Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-17
MtsreIlanenns
WALTER GRAY's MEANS.
''Can't afford il Maria"

pe'o VIII answer every purpose" L
"No, they won't, Walter. The neighbour chill
dren very often leave tho bar, down, and then
sttaJ cattle come Into the garden. We may lose
more than the price Of the gate in a half hour, il
Q COW should happen to come in when I am
away" 4
VI should like to know who leaves the bars
down." replied Walter, very threateninglyJ "The
same children might leave a gate Open."f -a
But we can have a gate made to close Of its
accord, with q weight or a spring, " suggested
the wife. "John Niles has had q gate put up in
his yard" % at1 'r-l %
"But I amt John Niles, my DEAR" Walter
wished his wife to remember. -t4f
'But his family is as large as yours, and his
wages are not so high -sssq
Never mind about that l tell you I can't Of
ford it-at any rate not at present." And with
this, Walter started off for his work. a7-.
Walter Gray wasa young man, about thirty.
an Industrious mechanic had been married some
eight years, and had an interesting family. He
meant to provide we'll for those who depended
upon him, and in a measure be did So. But there
were many little comforts Of which he felt obliged
to deprive them-comforts which at times they re-
ally needed, and which in the end might have prov
cd a source of saving. And more, too it might
have added to his own happiness, had he been
able to grant these little requests: But he could
MT afford it-at least, so he thought; and whether
he thought so with sound judgment, the sequel
The gate which his wife had been go anxious to
have put up was needed at the entrance to the gar
den, at the back of the house, where .heie was
only o short pair Of bars. The children often
came through there, and sometimes left the way
open behind them. In short, there we're many
ways in which those bars were aptt to be left down.,
and Maria Gray had very often to leave her work
to, drive out the cattle that got in. 1t was only
by extreme watehfulness on her part the garden
was preserved. She had spoken several times TO
her husband about it, but he felt that he could
not afford it. She must keep her eyes upon the
spet and see that the bars were kept shut.
only.a few days after this, Mrs. Gray asked
her husband it be was going to hire o pew in the
ohnrch for the following year, and be told her that
be did notfi ink he should. -e,loG r--aEf-|
di'But you can hire half of one. We can have
half Of Mr.. Niles pow for five dollars" .g.s.sl
II can't afford it," was Walters reply. 81
should get no great good from meetings, any
way" U1-fg 81 r rr
"Don'tssay SO, husband. Suppose everybody
should feel like that. You certainly would not
wish to live, and bring up your children where
there was no religious influence; and if you reap
the benefit of good Christian institutions, you GER
tainly ought to feel willing to support them"
$50 I would be willing, if I could afford il, bu,
I can't. '~''sff aa o.. a'.ao g ba9t't
Mrs. Gray looked very serious, and seemed to
hssitate, as though there was a subject on her
mind which she felt delicate about bruaching bu.
it occupied her thoughts SO long sho determined
to let it out" sf, ta .i3oror-.s 4.-se4~ s.F
s,"Walter," she said, a little TREMENDOUSLY, but
still resolutely, "you have ten dollars a week. f"
s"Yes.n st' sHe i'ai .'517
-si'And, how much of that does it take to feed
us.p -ssssss-9 sHa.s-s ~ --ss.
II don't know, I'm sure. I only know that it
takes all to feed and clothe US, and pay up the in
terst on the house."
-e'i haven't had a new dress since last fall and
was reckoning up yesterday how much we had
spent for the children. and found i. to be only
!ffteen dollars for the last ten months, / have
worked over some of cousin Johns clothes for
Charles, and Lucinda jumps into Marv's dresses
as. the latter outgrows them"
d""Thafs all very well" replied Walter, a little
testify. II understand my own business, and |
know just what / can afford, and what / can't.
While | have the payments to make on my house
must economise-I must ccohomase," he repeat
ed, very decidedly.
Wand would have you economist" returned
the wife; 'but do not forget that all is not econ
omy which many call SO. I think that to hire
half of John Niles pew would be a source of
economy IN comfort and lasting good. 1t would
be i've dollars laid out to good advantage-sure to
return a heavy interest to US and our children.
Ana think it might be a source of great saving
to.put up a good gate at the back"
Stop interrupted Walter, with a nervous
motion. You've said enough about this. l know
my means"
sILet me say one word" urged Maria. There
wes an earnestness in her tone which caused her
husband to stop aud listen. ''If you will give me
five dollars a week will agree to furnish all the !
provisions for the household, and clothe nv
felf and children. : will DO this for one year.
That will leave you three hundred and sixty dol :
lars with which to clothe yourself and make your 4;
payment on the house. On the house YOU have :
only topay a hundred dollars with interest for two y
years. which will leave you a hundred and forty- .
eight dollars for your clothes and-othey er,en. n
ses. rtE |,
walter was upon the point Of denying this re-
sais Of the case, but be saw upon a moments re- j.
hection' that, from his wife's statement, the deduc- !.
tion was correct .-r "
"You cannot furnish food, and clotbe vou,sslfl !;
ana children, for the sum you have named" he 4,
said" y
ihereupon Maria sat down and made known aI,
10" iac's 10 MN that had been hidden within the @
m~ysterieso Of her own hoose-keeping She NOS 40, =
long 10 proving 10 him that dnr;nSs. ~ u