The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-11-26
SATURDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER &c, 1853.

We're, for that day, just one dollar and
twenty cents, or at the rate Of three
hundred and sixty dollars a year! And
yet Mr.. Rivers thought himself IA very
economical man, and took merit 10 him.
self for saving on newspapers and mag
aZInes.
On the next day, Mr.. Rivers felt as if
he needed little exercise--he was 50
closely confined in his store--and as it
was dull, he could as easily be spared as
not SO he hired a horse and sulkv for
a dollar and a half and took a pleasant
ride TO himself. Previously to his riding
out, he spent shilling IN mineral water
During the ride, he paid to gate-keepers
stable-boys at taverns where he stopped
for lemonade, and for what he drank
and smoked, justthiity- eight cents. Ten
cents in cakes for the children, laid OUT
to satisfy the rattle: unpleasant sensation
he felt al the idea Of having INDUCED
himself in ride while his family re-
manned OF home, completed this DAVIS
extra expense Of the man who could not
afford to take a periodical; the whole
dllol'1l was lusl TWO uOIldTS.
On the day succeeding to this, fifty
cents We're spent in little seli-indulgpncs
on the next, twenty-five cents and on
the day after, nearly dollar. And 50
it went on, day after day and week after
week, while Mary continued to borrow
from Jane Tompkins her magazines,
newspapers and books.
One day, shortl v after the new maya
zines for the month had been announced
Mary called as usual upon her Eend
Jane On her table lay "Godey's" and
several other magazines.
"How much do envy YOU" she said
"What would not give if my father
woulri take the magazines for me as yours
does for you; bat he always says that he
can't afford it,"
Then Mary turned over magazine
after magazine, examining and admring
the beautiful engravlngs. When she
was going away, she said-'Are you
done with the Lsdy's Book yet ~
Jane looked sli Chilly confused as sh,
repled-"l'vc read it, Mary, Blu, papa
isn't done with it,"
"No matter-'Graham' or Putnam
will do"
''rm sorry, Mary" and the color rose
to James face, ''but | cant let YOU have
either of them. The fact is, Mary, to
tell von the plain truth, papa has OBJ
jected for a good while to my lending
my periodicals and literary newspapers,
and now positively forbids my doing so.
Bu, you can come and see me, Mary,
and read them here. | shall be glad to
have you. But need not say that
you know | will. wish papa wasn't
SO particular; but he is a little curious
about some things"
4 Mary felt hurt, not with Jane, but at
the fact. She went home feeling badly
"lour friend Miss Rivers d,dnt get
her usual supply Of reading,' said Mr.
Tompkins to his daughter, shortly after
Mary lad left the house.
"No, and was sorry for hcr,' re-
piled Jane "She seemed hurt and NOR
fitted Hhen told her that could not
lend them. Pm sure, papa, it wouldn't
have hurt us at all, and would have teen
such qualification TO herr
"Let her father subscribe for them, as
! | do. He is just as able"
"But he thinks he can't afford it, and
now"
"Thinks he can't afford it, indeed :"
said Mr.. Tompkins. "A man who spends
two or three hundred dollars year in
sel-indugences of one kind and anoth-
er, talking about not being able to afford
magazines and newspapers for his fam
lily Why it costs him more tor tobacco
and cigars than it does me for periodl-
Gals -
"s'tiIl, papa, it is hard for Mary to be
deprived of them. 1t isn't her fault
She says she often begs her father to take
them for her, but that his only reply is
he can't afford it,"
eff she were the only one concerned,
Jane, she might have them with plea.
sure, "replied Mr., Tompkns. "But, you
see, she isn't. 1t is plain, from the con-
dition in which the magazines come
home, that they have gone through the
hands of the whole family. That Mr..
Rivers INDUCES himself in reading at my
expense am very well satisfied, for
have seen my periodicals at his store
more than once"
eyes that is the worst of it,
"Besides, Jane, am not perfectly
clear in my own mind that it is honest
towards the publishers to encourage any
thing of this kind. They go to great
expense and labor in getting up their
works, and certainly give the moneys
worth to all who subscribe. But if every
subscriber lends TO his neghbors who
are perfectly able to subscribe them
selves, and who would do so if they
could not borrow, the publishers cannot
be sustained, or will receive, at best, but