Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-12
HOW TO EARN A HOME,
From Life Illustrated i

From Life illustrated
The other evening came home with an extra
ten-dOllsr bill in my pocket-mOney that had
earned by Out-ol- hours work The fact is, I'm
clerk in a downtown store, at a salary of
$500 per annum, and a pretty wife and baby TO
support out oft.
| suppose this income will sound amazingly
small to your two and three thousand dollar
sfiee holders, but nevertheless we cOntrive to
live very comfortably upon it. We live on one
floor Of an unpretending little house, for which
We pay $3.50 per annum, and kitty-my wife,
You II understand-dOes all her own work: SO
that We lay up neat little SUN every year
I've got balance of two or three hundred dol
lars at the savings bank, the hoard of several
years, and 1t Is astonishing how rich feel
why hothschiid himself isn't circumstance
to me-
Well, came home with my extra BILL and
showed 1t triumphantly to Kitty who Of course
was delighted with my industry and thrift
Now, my love, said l, just add this TO
our account at the bank, and with interest at
the end of the year.
Forthwith L commenced casting interest and
calculating in my brain. Kitty was silent, and
rocked the cradle musingly with her foot
I've beon thinking, Harry, she said after
moments pause, Z" that since you've got this
extra money we might afford to buy new rug
This Is getting dreadful shabby, my dear, you
must see."
and shabby enough, that was a fact
" L can get beautiful new velvet pattern
for seven dollars" resumed my wife
Nelyet-sevcn dollars :" groanedI l.
Well, then, common tufied rug like this,
would only cost three said my cautious bet
terhalf, who, seeing she couldn't carry her first
ambitious point, wisely Withdrew her guns.
That's more sensible,' said L. Well,
we II see about it,"
= And there's another thing want" con-
tinued my wife, putting her hand coa1ingly on
my shoulder, q" and it's not at all extravagant
either
"What is it ?'' I asked. softening rapidIy.
Il saw such a lovely silk dress. pattern on
Canal street, this morning, and can get it for
SIX dOllsrs-Only six dollars Harry, It's the
cheapest thing ever saw
But haven't You got 4 very pretty green
silk dress
That old thing! Why. Harry, I've worn
1t ever since we've been married -
. Il il sOiled. or ragged 9''
No, OF course; but who wants to wear the
same green dress forever! Everybody knows
it is the only silk have
Well, what then p
That's just mans question, pouted Kit
~. And L suppose You have not observed
how old fashioned my bonnet is getting,''
Why, thought it looked very neat and
tasteful since you put on that black velvet
winter trimming"
"Of cOurse-you men have no taste in such
matters
We were silent for a moment. I'm afraid We
both felt a little cross and out of humor with
one another. In fact, on my journey home L
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 furtherng that purpose. Saving.-
bank reflections had come later
As We sat before our fire. each wrappad 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.
want you to congratulate me, he said,
taxing seat. have purchased that little
cottage out Oh the Bloomington road to-day
What that beautiful little wooden cottage
with the piazza and lawn, and fruit garden be-
hind ,' exclaimed Kitty. almost cnviously.
Is it possible p L cried. A little cottage
home of my own, just like that had often ad-
mlred on the Bloomngdale road, had always
been the one crOwnng ambition of my life-a
distant and almost hopeless point, but no less
earnestly desired.
Why, Wilmot,' said l, :: how did this han
pen You've only been in business eight or
ten years longer than /, at a salary but trAe
larger than mine yet could as soon buy up
The mint as purchase cottage like that -
Well, said my neighbOr, I'VE have all
been working to this end for years NY wife
has darned, patched, mended, and saysJ-we
have lived on plain fare, and done with the
cheapest things But the magic charm of the
whole affair was that we laid aside every pepny
that was not needed by actual positive want
les, have seen my wife lay By red coppers
one by one +"
Well, you are lucky fellow said with
sigh
- 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 a moder-
ate price. SO you see that even hard times
have helped me-
When our neishbor was gone, Kitty and
looked meaningly at one another
Harry said she, - the rug isn't 30 bad
after all, and my green silk will do for a year
longer, with care
. And silver watch is quite as good for all
practical purposes as a gold repeater" said |.
We will set aside all imaginary wants"
The ten-dollar bill must 90 to the bank. -
said Kitty, - and I'll economic the copDe-s
just as Mrs. Wilmot did. o. how happy she
will be among the roses in that cottage garden
next spring.
Our merry tea-kettle sung US a cheerful little
song over the glowing fire that night and the
burden was, Economy and home of your
own, amid the roses and the country air.
HARRY CLOVER