The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-10-30
"Can't Afford It."
A SKETCH or EVERYDAY LIFE.
M hYLVANUa conn, IN
oCan't afford Il, Maria"


oCant afford Il, Maria"
"But YOU might II you would only think
30, Walter" plead the young wife.
"l can't do IT," the husband returned, very
emphnticully. "lt would cost two or three
dollars, at The very lowest, 10 put up such n
gate aud the old bars will answer every pur-
pose
mo, they won't, Walter. The neighbour
children very oiten leave the bars down, and
then stray cattle come into the garden. We
may lose more than the price Of gate in one
hour, Il COW should happen to get In when
! am away
81 should like to know Vho leaves the bars
DOWN said Walter, very threateningy.-
"'lhe tamc children mightleaye gate open" 4"
"liut We can have gate made 10 close Of
is own accord, with n weight or a spNng."
l.suggea,ed the wife, "Johp Niles has had a
gate put up IN his yard
"llut / nin't John Niles, my dear" Walter
wished his wife Co remember.
"But his family il ms large ns yours, aud
his wages are not 30 high"
"Ne,er mind about that. / tell you can't
afford it,-at any rate, not at present" And
with this Walter started of for his work.
Walter Graz was Young man, about thir-
~ an industrious mechanic had been mar
ricd some eight years and had an interesting
family. lie meant to provide well for those
who depended upon him, and in measure
he did 10. hut there we're many little com
forts Of which be felt obliged TO deprive them
Comforts which at times they really needed,
atd 1hieA, 10 thH-oI,d, w.ighi- have proved -
sourcu Of saving. And more too; Il might
have added to his own happiness had he felt
able to grant these little requests. But he
couldn't afford iti--at loasi, so hn thought :
and whether he thought so with sound judg.
mcnl the sequel will show.
Tho gate which his wife had beon so npN-
ious to have put up was needed az the en-.
trance TO the garden bach, of the house, " here
there was only pair Of short bars. The
children often came through there, and some
timcs lcft the way open behind them. la
short, there we're many ways in which those
bars were apt to be left down, and Maria
Gray had very often to leave her work Ia
drive out cattiU that got fTi=t.= sa= eHly -hs
extreme watchiulness on her part that the
garden was preserved. She had spoken sew
cral times 10 her husband about il, but he
felt that he couldn't afford IL. She must keep
her ewes upon the spot, and see that the bars
were kept shut
Only few days after this Mrs. Gray asked
her husband il he was going to hire pew in
the church for the following year, and hc told
her that he did not think he should.
But you can hire half of one. We can
have half Of Mr. Niics's pew for five dollars. -
81 can't afford it, was Walters reply. 81
should get no great good from the meetings,
any way"
"Don't say so, husband. Suppose every
body should feel like that. You certainly
wouldn'; wish to live, and bring up your
childten, where there was no religious iniiu-
cncc, And if yuu reap the benefits of good
christian institutions, you certainly onght TO
feel willing to help support them.
so ! would be willing, if could afford it !
but can't"
Mrs Gray looked very serious, and dkcrmcd
to hesitate, as though there were a subject
upon her mind, which she felt delicate about
hroachingi but it had occupied her thoughts
too long, and she determined to let it olt.
"WNltcr," she said, a little trcmulous, hut
still resoluteiy, you have ten dollars a week"
AYES"
"And how much Of that does it take to feed
us P"
al don't know, I'm sure. I only know that
il takes il all TO feed and cothe us and pay
up the interest on the house."
81 havn't had n new dress since last Fall /;
and ! wos reckoning up yesterday how much
we had spent for the children, and found il
to be only fifteen dollars for the last ten
months. | have worked over some of fcousin
Johns clothes for Charles, and Lucinda jumps
into Mary's dresses as the latter outgrows
them
"That's oil very we'll" replied Walter n
little testify. 81 understand my own business
and know Just what can afford and what
can't. While have the payments to make
on my house must economize-I must eeono-
mice he repeated, very decidedly.
"Aud | would have you economize," return
ed the wife "but do not forget that all is not
economy which many call so. l think that
20 hire half of John Niles's pew would be Il
great source of economy in comfort aud last
ing good. 1t would be five dollars laid out
to good advantage-sure TO return a heavy
interest to us and our children. Aud think
il might be II source of great saving to put n
good gate up at the back"
"Stop! interrupted Walter, with ner-
vous motion. you've said enough about
this. / know my means"
"Let me say one word" urged Maria
There was an enrnesiness in her tone which
caused her husband to stop and listen. "If
you will give me five dollars a week will
agree to furnish all the provisions for the
household snd clothe myself and children.
viii do this for one year. That will leave
YOU three hundred and sixty dollars with
which to clothc yourself and make your pay
mcnt on the house. On the house YOU have
only to pay hundred dollars, with intescst
for two wears, which will leave you hundred
and forty-UighI dollars for your elethcs and
other efDeQSesP
Walter was u pom the point of denying this
result OF the case, bat he saw, upon mo.
mcnt's reflection, that from his wife's state
ment, the deduction was cosrect 40 he denied
the statement.
"You cannot furnish the food, and elotbe