fifty dollars year-and though
the rents all round advanced, our landlord is sat
ised with that, or takes it in preference to risk
ing a worse tenant. The place was naked enough
and we had little to put in it save ourselves
but We went chccrfully to work, earned all we
could, and saved all we could-and you see the
result"
81 see; but confess do not understandable
said |, willing to hear him explain the economies
of this modest and beautiful home.
"Well it is simple enough. When Mary and
l moved ourselves here and took possession, with
a table, two chairs, cooking stove, saucepan
or two, and cot-bed with a straw matr,ss, the
first thing we did was to hold council of war
Now, Mary, my love, said |, here we are We
have next to nothing and we have everything to
get, and nobody but ourselves to help ourselves
awe found that we could earn on an average,
eight dallars week. We determined to live
as chcaply as possible, save all we could, ard
make us home. Our rent was one dollar a
week-our fuel, light, water rent, and some little
matters a dollar more We have allowed the
same amount to our clothing, and buying the
lest things, and keeping them carefully, we
dressed we'll enough for that Even my wife IS
satisfied with the wardrobe, and finds that raw
silk at six shillings yard is cheaper, in the
long run, than calico at one shilling That
makes three dollars a week, and had still our
living to pay for. That cost us, with three in
family, Just one dollar more"
"One dollar apiece ~
"No-one dollar for all. You seem surpri
sed but we have reckoned it over and over. 1t
cost more at first, but now we have learned to
live both letter and cheaper-so that we have
clear surplus Of four dollars a week, after paying
all expenses of rent, fire, light, water, clothing
and food, and occasionally giving party.
know a smile came over my face, for he con-
tinued:
EYES, give party and we have some plea
SAINT ones, l assure you. Some times We have doz-
en- guests, which is quite enough for comfort, and
our treat of chocolate, cakes blancmange, etc,