Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-09-27

HI 10 uOI oCunOtu y Wnioh many Onii loo'
think that to hire half of John Niles
pew would be source of economy in
comfort and lasting good. 1t would be
FIVE dollars laid out to good advantage
sure to return heavy interest to US and
our children And / think it might be a
source Of great saving toput upa good
gate at the back"
"Stopp' interrupted Walter, with a
nervous motion. you've said enough
about this. know my means" e'
.'Let me say one word" /" urged Maria.
There was an, earnestness in her tone
which caused her husband to stop and lis
ten. "lf you will give me FIVE dollars a
week Twill agree 10 furnish all the proyisr
lions for.the ahousahpldNa inthafnyneli
and children. / will do this for one year.
That will leave you three hundred and
sixty dollars with which to clothe your
self aud make your payment on the house.
On the house you have only to pay hun
dred dollars with interest for two years,
which will leave you a hundred and forty
eight dollars for your clothes and-other
egpenseS,
Walter was upon the point Of denying
this result Of the case, but he saw upon a
moments reflection, that, from his wife's
statement, the deduction was correct.
"You canuot furnish food, and clolhe
yourself and children, for the sum you
have named" he said.
Thereupon Maria sat down and made
known few facts to him that had been
hidden within the mysteries of her own
housekeeping. She was not long in prov
ing to him that during the past year, the
items of expenditure within said limits had
not averaged five dollars per week, Wal
ter said. "Pooh!" and then he added
"Nonsense!'' and then he left the house.
"There must be some mistake" he
said to himself, after he got away from the
house; and he really believed there was a
mistake. H.. a.t..-.. s.. .....ta.
"Have glass Of soda, Bill! Come Tom,
have a glass?" .. ... ....
"Don't care if I do," said Tom and
Bill. '',i .'
'"Have some, Ned?"
And Ned said yes. So the clerk pre-
pared four glasses of soda, for which Wal
ter Grey paid twenty-five cents.
"Let's have game of seven up for
the oysters said Bill, after the day
work was done. 'a n at
The game was played, and Walter lost,
so he paid dollar for four oyster sup
pers-suppers which none of them needed,
and which did them more hurt than good.
"Have cigar, Walter?' said Tom.
Walter said yes, and in return paid for
four glasses of ale.
One evening they met, and Ned pro-
posed to play for the chowder.
"Come John, won't you come in?" he
said addressing John Niles, who stood by.
"No, guess not" was Johns reply.
you'd better; it's only for the chow
der--for FIVE if you come in"
II can't" ' " '''
"It's no use to ask him." spoke Walter
IN rather sarcastic tone. "f1e don't
spend his money in that way
"John's face flushed, and his lips trem-
bled, but he restrained the biting words
which were struggling upon his tongue,
and he turned aud left the shop.
"He's mean fellow" said Tom, loud
epough for Niles to hear.
"Tight as the bark to tree," added
Walter, in tone equally loud.
John Niles heard the remarks, but he
did not come back. a -H
The four remaining men "tossed up, !"
and the lot fell upon Walter, who paid
four shillings for the chowder.
Walter started for home about nine
O'Clock, and on his way be was overtaken
by Niles. - aa
"Walter," said the latter, in kind but
earnest tone, IL want to speak with you.
You haye wronged me this evening, and
| wish you to understand me. For the
opinions of Bill Smith and Ned Francis
care not, but | do not wish you to misap-
prehend me. We live too near together,
and would not lose your good opinion"
"Well, 60 ahead" returned Walter,
who was one of the best and kindest neigh
bors in the world.
"You said was mean"
'No, no twas not who said that"
"Well, you said I was as tight as the
bark Of a tree"
Walter could not deny this, 50 John
proceeded a.} II
II refused to join you in your little
game, for three reasons, either one of
which should have been sufficient to deter
me. First, ! have resolved not to engage
in any such games of hazard Second,
did not want any chowder. And third,
could not have afforded to pay for five ex-
ira suppers, if the lot had fallen upon me"
"Couldn's have afforded it!' repeated
Walter, with light tingle Of unbelief IN
his tone 80 t't @.t
"No," returned the other, al could not
l used to be on hand, always, for any such
game, and thought it would be mean to
refuse, but ! have learned better. Let me
tell you how first came to see the folly
of being afraid to refuse spendidg my
money for nothing. Shall I tell your"
Certainly" returned Walter, WHO al.
ready began to see something. a
"Well," pursued Niles, zone noon. -
| was leaving home, my wife asked me
for dollar. She wanted it to buy some
cloth with l asked her if she could get
along Without it. I had only three dollars