Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1861-07-06
How to Earn a Home.
a STORY FOR TIE HARD TIMES.

The other evening [ came home with
an extra ten dollar bill in my pocket
money that [ had earned by out-of-
doors york. The fact is, I'm q clerk
in down town store, at a salary of
5000 per annum, and a pretty wife and
baby to support out of it.
[ suppose this income will sound
amazingly small to your two and three
thousand dollars office holders, but
nevertheless we contrive to live very
comfortably on that. We live on one
floor, in an unpretending little house,
for which we pay $3.50 per annum, and
Kitty, my wife, you'll understand, does
all her own work SO that we lay up q
neat little sum every year. I've got a
balance Of two or three hundred dol
lars at savings bank, the hoard Of
several years, and It is astonishing how
rich I ftel Why, the Kothschld him
self isn't circumstance to me {!
Well, / came home with my extra
bill, and showed 1t triumphantly to Kit
tv, WHO Of course was delighted with
my industry and thrift.
NOW, my love" said !, ':.ust add
this to our account at the bank, and
With interest to the end Of the year"
Forthwith I commenced counting
interest and calculating III my brain
Kitty was silent, and rocked the cradle
musingly with her foot.
I've been thinking, Harry said
she, after q moments pause, "that
since you've got this extra money, we
might afford to buy new rug. This
is getting dreadful shabby, my dear
you must Sec"
looked dolcftllly at the rug it was
worn and shabby enough, that was q
fact.
II can get a beautiful new velvet
pattern for seven dollars resumed my
wife.
"Velvct-seyen dollars - groanea I.
"WelI, then, common tuied rug
like this would oriy cost three" said
my cautious better half, who seeing
she couldn't carry her first ambitious
point, wisely withdrew her guns.
"That's more sensible" said l.
':Wcn, we'Il see about it,
And there's another thing want, ="
continued ny wife, putting her hand
coaxingly on my shoulder, ''and it's not
at nil extravagant either"
''NNhat is it p | asked softening rap
idly.
II saw such lovely silk dress pat
tern on Canal street this morning, and
I can get it for six dollars--only SIX
dollars, Harry It's the cheapest
thing [ ever saw"
"But haven't you got a very pretty
green silk dress p
'sThat old thing! Why, Harry, |
have worn it ever since we've been
married."
''Is it soiied OF ragged p
"No, Of course but who wants to
wear the same green dress forever p
Everybody knows it's the only silk !
have"
"Wcll, what then -
"That's jnst a mans question: pont-
ed Kitty. "And / suppose you have
hot observed how old fashioned my
bonnet is getting p
"Why, | thought it looked very neat
AMI tasteful since you put on that black
velvet winter trimming"
"Of, course-you men have no taste
in such matters
We were silent for a moment; I'm
afraid we both felt little cross and out
of bumor with one another. In fact,
on my Journey home, had entertained
serious thoughts Of exchanging my Old
silver watch for more modern time.
piece Of gold, and had mentally appro-
priated the ten dollars to further that
purpose. Savings bank reflections had
come later.
AS we sat before the fire, each wrap
ped n thought, our neighbor, Mr.. VIII
mot, knocked at the door. He was
employed at the same store as myself,
and his wife was an old family friend.
II want you to congratulate ne,
said he, taking a seat. Il have pur.
chased that little cottage out on the
Bloomingdale road to day"
'What, that beautiful little wooden
cottage with the piazza and lawn, and
fruit garden behind p exclaimed Kitty
almost enviously.
! rs it possible % l cried. "a little
cottage home of my own, Just like thai
had often admired Oh the Blooming
dale road, had always been the crown
ING ambition Of my life-a distant anc