Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-04-18
"You are a mecllanici,, / said, willing ID know

IIltIt UVtf a dOllar q dAy.- NnTy helps me some.
] with The lousework to do,and our boy to look
alter, she earns enough 10 make our wages average
eight dollars a week. We began with nothing
we live as you see." i
All this comfort, this Iespectab:ly, this almost
luxury, for eight dollars week.
| expressed my. surprise.
! SHOULD be very sorry if we spent so much.'
said he. I'VE have no; only managed to live on
that, but have something laid up in the savings
| bank
tWill you have the goodness said l. .iust 10
explain TO me how you do it?' for l was really
anxious to know how shoemaker and his wife,
| earning but eight dollars week, could live in
comfort and elegance, and lay up money.
i with pleasure he replied, 'for you may per
suade Others, no better off than am, 10 make
the best Other situation
| 1took chair which he handedme.
| We were seated, and his wife, after going to
listen moment, TO the soft and measured breath
/ ingSof little Willie, sat down to her sewing
tMy name he said, tiS William Carter My
father died when was young, AMI 1 was bound
out an apprentice to shoemaker, with the usual
provisions of schooling. did as well as boys do
generally at school; and as was very fond of
reading, made the most OF my spare time and ad-
vantages of the Apprentices Library. Probably,
the books that helped me most, were the sensible
writings of William Goblet. Following his ex-
ample, determined TO give myself useful edu-
cation, and have 10 some extent succeeded. But
n mans education is lifelong process; and the
more learn, the more see before me- ~
1was hardly out Of my time when fell in love
pretty, but whom know to be very good.'
Mary looked up with such a bright, loving
smile, as TO fully justify some people in their
ton.
.When had been one year iourneyman, and
had laid up few dollars, (tor had strong mo-
tive to be saving,) we were married. L boarded
at her fathers, and she bound shoes for the shop
| where worked. We lived few weeks at her
home; but it was not our home--tEe home that we
@amted-So we determined TO SCI up houSe-keep.
ing. II was rather a small set up, but we made it
answer. spent week in house hunting. Some
were too dear, some too shabby. AT last l found
this place. 1t was new aud ciea ~ high and airy,
anGl thought it would do, | got il for fifty dol
lars y~ar-and though the rents all around have
advanced, our landlord is satisfied with that, or
takes il i'll preference 10 riSking worse tenant.
The place was naked enough, and we had little
10 put i'll il; TO save ourselves, went cheerfulIy
to work, earned all we could, saved all we could
land you see the result 4-
81 see, but confess do not understand it, said
| |, willing to hear linn explain the economies OF
his mode st and beautiful home.
| 1T is simple enough. When Mary and moved
ourselves here, and took possession with table,
two chairs, n cooking stove u sauce pan or two,
and cot-bed, with straw mattress; tile first
thing we did. was to hold council -of-war.-
tNow, Mary, my love- said |, flIere we are. We
Lave next TO nothing, and we have everything TO
get, and no body but ourselves to help ourSelveS'
| 'We found that we could on an average, earn
eight dol;aIs week. We de ermned to live rs
ctIeaply as possible. save all we could, and make
/ u
Our iuel, light. water-rent, and some other lit
tie mates, dollar more. We have allow ed the
same amount for our clothing, and buying the
best things and kecpiRg them carefully, dress
well enough for that: Even my wife is satisfied
with her wardrobe, and finds that raw silk, at six
lShillings yard, is cheaper in the long rum than
calico at shilling. That makes three dollars
week, and we had still oar living 10 pay for. That
cost us, with three family lust one do liar
week more.'
'One dollar pece7'
tNo-one dollar for all. You seem surprised;
bnt we have reckoned it over. 1t costs more al
| first but now we have learned to live both better
aud cheaper-so that we have clear surplus of
four dollars week, after paying all exp nses of
rent, fire, light, clothing and lood do not count
out Injuries, such as an evening at the theatre,
concert or a little treat 10 our friends, when we
give party
know smile came over my face for he con
tnued:
Eyes, give party, and we have some pleasant
ones, assure you. Sometimes have dozen
guests which Is quite enough for comfort, and our
treat of chocolate cakes, blanc ange, &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 bank
| Il see it ALL said /, 'al but the living Many
a mechanic spends more than that for cigars, to
say nothing of liquor Pray tell me precisely how
| y0 live
with pleasure. First of all, then, smoke no
cigars, ami chew no tobacco, and Mary takes no
snuff
| He-e the pleasant smile came in, but there was
no interruption; for Mary seemed to think her
husband knew what he about, and could talk
without her aid.
q have not drank glass of liquor since the day
| was married, except glass OF wine about four
times year. ON Christmas. New Years, Fourth of
July, and Willies birthday. The last is our es.
pecia holiday. have read enough of physiology
to make up my mind that tea and coffee contained
no nutrment, and were poisonous beside; and
tried vegetable diet long enough to like it better
than mixed one, and to find that it agreed with
me letter, and rs we have read and experiment. ed
together, of course, Mary thinks as do
| 'But what do you eat and drink?' L asked, Gu
rlous to see how far this sef-tanght philosopher
| had progressed in the laws of health. f7s,
Come this way, and will show you,' he said,
taking light, and leading the way into q cana
clous slore-loosn. tHere, first of ALL is MILL
| which cost me twelve ShiiingS. 1t grinds i my
grain, gives me the freshest and most beautiful
NEAL and saves toll and profits This is barrel of
wheat, buy the best, and am that it is clean
and good, 1t costs me less than three cents a
pound, and pound of wheat, you know, is C
nough for any man. We make it into bread, mush
pies and cakes. Here is barrel of potatoes. This
is homlny. Here some beans, box of rice
tapioca, macaroni. Here is barrel OF apples the
hest can find i'll Fulton Market. Here is box
oil sugar, and this is our hutter-jar. We take
| quart OF country milk day; buy the rest down
town, blythe box or barrel, where can get it best
and cheapest. M king what we eat as mush or
bead, and all made of course. without boltng-
ana potatoes, or hominy or rice, the staple, you
can easily see that a dollar week for provisions,
is not only ample, but allows of healthy, but even
a luxurious variety. For the rest, we eat greens,
vegetables, fruit, and berries, in their season. In
Inc summer we have strawberries and peaches as
soon as thev are ripe and good. Mary will get a
dinner from these materials, at of shilling,
better than the whule bill of fare at the Astor'
Twas satisfied. Here was comfort, intelligence
taste and modest luxury, all enjoyed by humble
mechanic, who knew how to live at the cost have
above mentioned. How much useless complain
ing might be sayed-how much genuine happi-
ness enloyed-how much evil and suffering might