The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-08-26

earn little over dollar day. Mary help
some. With the housework 20 do. and ou
boy to look after, she earns enough to max,
our wages average eight dollars a week. w,
began with nothing-we live Us you see.'
All this comfort, this responsibility, thi
almost luxury, for eight dollarsa weekl ex
pressed my surprise.
| Il should be very sorry if we spent so much,
said he. we have not only managed to live
on that, but we have something laid up in the
savings bank
will you have the goodness said 7, jus
to explain to me how you do itp for I wa.
really anxious to know how shoemaker and
his wife. earning but eight dollars week
could live in comfort and elegance, and lay
up money.
with pleasure he replied, 'for you may
persuade others, no better off than am, to
make the best of their situation
took chair which he handed me. We
were seated, and his wife, after going to lis
ten to the soft and measured breathing oil
little Willie, sat down to her sewing.
MY nnme,' he said 's William Carter.
My mother died when was young, and |
was bound out apprentice to a shoemaker,
with the usual provision 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 the advantages
of the Apprentices Library. Probably the
books that helped me most were the sensi-
Bile writings of William Cobbett. Following
his exampl-, determined to give myself "a
useful education, and have to some extent
succeeded. But mans education is life
long process; and the more learn, the more
see before me.
Il was hardly out OF my time when I fell
in love with my Mary there, whom some peo-
pie 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 l had been one year a journeymln
and had laid up few dollars, ('or l had a
strong motive to be saving) we wer married
[ boarded at her fathers aud she bound shoes
for the shop where | worked. We lived
few weeks at her home; but it was not our
home--the home we wanted; So we determi-
ned to set up housekeeping. 1t was rather
a small up, but we made it answer. |
spent week in house-hunting. Some were
t 70 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
ilty dollars year; and thong the rents all
around have advanced. our landlord is satisfied
with that, or takes it in preference to rskng
a worse tenant. The place was max ID enough,
and we had little to put in it save ourselves;
but we went cheeriully to work, earned all we
could, saved all we could--and you see the
result
Il see; but confess do net understand
itp said Il willing to hear him explain the
economies of this modest and beautiful
home.
We'll, it is simple enough. When Mary
and moved ourselves here. and took possess
stove saucepan or two, and cot bed, with
straw mattress, the first thing we did was to
hold a council of war. Nov, 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
'We found that we could earn, on an av-
erage, eight dollars week. We determi-
ned to live as cheaply as possible, save all
we could, and make ourselves home. Our.
rent was a dollar n week-our fuel, light,
water rent, and some little matters, liar
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 sat-
isfied with her wardrobe, and finds that raw
silk at sxshllings yard is cheaper in tie ong
run than calico ut one shilling. That makes
living to pay for. That costs us, with three
in the family, just one dollar week
more
'One dollar piecep
.No--one dollar for all. You seem sur
prised, but we have reckoned il over and
over. 1t cost 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, water, clothing, and food. do
not count luxuries, such as an evening at the
theatre, concert, or a treat to our trends
when we give party"
know "a smile came over my face, for he
continued:
'Yes, give party; and we have some pleas
ant ones Iassure you. Sometimes we have
a dozen guests, which is quite enough for
comfort, aud our treat of chocolate, cakes
blanc mango, &c, costs as much, as two dol
ars; but this is not very often. Out of oul
surplus-which comes, you see to two hundred
dollars "A year-we have bought all you see
and have money in the bank
! Il see it ALL said I, all but the living
| Many a mechanic spends more than that fol
segars, to say nothing of liquor. Pray tel
me precisely how you Iive.'
with pleasure. First of all then, smoke
no segars, and chew no tobacco, and Mar.
takes no snuff
Here the pleasant smile came in, but ther
was no interruption, Mary seemed to thin
her husband knew what he was about, an
could talk very well without her aid.
Il have not drank glass of liquor sine
the day was married. except glass ofwin
about four times year, on Christmas, Ne'
Years, Fourth OF July, and Wille's brit
day. The last is our special holiday. ha
2 raad enouph of Dhysil OpOy to make up IN