Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-10-18
VOL. XLIII.
HOW TO EARN a HOME,
A STORY FOR THE HARD TINES.

The other evening I came home with a
extra ten dollar bill In my pocket-mone
that had earned by out-Ofdoor work. 7h
fact is I'm clerk in a downtown store at
salary of 5000 per annum, and a pretty wifi
and baby to support out Of it.
suppose this income will sound smazingl,
small to your two and three Thousand dolla
Office holders, but nevertheless we coHtriYe 4
live very comfortably upon it. We liveppon on,
floor of an uDpretending little house, for Whicl
| we pay 81 so per aBBam. and Kitty, my wife
you will understand, does all her own work; 81
that we lay up neat little sum every year
I've got balance of two or three hundred
dollars at the Savings Bank, the hoard of sew
eral years, aud it is astonishing how feel
Why, Rothschild himself isn'l circumstance
to me-
| We'll, | came home with my extra bill, and
showed it triumphantly to Kitty, who of course
was delighted with my industry and thrift:
Now my love, said /, Just add this to our
account at the bank, and with interest to the
end of the year" iissW o.
Forthwith commenced casting interest, and
calculating in my brain. Kitty was silent
and rocked the cradle musingly with her feet.
live been thinking, Harry" said she after
a moments pause, 'sthat since you've got this
extra money. we might afford to buy tiew
rug. This is getting dreadful shabby, my dear
you must see"
looked dolelully at the rug; it was worn
and shabby enough that was fact.
IL can get a beautiful new velvet pattern for
seven dollars" responded my wife.
oKeIVaf- lolinrz - srr,oa nod
"Well, then, common tufted rug like this
would only cost three" said my cautious bet
ter half, who seeing she couldn't carry her first
ambitious point, wisely Withdrew her guns.
'.l'hat's more sensible" said l., "Well, we'll
see about it." ,--f- -.
And there's another thing want" 3ntin.
ueI my wife, putting her head coaxingly on
uly shoulder, and its net al all extrayigant,
either"
What Is il?'' asked, sOftening rapidly
a saw such Lovely silk pattern on Canal
street, this norhing, and can get it for six
dolars--only six dollars. Harry It's thc
cheapest thing ever saw"
But hafen't you got very pretty green
silk dress?"
That old thing! Why Harry I've worn it
ever SltiCC " { Nc BccH uiifElGL.
is it soiicd or ragged?'
No, Of course: but who wants to wear the
same old dress forever? Everybody knows it
is the only silk I h.ve."
"Well, what then?"
= That's Just a mans question" poutel Kit
~, Add suppose you have not observed
how old-k.shiOnrd my bonnet is getting"
Why, thought it looked very neat ami
tasteful siuce you pat on that black velvet win
ter trimming"
"Of course-you men have 10 taste in such
MAJ icrs." --
aWe were silent fer a uaamcni; I'm afraid we
both felt little cross and out Of humor with
one another. In fact, on my journey home, l
had entertained serious thought Of exchanging
my old silver watch Tor more modern time
p.e>e Of gold, and had men ally appropriated
the ten dollar, to further that purpose Sars
ings banks reflections had come a;cr.
As we sat before the fire, each wrapped in
thought, our neighIJ,t, Mr.. Wilmot, knocked
at The jm,F. lie was employed at the same
store as myself, and lis wife was an old family
frig4,l
/. II want you to congratulate me" he said
takirl:, seat II have purchased that little
cottagc out on The BlooniugcIre road, to,
day"
.Wlnit! that beautiful little woo,lcn cottage
with the piazza and lawn, and fruit garden be-
hihd?" exclaimed kittys almost enviously.
'Is it possible, 1 cried. \ little cottage
home Of my o"n, just like that had always
admired on the BloOmingdale road, had always
been the crowning ambition of my life-a dis
tant and almost hopeless point, but still, no
less earnestly desired.
"Why, Wilmot," said I, chow did this hap
pen? You we only been in business eight or
ten years longer than I, at salary but a trife
larger than mine, yet l could as soon buy 8
uiint as purchased cottage like that"
SWELL said my ncighbor, I'VE have all been
working to this end for many years. My wife
has larned, nlended and savetl-we have lived
on plain fare, and done with She cheapest
things. But the magic charm of the whole af
fair was that We laid aside every penny that
was not needcd for actual positive want. Yes
have seen my wife lay by red coppers, one
by one. Times are hard, just now, you know;
the owner was not what you call an economic.
al man, and he was obliged to sell, even at
moderate price. you see that even hard
times have helped me-"
When our neighbor was gone, Kitty and l
looked mcaning!y at one another.
"Harry," said she, 1.-The rug isn't so bad af-
ter all. and my green silk will do year longer
with care''A
"And silver watch is quite as good for all |
practical purposes as gold repeater" said l. !
"We will set aside all imaginary wants.
1.-The ten dollar bin must 20 to the bank,
said Kitty, land III economics the coppcrs |
Just as Mrs Wilmot did. Oh,how happy she will !
be among the roses in that cottage garden next
spring"
Our merry tea.ketlle sung US cheerful little
song Utcr the glowing fire that night; and its /
burden was Economy and home of our own
amid the roses and the country air. ar /