The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-30
SMALL SAVINGS.
A STORY FOR TIE TINES.

81 don't see how Holmes does it, said
John Stetson, with puzzled expression.
"Does what ?" asked his wife, looking up
from her sewing.
"Why, save so much money from his sala-
ry, to be sure''
"fhen he does save, does he p
''lou know the halfacrc lot adjoining his
house ~
''Yes."
swell, he has just bought it for hundred
dollars, and, what is mere, paid for it out Of
money saved from his salary this year"
"How does his salary compare with yours9'
"le has only seven hundred dollars a
year, while have eight. Then our families
are the same each Of us have two children.
Yet | am afraid that you don't save near
that amount"
mo, guess not. The fact is, if find
myself square at the end of the year, I think
myself lscky."
And yet, John" said his wife, gravely,
1T seems to me as If we ought to lay by
something"
ut is easy enough to say that /; but the
question is, how are we going to do it? There
Mary's music lessons at ten dollars quarter
That's the only way can think of, and I
shouldn't want to stop these
"No, ofcourse not; but isn't there any
other way p
Not that know off,
Don't you think, John, the little incl
dental expenses cost more than you think for?
"Such as what 2"
Cigars, ice-cream, oysters, the theatre,
and so on"
John Stetson WINGED little.
"rhey arc mere trihes,' he said, careless.
ly. "A few cents each time. Pooh th,y
would make precious little difference at the
end ofthe year.n
you know there's an old proverb-'Ma.
ny a little makes mickle.n
"Pshaw hate proverbs. Besides, these
little things are really of very little account
4 man doesn't feel the sum he pays out, and
ifit didn't go in one way it would in another
How many cigars do you smoke daily p
pursued his wife. ~
.'Three."
sand how much do you pay for them ?"
-Four cents apiece"
That would make twelve ccnts?'
And what's twelve cents"
mot much in itself but multiplied by q
larger number, it amounts to something
What are you driving at, vile ?"
Il am going to make proposition to you
'I'm all attention." 2
''You say you don't mind few cents a
day."
.Of course not.n
Then | propose that small box be OBJ
tanned, with slit in the lid, just like the
children's tin savings boxes, in short, only
larger and that for every cent you spend
for cigars, ice-cream, thcaters, or any such
luxury, you deposit an equal sum in the
box"
John St,tson laughed. ts.sa
81 dare say he remarked, .sit would
bring me out perfect Cresus at the end Of
the year." ssF egss
''Do you agrcc." asked his wife, with
some appearance af anxiety.
''Yes, | have no great Objection, :fyou de-
sire it, though | acknowledge it seems o
little foolish anG childish"
.Neyer mind about that l have your
promise, and Wen try the experiment one
year. Ifit doesn't amount to enough +,
make it an object, then it will be time to
give it up"
..Y,u must take all the trouble of il. !
can't engage to do anything about it, exccp,
to furnish the money when it is called for. y
.'rlmt Is all shall require Of you. But
shall expect you to give an account every
night Of all that you have disburscd in III.
ways spoke Of, and to be prepared with an
eqnal amount Of change for deposit.
Very well. Ill try
This conversation took place at the break
fast table. Having drained his second Gu,