Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-07-06

MJSCELL A N Y

ELL ANY.
fions Life Illustrated.
How'to Earn Home.
The other evening came home with an ex
ira ten dollar bill in my pocket-money that
had earned by out-of-doors work. The fact is
Im q clerk in down town store, at a salary o
5000 per annum, and pretty wife and baby Il
support out OF it.
suppose this income will sound amazingly
small to your three thousand dollar Office hold
ers, but nevertheless we contrive to live very
comfortably upon it. We live on one floor o
an uupreteuding little house, for which we pay
| $3.50 per annum, and Kitty, my wife, you'll un
| derstand-does all her own work; so that wt
lay up neat little sum every year. I've got
balance of two or three hundred dollars at the
savings back, the hoard of several years, and il
is astonishing how rich 1 feel Why Roths
child himself isn't circumstance to me!
Well, came home with my extra bill, ant
showed it triumphantly to Kitty, who of course
was delighted with my industry and thrift.
Now, my love- said |, Just add this to oul
account at the bank, and with interest to the
end of the year. --
Forthwith commenced casting interest and
calculating in my brain. Kitty was silent, and
rocked the cradle musingly with her foot.
I've been thinking, Harry she said, after q
moments pause, that since you've got this ex'
ira money we might afford to buy new rug
This is getting dreadful shabby, my dear, yor
must see."
l looked dolefully at the rug; it was worn and
shabby enough, that was fact.
4 can get beautiful new velvet pattern fol
seven dollars resumed my wife.
'Velvet-seven dolarsP groaned I.
well then, a common tufted rug like this
would only cost three said my cautious better
half, who, seeing she couldn't carry her first am
bilious point, wisely withdrew her guns. :
That's more sensible said |. We'll, we'll
see about it,
And there's another thing want continued
my wife, putting her hand coaxiDgly on my
shoulder, and it's not at all extravagant either.
what is it p | asked, softening rapidly.
Il saw such lovely silk dress pattern on Ca
nal street, this morning, and can get it for six
dollars-only six dollars, Harry It's the cheap
est thing ever saw
But haven't you got very pretty green silk
dress?'
THAT old thingl Why, Harry, I've worn it
ever since we've been married.
is it soled, or ragged|
No, of course but who wants to weal the
same dress forevera Everybody knows it is
the only silk have.
We'll, what then2'
That's just mans question, pouted Kitty.
And suppose you have not observed how old
fashioned my bonnet is gettingH
why, thought it looked very neat and taste
full, since you put on that black velvet winter
trimming
Of course--you men have no taste in such
matters
We were silent for moment; I'm afraid we
both felt a little cross and out OF humor with
one another. In fact on my journey home,
had entertained serious thoughts of exchanging
my old silver watch for a more modern time
piece of gold, and had mentally appropriated
the $40 to further that purpose. Savings bank
reflections had come later.
AS we sat before our fire, each wrapped in
thought our neighbor, Mr.. Wilmot, knocked at
the door He was employed at the same store
as myself, and his wife was an old family friend.
Il want you to congratulate me- he said, TAX
ing seat Il have purchased that little cot
tage out on the Bloomington road to-day"
SWhat! that beautiful little wooden cottage
with the piazzi and lawn, and fruit garden be-
hind p exclaimed Kitty, almost enviously.
rs it possible2' ] cried. A little cottage home
of my own, just like that had often admired
on the Bloomington road, had always been the
browning ambition OF my life-a distant and al
most hopeless point, but no less earnestly desired
why, Wilmot, said l. how did this happen
You've only been in business eight or ten years
longer than |, at salary but tritle larger than
mine, yet could as soon buy the mint as pur-
chase cottage like that
WELL said my neighbor, I'VE have all heer
working to this end for years. My wife has
darned, patched, menGed and saved--we have
lived on plain fare, and done with the cheapest
things. But the magic charm of the whole af
not needed by actual, positive want. Yes,
have seen my wife lay by red coppers, one by
one.'
Times are hard, you know, just now; the
owner was not what you call an economical
man, and he was glad to sell even at q moder
ate price. So you see that even hard times
have helped me'
When our neighbor was gone, Kitty and
looked meaningly at one another.
Harry said she, the rug isn't so bad after
all, and my green silk will do for year longer
with oare' 'And a silver watch is quite as gooG
for all practical purposes as 8 gold repeater,
said l. we will set aside all imaginary wants |!
The ten dollar bill must go to the bank, sait
Kitty, 'and I'll economize the coppers, just al
Mrs. Wilmot did. o, how happy she will be
among the roses in that cottage-garden mex
spring.
Our merry tea-kettle sung US cheerful little
song over the glowing fire that night, and it:
burden was Economy and home of our own
amid the roses and the country air.