Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-08-19

sent establishment consisted of himself
and wife, their three children, Gall very
young,) an experienced servant, (who
had lived with them since their marriage)
a young girl who acted as nurse, and a
shop boy. 1t seemed to Edward out of
the question to part with one of their
three assistants, and yet there appeared
no other way of saving Mary had but
recently recovered from her last confne-
ment, and he was unwilling to distress
her with the fears that perplexed his own
mind.
1t was late one evening, when, after
having closed his shop for the night, he
entered their small sitting with a
weight on his heart and cloud on his
brow, which he could not conceal from
his wife's observant eye.
You've not we'll tonight, Edward"
she said tenderly; you look tired and
worn out
"a little tired, perhaps; but I'm quite
well" he answered, eudeavoring (but in-
effectually) to brighton up.
Veil, try and forget business and all
its cares" said Mary, cheerfully. 81
want to finish this little frock to- night !;
do come and read to mel should SO
enjoy it,"
With a somewhat melancholy smile he
at once complied with his wife's request,
and taking book from the shelf, began
to read. But the words fell mechanically
from his lips, while other and different
thoughts kept crowding into his mind.
He looked at the baby in the cradle by
Mary's side, and he remembered the two
other children who were asleep up stairs.
Here was an increasing family, and con-
sequently increasing expenses; while at
the same time he appeared to be losing
ground every day in his business.
At last his wife suddenly put her hand
on his arm, and said, Dear Edward,
what is the matter? | am sure some
thing disturbs you; do tell me all I
can bear anything better than seeing you
look so miserable without knowing the
reason"
Thus urged, Edward was at last obliged
to reveal the cause of his abstraction.
Mary attentively listened till he had
concluded, and then taking his hand, she
said affectionately, Poor, dear Edward.
you have been brooding over your trou-
bles in secret, till I can venture to say,
things appear great deal worse than
they really are You are not in debt,
you say, at presentY'
" No, thank God p replied Edward
earnestly. but then, Mary, love, if
We cannot manage to save some way. we
shall get into debt, that is, unless my
business brings in more than it does
now"
Then let us begin to save at once p
said Mary, energetically.
F" But in what way can we do so o.
asked Edward We are not living cx-
travagautiy in any respect. | cont see
at present. ia what way we can retrench :"
"Oh. I've thought of several ways
already" said Mary, smiling and looking
so hopeful and happy, that the mere
sight of her bright. animated counte-
nance raised her husbands spirits and
made him feel more sanguine than he
had done for many days past.
Then followed long conversation,
carried on in low voice. interspersed
occasionally with sigh FROM Edward
followed by encouraging words from his
wife
Next morning Mary rose full of her
! new plans for saving and economizing
Her youngest child was only six months
old. the next could just run alone, and
the eldest was four years of age. They
made plenty of work, as Mary knew very
well but she determined, 10 the present
state of affairs, to discharge the girl who
had acted as nurse, and to manage with
one servant! This vas no sooner deter
mined than acted upon, though Edward
earnestly demonstrated against it in very
strong terms. telling his wife that she
was undertaking too much-that she
would overdo herself, and he laid up. $3.50
But Mary pleasantly combatted all his
fears by telling him that exercise always
agreed with her, and that it would be no
hardship to her to wait upon her own
children.
In day or two. Edward discovered
that Tom, the shop boy, was of very lit
tie use to him; that during the greater
part of the day he was idle, and, there
fore, was in mischief. He was accor-
dinghy installed in similar situation.
which Edward easily procured for him at
a neighbering grocer's and thus two con-
siderable items we're subtracted from the
weekly expenditure.
Mary seemed at no loss TO discover
ways and means to lessen the general ex
penses, and bore her extra amount of
work so cheerfully and mplainingly
that her husband loved her better than
ever. When he was obliged CAS- occa-
sionally he was) TO leave the shop for a
short time, Mary was always ready to
take his place, and with pleasant manner
and active hand to wait upon the custom.
ers. And during all this time the house.
hold affairs we're carried on with az much
care and regularity as ever. There was
nothing like disorder or neglect, but all
was 10 its place, and everything done
at the right time.
IL can't think how you manage, said
Edward, one day, when be came into the
neat sitting-room and set down to COM
fortably dressed dinner, at time when
no knew Mary was in the midst Of a
large wash,
"God helps me-" said Mary, kissing