Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-10-31

march of Improvement, and his pasture
and moving lots laid out into house lots.
As ii was, he still. from the force of hab
il, improved few acres, kept couple
of COWS, 'henery,' and dozen of pigs.
Charles Converse found this proximity
TO The 'old folks at home, rather salts
factory. in a pecuniary, as well as social
point of view, for his larder was partly
stocked from the farm and, of course,
no account was ever made of half
pig, barrel of apples or potatoes, or
pair of chickens. Milk and eggs were
SO much fresher and better from pas
that of course the young couple never de-
sired to obtain them from any other
source.
They lived cheaply, and lived in clo
yer besides. Charles never liked to talk
about financial matters with pa, be-
cause the worthy old gentleman used to
tell him how he lived on hundred and
fifty dollars d year, after he was married
though the had fat salary, and sup
posed, of course, that he saved four hun
dred dollars year out of it-and al
ways wound up by saying that he would
give him house and lot-might take
his pick of all he owned when ever he
got ready to build.
All these things worked upon Charles
Converse. He hadn't saved dollar,
and what was more there was no pros
pect that ne ever would do SO. The
promised advance his salary was al
ready appropriated to sundry luxuries.
The idea of taking Mary to the opera,
or pleasure trip to Niagara, and other
amiabilities, had taken possession of him.
But the reasoning of his wife had
produced strong impression upon his
mind. She had been brought up in the
strictest habits of economy. Her father,
though rich, had an army of children
but they were all wealthy in their thrift
ty habits.
Charles read over and over again the
circular of the saving bank in the course
of the evening figured up the statistics,
and wondered what had become of that
two hundred and sixty eight collars.
But before he went to bed, he had
matured resolution, though he did not
say a word to his wife about it.
CHAPTER IL.
The next day, Charl S Converse re-
ceived quarters salary, and his first
step after receiving it was to visit the
Peoples Savings Bank, where he depos~
tied fifty dollars.
But the hundred and fifty which he
had left, burned in his pockets. It was
all he had to carry him through the en-
suing three months. There were dozen
little things that he wanted and dozen
big ones, too, for that matter. A ainst
the latter he resOlutely set his face,
though, in consideration of the fact that
his salary would be thousand dollars
year after the next pay day, he had
week before made up his mifd 10 have
them.
Among other things, his cigar case
was empty, and he stepped into Sevey's;
in Congress Street, to have it replemisb-
ed. Cigars were great luxury fact
necessity to him in his opinion.
The gentlemanly proprietor of the es-
tablishment placed box of fragrant rolls
upon the counter.
Something new,' said he.
Charles took up handful and smelt
them.
Best cigars in the market, continued
the vender.
'Tip-top,' replied Charles, inhaling
the grateful odor. How do you sell
them p
-Four cents apiece
Six of them were transferred to the
case, quarter thrown, and, as it was not
magnanimous to pick up a copper's
change, he walked out of the store. But
then, little fellow inside OF him emed
to say
Charles you can't afford 10 smoke
such cigars az those. They will hardly
last You two days. If you must smoke,
buy cheaper cigar than that. You will
not be able to build house in ten years
at this rate
He did not pay much attention to the
monitorial voice, however, and as he
passed along, he drank sherry cobbler
himself and paid for three friends. who
he could not help asking 10 drink with him
at Burton's.'
At Yenton's Charlotte Russo was
disposed of, and so on TO the end of the
chapter. And these were his daily hab
its. 1t was onl ly ninepence or quar-
ter at time, and these sums were so lu-
dicrously small, that they never caused
him a thought. The idea that they alb
sorbed any considerable portion of his
salary, never occurred to him He had
always gratifed his appetite or inclina.
lion in these trifing matters. as they
seemed To him. and they had come to be
regarded as necessities.
Still, Charles Converse had turned
over new leaf. He refrained from pur-
chasing great many articles which he
had intended to get when he received his
quarters salary, and as he seated HIM