Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-02-22

way
o, certainly. Read me the rid
die and shall be eternally Obliged
| believe can show that there
was no need Of running up these
two bills, at least
Parker's and Greeu'si
Yes
! am all attention.
The two amount to over two
hundred dollars ?
Yes
II can show you where, during
the past SIX months, ono hundred
dollars have been spent needlessly,
in pretty round sums, will you con-
cedo that smaller sums have gone, in
the same way, to an equal amount ?
O yes; ! concede to it with
out moments hesitation.
Very well take your pencil and
set down the items as | name them
Mr.. Jones took his pencil and a
piece Of paper.
There fourteen dollars for that
pair Of vases
Mr. Jones WINGED little, hut did
not reply. The vases had been pur-
chased solely to CRAFTY his WHEAT
least he had always, in his own mind,
assumed this to be the ruse-and her
mentioning these articles first seemed
a little unkiud
And twenty-three for the pier
glass
This article Mr.. Jones had bought
at public sale, where it went off
'temptlngly low 1t proved too
wide for the pier, and rather marred
than increased the beauty of the
parlor.
Very well go on, said he, in
voice that was not over cheerful.
Six dollars for the engraving Of
franklin at the French Court, and
eight Tor the lrime--that makes four
Teen more
You are counting up pretty fast,
Mary
These are the heaviest items.
will now gather up some Of the
smaller ones
We have attended four concerts,
at a dollar ticket and had to en-
gage carriage on two of these oc-
casIons, in consequence of rain -
Twelve dollars were expended here
But we must have some recrea-
ton. Both Of us are fond of music.
True, Jacob. Yet, if we are a
mong the thousands who cannot af-
ford these Injuries, we should bear
tie prIvatIun cnCerlully.
But we certainly can afford a CON
cert nov aud then, Mary
II seems not, Jacob. At least,
we have not enJoyed these entertain
menlS during the past season with
out the penalty Of debt. While we
were paying out our dollars for mu-
SIC, we had 40 money to send to the
store for sugar and coffee. Isn'l this
so 2
Jones gave his shoulders a quick
shrug, implying forced conviction.
My beautiful pencll-case, the
glit of which | gratefully ucknowl-
edge, cost five dollars. Forgive me
for naming this /, is one of the
items. As is, also, this exquisite lit
tie breast-pIn, that lured from your
pocket The only len dollar piece 1t
conlalned at the time, aud compell-
ed me to send the pass-book again
to Green's. The old music-stooI was
a lltIle shabby; but it would have
done year or two of good service
yet. Seven dollars gave us a new
one. And six dollars went for the
tulip shades to the gas chandeler.--
How much does that count up?'
Ninety-seven dollars, replied Mr..
Jones, alter running his eyes along
the figures he had sci down.
Shall | go on ?
'No-taat will do. Wen lust
call lta round hundred, and pll con
cede the other hundred you bargain
ed Tor. So there are two hundred
dollars almost lrhed away while bills
were running up at the dry goods
store and grocery
'rhere is only one remedy, Jacob,
said his wife, firmly.
Name it.
Cash down. replied Mrs Jones.
And cash down il shall be =
said Mr.. Jones emphalically.
Not cash down for superAuiIies,
Jacob
The wan smile with which this
was SAID soolhed the slightly chafed
feelings 1t occasloned, aud Mir. Jones
answered, promptly and heartily
No, not Tor superhuities, but for
necessities The superaulIIes can
come afterwards, provided there be
anything over. Vases, mirrors, Jew
elry, concerns, and the like, must take
the place of secondaries, not prlma-
res
Hold fast 10 this, jacob, said his
companion, and | will never again
hear the words from your lips
Money is The bane Of my life
Il. 5. A.