Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-09-10
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
MIR. Bifkin's Economy.

Mr.. BNfkins Economy.
We were delighted with Bifkn's account of his sa-
wing by an economical expedent and give it in nearly
in his own words.
90 MIR. Blifkins, says my wife, our kitchen needs
painting Docs it, my dear Well, then, need it
must for assure you, Mrs Blifkns that the accruing
dimes do not warrant the outlay at present saw she
was unhappy, and knew that she would not relnquish
her point. Mr. Blifkins,' said she few days thereaf
ter Il have thought of expedient by which we can
have our kitchen painted Her face was lighted up
with expression that it too seldom wears spoke
She is great woman for expedients is Mrs Blifkins
You can do it YOURSELF continued she, touching me
with the point of her orefnger in the region of my fourth
vest button dollar saved said she still further is
as good dollar earned, you know I looked with
admiration that wonderful specimen of her sex,
she said this and allowed las the western people say)
to myself that as an economist she had no peer And
well might allow it, for at that very moment were her
shoulders covered by sort of monkey jacket made of
one OF my own worn out coats and pair of galigas
kins had assumed the form OF basque and were worn
by juvenile Blifkins.' Your suggestion says to
my wife, is good one, and tomorrow shall develop
new phase in my character. will turn artist and give
the world evidence of talent that needed but the Pro-
methean spark of necessity to draw it out. will pro-
cure pots and brushes, and Michael Angelo, Raphael,
Salvador Rosa and Claude Lorane shall yield the palm
to Bifkns' Mrs. B. was delighted. Mr.. Bit kins,'
SAID my wife, in the night, was about settling into
my solid nap, you'd better make it pale green DO
what said I, starting up forgetting all about the
painting. 'The paint replied She am afraid that
used some expression Of spleen that unworthy of
me. | turned over to sleep again. Mr. Blifkins said
my wife, don't you think the window sils would look
better some other color? ANY color you please, my
DEAR said l. but let dismiss the subject from pres
ent discussion. But was all night dreaming of my
undertaking. No roseate hues mingled with my Sleep
ing ancies raught with the odors Of celestial bowers
but paint pots were piled in pyramids about me, brush
handles, like boarding piles, encountered everywhere,
and villanous smell OF raw paint almost suocaed me.'
L was up with the lark, and after breakfast went
down to Briste, the painters, to procure my paint
That eminent professor of art mixed me two pots of the
right article of hues that of satisfactory shade
and went home with anticpatons of the most exalted
character. MIR. Blfkins' said my wife, you have
dreadfuly daubed your pants with the pant-strange
that you should be so careless" Sure enough on both
sides had bestowed impartial donations of the adherng
color. The pants were new, and had congratulated
myself on their being wonderful tit. This dis
couragement Mr.. Bfkins' said my wife, you'd bet
ter put old pair l have always boasted of my
ability to compete with anybody in the particular pro-
perty known as old clothes l knew that the decayed
fashions OF many years hung by their allotted pegs in the
closet which had been facetousy denomnated the ward
robe and FASTENED to procure the garment desired In
of all the tribes of Israel where were the bifurca
ted eguments that for years had met my view The pegs
were BARE and my first impression that they had taken
to ther own legs and walked away Mrs. Bifkns,'
said to my wife, the top OF the stairs and at the
top of my lungs, where arc the thc-garments l
heard her say something about sod and concluded that
she was trying some little trick upon me, wives some
times will, and was adopting the formula much in
vogue, for expressing it. She came up stairs. Mr..
Blifkns said she declare sold all of your old clothes
only yesterday for beautiful pair of vases and some tin
ware looked at her earnestly, but the evident calm
ness that prevailed in her breast soened and sub
dued the violence i'll mine. You'd better put on this
she said holding up an article of female apparel, the
name OF which disrcmember, but which when secured
to my waist as rccolect, fell to my feet. She smiled
as she placed it i'll my hand and | put it on. Now
shall you sec, wife of my soul said l. such work as you
can lind alone i'll the Vatican at Rome the Louvre at
Paris should you feel inclined to seek it. Here before
this door l take my stand, and here commence You
shall see Mr.. Blifkins, said my wife, don't drip it
over on the floor Never fear, said l. dipping in the
brush and soppng 1t up against the side in the most
approved form.
"My first aim was at the upper part Of the door-and
paneled door-and applied the brush vigorously
Mrs. Bhikins,' said | to my wife, as the morning is
rather cold, shouldn't you think it well to put on two
coats She took the pleasantly as an unknd refec-
tion on the disposition made Of the old Clothes and
dldn say anything. l worked away On that door Sc
verey, but found before had done it, weariness in
the wrist and cold sensation up my sleeve attracting
my attention. revealed the fact that stream of paint
was stealing along the handle of the brush up my arm
laid down the implement and went to procure some
thing with which TO VIII Off Mr.. Blifkins screamed
my wife, look at the baby looked she held that
young prodigy up to view, and much shocked. The
DaOy hau craWCu 10 Ie paint pot, and had Immersed
his two hands to the elbows Not content with this he
had laid hands on the brush and when Mrs. Blfkns
saw him. he was engaged in insane effort to get it
into his mouth. The precocity of that child is most
wonderful. The paint washed off, AMI / COM
menced again. Mr.. Blifkins, said my wife, when
had been working about two hours, with my
hands cramped, my wrist and back aching, my eyes
full of paint and my face tattooed by the same like
New Zcalander, 'are you most done? The No that
[ returned fear not pleasant All that forenoon
worked at that terrible task and at about dinner time
| saw it accomplished. Mrs. Bkins,' said l. the
work is completed; come and look and admire She
came at my request and noticed mischievous twinkle
in her eye she looked. Why Mr.. Blifkins said my
wife, you've put more paint on the paper and the car
pet than you have anywhere ese' Her criticism SEEM
ed unkind, but L looked where she had directed and
around the doors and window frames rays of paint
like the surroundings of an island map and below
were large bOtches OF paint upon the carpet that had
assumed geOmerical forms enough TO have puzzled the
judgment Of professor confess, my dear, that in
this particular have been little soveny but look at
that work. Mr.. Bilkins,' said my wife, if there is no
better painting in the whatsitsname at Rome don't
care about seeing it. The door bell here rang and ac-
who had come, and met whole bevy of ladies' and
suffered the modification of sensitive nature under
such circumstances. l here sum up the whole:
"J Bhfkins IN account ,0ith Domestic Economy"
1858 DR.. 1858 Cr.
To painting one Time and labor
room, 5 w Spentn painting, SO
| Pants spoiled in do, OO
Paint, l OO
Spelling carpet 90
Daubing wall 0O
To Balance, $25 80 Modification, 10 90
$40 30 $40 81