The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30

may as we'll mention in this connection
that he was cashier of bank, and as his
duties occupied him only few hours in the
day, he was more likely, from the leisure
which he enjoyed, to indulge in small ex.
pehses. ,r tas{s ss
4 my wife is an enthusiast" thoneht he
as he was walking down town. "However
her hobby won't cost much, so l might as
well indulge her in it,
He slept into store and, obtained bis
daily allowance Of cigars.
Meanwhile Mrs. Stetson proceeded to the
shop Of a cabinet maker.
81 want you," said she, "to make me o
mahogany box, twelve inches long, the other
dimensions being fonr inches each. In the
center of the top is to be a slit, large enough
to admit the largest silver coin"
"Amoney box" said the cabinet-maker.
"Yes." s3
"Pretty large for that, isn't it p
Rather" said Mrs. Stetson, smiling ;
"but better too large than too small"
John St,tson fell in with a companion in
the afternoon, with whom he had a social
chat. As they were walking leisnrely along,
they passed an oyster salood.
Stetson was particularly fond of the BIZ
valves, and he proposed that they should go
in and take some.
To this his friend did not demur, and
they accordingly entered. Two plates were
ordered, which came to twenty-five cents
Besides this, they took glass of ale each,
which made twelve cents more. This bro't
the bill up to thirty-seven cents, which Stet-
son paid. Accordingly, adding to this twelve
cents for cigars. he deposited forty mine cents
in his wife's hand that evening
81 might as well make it fifty" he said,
smiling.
"No," said she, ''not cent over. want
the savings to represent exactly what you
spend on these little luxuries, and no more.
The next evening he had nothing to de-
posit except the usual amount for cigars.
ut won't 'tmount up very fast at that rate ;
said he triumphantly.
Never mind," said his wife 81 don't
" ant you to increase your expenditures on
my account. am inclined to think that
they will not be often as small as this"
She was glad.
The next day, being Wednesday, John
Stetson brought home couple of tickets for
the theatre. twas benefit night, and he
was anxious that his wife should 60.
Certainly said she, Il shall be glad to
go but you remember our compact,
"What ?"
"How much did you pay for the tickets ~
"Fifty cents apiece"
"That will make dollar. Please hand
me that amount for our fund"
"Was the theatre included 2" said John, a
little reluctantly.
Certainly That was expressly men
toned"
"Oh, well, then, so let it be. Here is a
silver dollar"
The dollar was at once dropped into tie
box.
The next day, in passing shop window,
Stetson noticed some fine oranges
"Just what Mary and the children would
like" thought he. "I'll go and inquire the
price"
They were four cents apiece He bought
half-a-dozen, at cost ola quarter, which,
with his cigar money, left him thirty seven
cents to deposit.
The succeeding day he spent nothing, ex-
cept for cigars. On Saturday he stepped
into confectionery establishment with a
friend, and had . lunch. This brought that
day's account up to forty cents.
When his wife added UP the daily sums,
she found, to her own surprise even, that
she had received from her husband two dol.
lars and sixtystwo cents. He wolld have
been astonished to hear it, but she would
have all. .ed that it was special case, as
they did not go TO the theatcr every week.
This vas true but then something else was
sure to come of equivalent cost, such as q
ride or concert.
So time slipped away. The necessity, ac-
cording to the compact, Of giving his wife
as much as he spent for incidental expenses,
no doubt contributed to check him some
what, so that probably he did not spend
more than .two-thirds as much in this way
as he had done before the agreement. Still
he kept up the average Of the first week.
We will now suppose the year to have
glided by. John Stetson came into the sit.
ting-roam with preoccupied air.
What are yaq thinking aoeqts' asked
his wife.
About the half facre lot adjoining the one
Holmes bought last year"
"Do you wish to purchase it :"
Homes paid hundred dollars for his. .
This is on some accounts preferable, and
they hold it at one hundred and twenty Ave
dollars.a aff
perhaps yon GOULD raise the money, John
said his wife, quietly.
by borrowing. | shouldn't want to that
You remember our fund :. es.,
"Pshaw That may possibly amount tt
thirty or forty dollars.n .ss ..S y
Suppose we c,unt it, as The year is nI
to. day p fr es 4. !.
Every well" ,1 t.ae ms .ss.5,