The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-01-10
addressing John Niles, who stood by.

81 can't"
ats of no use to ask him." spoke Walter
rather sarcastic tone. ale don't spend h
money in that way"
Johns face flushed, and his lips trembled
but he restrained the biting words which wer
struggling upon his tongue, and turned and lei
the shop.
"Hc's mcantelow," cried Tom, loud cnoug
for Niles to hear.
flight as the bark of trcc," added Walter
in tone equally loud.
John Niles heard the remarks, but he did no
come back.
The four remaining men "tossed up" an,
the lot fell upon Walter and Tom. Then the,
tossed it off," and it fell upon Walter, whC
paid four shlings for the grog
Walter started for home about nine oclocl,
and on tic way he was overtakcn by Miles,
"Waltcr," said the latter, in kind but earn
est tone, 81 want to speak with you. Yor
have wrongcd me this evening, and l wish yor
to understand Inc. For the opinions of Bill
Smith or Ned Francis care not, but do moi
wish you to miSapprehcnd me. We live toe
near together, and would not lose your good
opinion.'
'"WclI, 90 ahead" returned Walter, who was
sensible Of the fact that his companion was ono
of the best and kindest ncighbors in the world
"lou said was mcan."
"No, no; twas not who said that"
"Wcll YOU said was tight as the bark of q
trcci"
Walter could not deny this, so John proceed.
ed.
81 refused to join you in your little game fol
three reasons either one of which should have
been sufficient to deter me: First, l lad re,
solved not to engage in any such games of
hazard second, | did not want any grog; and
third, could not have afforded to pay for five
extra suppcrs if the lot had fallen upon me-"
couldn't have afforded itl repeated Wal
ter, with slight tugc of unbcicf in his tone
NO." rcsnrned the other, 81 could not. l
used to he always ready for any such game,
and | thought 'twouId be mean to refuse; but
| have learned better. Let inc tell you how I
first came to sec the folly Of being afraid to
spend my money for nothing. Shall / tell
You %
"Ccrtainly," returned Walter who already
began to see Somethimg.
"WelI," pursued Miles, zone noon, as l was
going away from home, my wife asked me for
five sllllings. She wanted to buy some cloth
with it. ] asked hcrif she could not get along
without it. l had only fifteen shillngs with
me, and hated to let one Of them 90. She said
she really needed the cloth; but, if | hadn't got
the money to spare, she could wait. | knew
she was disappointed, but l thought she could
get along, and Iwent away. That evening I
vent into the saloon, and we had fine social
ims: It cost. me Just seysa JaHH9d1-sixpenee
81 objection, and then went home. Will
entered the hall, heard my wife trying to
pacify our eldest chd-thc little thing had ex-
pIcctcd a new dress, which had been promised
her. and she felt badly because she had not got
it.
await" urged my wife, as the child sobbed
in her disappointment. "Papa hasn't got the
money now he'll have some by-and-by, and
then You shall have a'prctty dress. Poor papa
has to work hard"
"The words smotc me to the heart /
could not afford five shillings to dress my little
child, but | could afford any amount for the
useless entertainment Of others! The crown
which nv needy wife could not get when she
asked for it, paid away, almost twice fold, toI
nothing. But it taught me lesson. l open
ed nv eyes, and have kept them open. On
the very next morning I afforded my wife the
crown, but could not afford any more for tht
bccr-man. | had not dreamed how much
was wasting; but when | stopped up that leak
and allowed my funds to flow into their proper
channel. soon found that Icould afford every
reasonable comfort my wife and children need
ed. So stick to The principle which ha
proved 50 beneficial to myself and family. All
what's that? There's an animal in your gar
den. Walter"
They had reached the garden-fcncc, and, b.
the dim starlight, Walter could sec horne'
beast tyampIing among lis sweet corn. TIN
bars had been either LETT down or hooked dow
and i stray cow had got in. They drove he
out, and then Niles went home. Walter say
that the beast had done considerable damage
but he was not angry, for he had something
more Importance to think Of He went an
sat down beneath an applc-trcc, and ponderct
"Bess Inc if he hasn't put the case dow
about square !" he said to himself, at the en-
Of some minutes of meditation. "Lct me see,
he pursued; "thcrc's five sbillings for spirits
four and-twopcncc for alc-tour ard twopcnc
for soda.-And that's within the last tlrc
DAYS. Thirtccn-and toul-pcnce Is 1t possible
Over twenty-five pounds Il year! And yet
can't afford ten shlings for gate, not
guinea that my family may receive religion
Instruction for year .-Watcr Gray thin
you Ind better turn orcr a ncw tcg.".
And Walter Gray did turn over a new lea
On the very next day he didtwo things, there
by astonishing two parties. lie had a he
ratc made for the entrance to the garden, an
thereby astonishing his wife and he r.
fused to " toss up" for the ale, and thcreb
astonishcd crowd Of cxpcctant thirsty one
For month he pursued this course, and b
the expiration Of that time he could fully a.
prcciatc the new blessings that were dawnir
upon him. lie discovered that he could atfol
everything which the comfort Of his fam
demanded; and in arriving at this result, he ia
only to rcinquish those things which he real
could not afford. 1t wasa wonder to him how
could have been so foolish. When, at the or
of the year, he had paid his note, and h'
twenty pounds left, hc felt at first as thoug il the
must bo some mistake, but when his wi
went over their household expenditure wit
him, and showed him that all they had needle
had been bought and paid for, he saw just ho
it was. lie saw that for years he had bet
wasting his substance, and dcpriving hims!
and loved ones of the comforts they needed
not Intentionally, but through the same mistal
that leads thousands in the same course. Is
he did so 10 more.
Sometimes, even now, Walter Gray says,
CuuL afford IT," and then he says it cmpha