Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-10-13

around. The first bill paid was the rent,
which amounted to thirty -one dollars The
next was the butchers bill, which came to
thirty-six dollars. Charles was aslonished
TO see how the meat bill footed up. But
when he saw how many steaks he had had
at seventeen cents per pound the cause Of
wonder was al an nend. Next he paid the
bakers bill, which was thirteen dollars =
When he came home in the evening he had
paid all his bills except the grocery bill
"Mr. Waldron sent in his bill to-day"
his wife said, after supper.
"Ah, did he ? let me see IT,
Hannah brought it, aud Charles looked
at it. He was astonishcdit its length, and
when he came to look at the bottom of the
column his face turned a shade pale 1t
footed up just sxty.iive dollars--an aver
age of five dollars per week!
This is impossiblel' he uttered rs he
gazcd upon it. But he examined the diff
ferent articles, and he could remember
when he ordered them Those things
which cost only dollar looked very inno-
cent when viewed alone, but in the aggre-
gate had a different appearance.
How much shall you lay up this quar-
ter, Charles? ?" kindly asked the wife, as she
came and leaned over her husbands shoul-
der, and parted the hair on his forehead
and smoothed it back
GLOW much shall | lay up?" he repeated
"Not much Get the slate and let us reck
on up" Charles was resolved to be frank
about The matter, and let his wife know ALL
The slate was brought First Hannah
put down one hundred and fifty six dollars
as the quarters wages. Then came the
rent, and the butcher, and the baker
"Now you may put down twelve dollars
for this chain-and twelve dollars for sun
dries--that means cigars, tobacco, nuts,
beer, soda, theatre tickets, and such like
things. Now take all that from my quar-
ter's wages, and see how much remains"
Hannah performed the sum, and gave
fifty-two dollars as the result.
"Fifly.two dollars'' uttered Charles,
sinking back into his chair, "and we have
not bought our articles of clothing nor Of
furniture. Fifty-two dollars with which to
pay sixty five, There is thirteen dollars
short this quarter; and had meant to SAVE
thirty, at least"
"Well it's no use 10 mourn over it."
said the wife, in cheerful tone, for she
saw that her husband felt badly "Lets
commence again. There's nothing like
trying, you know.
For some moments Charles remained ST.
lent He gazed first upon the bill he had
in his hand, then upon the figures on the
slate, and then upon the floor At last he
spoke. There was peculiar light in his
eyes and flush upon his countenance.
Hannah, see where the trouble is, and
must freely ad nit that have been wrong
lfl had paid for everything as | bought it
should not have been where now am
in pecuniary matters You were right
see it ALL have not estimated the val
ue of money as ought Let me once get up
again to where began, and will do diff
ferently. must step down to the store
this evening and pay Mr.. Waldron what
have, and the rest will pay him when l
am able"
"That matter can be easily settled" said
Hannah, with a bright, happy look. 81
have more than enough to make up the
amount Of that bill 1t is money had
when we were married. Wait moment"
Charles protested most earnestly against
taking his wfe's money, but she would lis,
ten to no argument on that subject. ii
was her will and be must submit. So he
went down and paid up the grocery bill,
and on his way home he sole his gold chain
for fourteen dollars. He felt happier when
he once more got the cd black cord about
his neck, and he had money now TO com
mence the quarter with.
On the next Monday moruing the young
man went into the meat store to send home
piece of beef for dinner.
How much will you have?" asked the
butcher.
20, three or four"
Charles got thus far and then he stop
ped. He had always been in the habit o
ordering an indefinite quantity, and leaving
the butcher to cut it off at the highest fig
ure, and charge the highest price ;and then
he remembered how much was usually was
ted.
'Let me have two pounds" he said
He stopped and saw it weighed, and ther
paid FOR it,
Wien he went home at noon he foune
that his two pounds of beef had made
enough, and there was none to waste
The next morning he went 20 the store
Mr.. Waldron had some nice figs Just come
in, which he showed. They were only :
shilling pound. For moment Charles
hesita.ed, but as he remembered that h'
had got to PAY, for AL he bought he conclu
ded mol 10 take them. He found tina
things were not so enticing when it reguir
ed cash to get them as when the paymen
could be postponed He paid for what he
bought aud went his way; and thus things
went on through the week. When il came
Saturday night he knew that all the money
in his pocket was bis own, after dedpctias
The rent That evening he went over t.
the market with Wilkins, and bought as
much meat and vegetables as he though
would last him through the week. III
found that he made saving Of at leas
twenty per cent by this operation, an,
when the opportunity offered he made th
same saving in other matters, ~,
Atthe end Of that quarter Charles Nat
thews did not have to get any slate. II
paid his house rent and found that he ha'