The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-01-31

much," said he, "we have not only man
aged to live on that but we have some-
thing laid up i'll the savings bank"
"Will you have the goodness" said ],
Just 10 explain to me how you do il z"
For | Was really anxious TO know how II
shoemaker and his wife, earning but eight
dollars u week, could live in comfort and
eIc.an"e, and lay up money.
with pleasure" lie replied "for YOU
may persuade Others, no better oil ,linu |
am, to make the best of their situation"
L took II chair which Nc handed me.
We we've seated, and his wife, after going
to listen to the soft and measured breath
ing Of little Willie, sat down TO her sew.
lug.
My nan.e," he said, as William Car
ter. My father died when WAS young,
and WAS bound ont apprentice TO II shoe
maker, with the usual pro, i>on OF school
nS. l did rs well It's boys do generally
1T school; and us WAS very fond OF read
my, made The most Of my spare time
and the advantages of the apprentices
Library, probably the books that helped
me most were the sensible writings of
William Goblet. Following his example,
| determined to give myself a useful edu-
cation, and have, to some extent, succeed
eel. But mans education is Il life long
! process; and the more learn, the NOR.
sec before me.
"l WAS hardly out Of my time when
fell III love with my Mary there, whom
some people think very pretty, but whom
| know to he very good"
Mary looked up with such bright,
loving smile as TO fully justify "sone peo-
pie" in their notion
"Wlcn had been one Year Journey
man, and had laid up few dollars, (or
| had strong motive to be savinw) we
were married. 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-,hc
home we wanted; 50 we determined to
set up house Keeping. 1t MAS rather IA
small set up, but we made it answer.
spent week i'll house hunting. Some
were too dear, some too shabby. AT last
| found this place. 1t was new and c!ean.
yht HIS qFy a8as a8A taSgsH: year "na MG thouh
the rents all around have advanced, our
landlord is satisfied with that, or takes il
i'll preference 10 risk worse tenant. The
place WIS naked enough, and we had lit
tie to put in it save ourselves; but we
went chccrtully to work, earned all we
could, saved all we could-and YOU see
the result"
Il see, but | confess do not under
| I l..
plain the economies Of this modest and
beautiful home.
"Wcll, it is simple enough. When
Mary and novel ourselves here, and
took possession, with II table, two chairs,
u cooking stove, saucepan or two, and
a cot bed, with straw mallraSs, the fist
thing we did WAS to hold Il counsel Of war.
Now, Mary, my love- said |, here we are;
we have next TO nothing, and We have
every thing to get, and nobody but our
selves 10 help ourselves
I'VE found that we could earn, on an
average, eight dollars week. We de-
termined /" live as cheGply rs possible
save all we could, and make ourselves II
home, Our rent WAS dollar Il week.
our fuel, light, water rent, and some little
matters, Il dollar more. We have allow.
ed the same amount for our cloihing and
10y buying the best things and Keeping
them carefully, we dress well enough for
that. Even my wife is satisfied with her
wardrobe, and finds that raw silk at six
shilIings y y.rd is cheaper in the long run
than calico at one shilling, that makes
three dollars, AMI We had still our living
10 pay for. That costs us, with three in
Our family, just one dollar Il wcel> more.
One dollar piece"
Come this way. and will show YOU"
he said.
"No-one dollar for alI. You seem
surprised, but We have reckuned it over
and over. 1t cost more ut first, but now
we have learned to live both better and
cheaper. So that we have clear surplus
Of four dollars week, after paying all ex.
penses of rent, fire, light, water, clothing,
and food. do not count luxuries, such
rs an evening at the theatre, concert, ol
n treat to our friends when We give par
ty."
know smile came over my face, for
he continued
"Ies, give party; and we have some
pleasant ones assure you. Sometimes
we have dozen guests, which is quite e.
, nou2h for comfort, and our treat of choc-
olatc, cakes, blanc mango, d., costs as
much as two dollars but this is not very
.ficn. Out Of our surplus--which comes
you see, to two hundred dollars year
we have bought all You see, aud have
! money in the bark"
II sec il all, said Z "all hut the living
Many mechanic spends more thsn tha
, for segars, to say nothing Of liquor. PRAY
tell me precisely how you i've"
, With pleasure. First of al, then, /
! smoke no segars, and chew no tobacco
! AMI Mary takes no snutf.p
, Here the pleasant smile came in, bu
there was no interruption. Tor Mary seem
) esl to think her husband knew what ~
WAS about and could talk very well with
o1t her aid.
. I ~ = .