Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-04-20

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The man went to the bureau, opened the
drawer, and took out some money. What
is your fee, doctor y he asked, holding the
bills so as to select one to pay me.
Now | had madeup my mind, before ]
got half way up the stairs, that would
have to wait for my pay, perhaps never
set it; but all this had changed. j could
not. as I often did enquire into the circum-
stances ofthe man, and graduate my price
accordingly. There he stood, ready to
pay me, with money enough; ,et it was
evident that he was a man, and far from
being wealthy. Nothing remained for me
but to name the lowest fee
'One dollar does not seem enough he
said, you have been at more trouble than
merely to write prescription
DO you work for aliving?' asked,
hoping to solve the mystery.
He smiled and held out his hand which
showed the unquestionable marks Of hon
est toll.
You are a mechanic % ! said, willing
to know more Of him.
Take that, said he, placing two dol
lar note in my hand, with not to be re-
fused ar, 'and l will crafty your curios-
ity; for there is no use pretending that you
are not little curious
There was hearty. respectful freedom
about this that was irresistible. I put the
note in my pocket, and the man, going to
door, opened it into a closet of moder-
ate size, and displayed the bench and tools
of a shoemaker.
You must be an extraordinary work
men, said |, looking around the room,
which seemed almost luxurious; but when
l looked at each item l found that it cost
but very little
No, nothing extra. I barely manage
to earn little over dollar a day. Mary
helps some. With the house to do
and ou, boy to look after, she earns enough
to make our wages average eight dollars
week. We began with nothing-we live
Us You see
All this comfort this respectfully. this
almost luxury for eight dollars week !
expressed my surprise.
i should be very sorry if we spent so
much, said he. I'VE have not only man.
aged to live on that, but we have some
thing laid up in the savings bank?'
will YOU have the goodness said I,
just to explain to me how you do it,
For was really anxious to know how
a shoemaker and his wife, earning but
eight dollars week, could live in COM
fort and elegance and lay up money.
with peasure,' he replied; for you
may persua 'e others, no better off than |
am, to max, the best of their situation.'
l took chair which he handed me
We were se.ted, and his wife, after listen
ing to the soft and measured breathing OF
little VIII G, sat down at her aewing.
My name, he said, is William Carter
My father died when I was bound. an ap-
preutice to shoemaker, with the usual
provision ofschooling. | did as well as
boys do genera ly a. school; and as l was
very fond of reading, l made most of my
spare time, and the advantages of the Ap-
prentices' Library. Probably the books
that hel ped me mos. were the sensible wri-
tings of William Goblet, Following his
example, determined to give myself use
ful education, AMI have to some extent
succeeded. But mans education is
lifelong process; and the more learn, the
more | see efore me.
Twas hardly out my time when I fell
in love with my Mary there, whom some
people think very pretty, but whom Iknow
to be very good
Mary looked Up with such bright, lov-
ing smile as to fully justify some people
in their notion.
When l hal been one year a journey
man, and had laid up few dollars, (for I
had strong motiveto be saving, we were
married. Iboarled at her fathers and she
bound shoes for the shop where Iworked.
We lived a few weeks at her home-the
home we wanted; so We determined to set
up housekeeping. It was rather a small
fet up, but we made it answer. I spent
a week in house-huntiug. Some were too
dear, some too shabby. AT last I found
this place. 1t is new and clean, high and
airy, AMI I thought it would do. Igct it
for fifty dollars yea", and though the rents
all around have advanced, our landlord is
satisfied with that, or takes it in preference
to risking worse tenant. The place was
naked enough. and we had little to put in
fut ourselves; but we went cheerfully to
work, earned all we coul and you see
the result
Il sec; but Iconfess I DO not under
stand it., sail |; willing to hear him ex-
plain the economies of this modest and
beautiful home.
Well, it is simple enough. When Ma
ry and l moved ourselves here, and took
p session, with table, two chairs, q cook
owe. saucepan or two, and cot bed,
with straw mattrass, the first thing we did
was to hold council of war. Now Ma
Nv, my love- said l, we have next to
nothing and we have everything to get, and
no ody but ourselves to help ourselves
I'VE found that we could earn, on an
average, eight dollars week. We deter
mined to live as cheaply as possible, save
all we could, and make ourselves home.
Our rent was dollar week, our fuel,
light water rent, and some little matters
dollar more. We have allowed the same
amount for our clothing; and by buying
the best things, and keeping them careful
ly, we dressed well enough for that, Even
my wife is satisfied with her wardrobe and
finds that raw silk at six shillings yald
is cheaper in the long run than calico at
one shilling. That makes three dollars q
.,.ool- o,,l ], od <,,.. Ill.,. 49,.