The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-15
From the American Union.
A WORLD OF TROUBLE:
WHY THOMAS GOT DRUNK
By oliver OPTIC.

CHAPTER I. a
81 am so glad you have come. Ihom-
asr' exclaimed Mrs. Butler. pale. care
worn, young wife, as her husband entered
the room in which she had prepared the
evening meal. as t !h
"Why, what is the matter nolo?' ?'return-
ed the husband, laying wicked emphasis
on the word "now,'' as though he meant
,osimply that there wassalwayss something
the matter. ist1sg q uee
"Nothing. only L wanted you to bring
in pail Of water. for am so tired that
declare can hardly keep upon my feet.'
.lssfhar all9 4 did mt tknow<bat what
the baby had had a fit, or got soalded. or
something of that sort"
"No,hing OF the kind; have trouble
enough TO get along with without sickness
in the family. i feel just as though |
should die every night when get my work
done," and Mrs. Butler sighed. as she
placed the smoking tea upon the table. and
| threw herself into a chair, apparently sc
| exhausted that she could not have stood
another moment.
"You must have girl, Mary; you know
don't want you to work so hard. Ihavs
often told you so before, ''said Mr.. Butler
"a girl, indeed! Can you afford to keel
a girl, Thomas?"
s.Certainlv, Ican. | am earning twelve
dollars week now, and am sure our ex
penses are not above eight. dollarsant
a half week added To- this sum. woult
/ still leave me a handsome surplus"
sJust like you, Thomas; that is one o
your calculations"
"Certanly, that is one of my calcula
tions," replied Mr.. Butler, little tar,ly.
81 suppose you wouldn't reckon any
thing for the girls board," sneered tn
wife. 49, MOI 1H
"a mere trifle.'' a,tts sl le
!, "Every,hing is mere tride with you.
!, Thomas stuffed a half hot biscuit int
his mouth to help him keep his temper.
"And then she would waste double ne
/ wages" continued the lady. .ti4
: "Pshaw! that is an; old woman's bug
: bear" eplied Butler, impatiently.
Eyes; that's the way you always talk.
. alt is correct talk, though" c} .
3 "Girls don't waste, Isuppose2' .a
/ 81 presume they do, many Of them; b'
f you abomina ably exaggerate the amount.
U ''No, i don't, say they waste doub
h their wages" Aa es. d. H..
# .No such thing" aola
"Ask any one who has kept help. +.
"What articles do they waste to sue
!: an enormous extent" sa @ aa
O ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; an
they burn up twice as much fuel as thel
9 is any kind of need OF" s s5
J. "Twice as muchF' ave.. na
/ "Yes, tac,ce as E1uch.'
e "Let me see, and Thomas pulled out
IS bit OF paper and pencil, and went to f
e uring with all his might.
" 1--WE use three tons OF coal in six month
" Twice as much would be six tons, whi'
: would come to forty dollars, or twent
a one dollars waste. That is eighty Ger
n. week." f @
= "Clear waste!" exclaimed Mrs. Butt.
re with palpable horror depicted on her cou
Itenance. - 'Aiaia.aa2 i
"Now, allow that she wastes one h
the provisions and one half the grocerit
ne which is absurd, and she would just do
,h BILE my bills. They were ffty-two dolls
ar for the last six months. which makes
lie waste Of two dollars per week. WI
e. Mary, we have only made the waste
At. be two dollars and eighty cents, even W
nj these figures. Double her wages wo'
ke be three dollars" ast sfl a
,r. i"She would waste enough, as you wo'
mt find out. to your sorrow, if you kept ont
m added Mrs. Butler, not pleased with
he state of her side Of the argument. ..
ed "You don't believe she could waste b
Ike the fuel and stores?'
all Mrs. Butler did not believe it, but
did not like to soy so.