Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-12-25
VOL. S.---N0. II.
HOW TO EARN A HOME.
a STORY FOR HARD TINES.


The other evening 1 came home with an ex-
ira ten dollar bill in my probationary that
had earned by out-of doors work. The fact
is, I'm a clerk in down town store at a sal
ary of $500 per annum, and pretty wife and
baby to support out OF it. suppose this income
will sound amazingly small 10 your two and
three thousand dollar Office holders, but never
theless we contrive to live very comfortably
upon it. We live on floor of an unpreteud-
ing little house, for which we pay 500 per
annum, and Kitty, my wife, you'll understand,
does all her own work so that We lay up
neat little sum every year. Eve got balance
of two or three hundred dollars at the savings
bank, the hoard of several years, and it is
astonishing how rich l feel! Why, Roths-
child himself isn't circumstance to me
Well, / came home with my extra bill, and
showed it trinmphantly to Kitty, who OF
delighted with my industry and
thrift.
ssNow, my love,'' said 1. s.just add this to
our account at the bank, and with interest to
the end OF the year,
Forthwith l commenced casting interest,
and calculating in my brain. Kitty was si-
lent, and rocked the cradle musingly with her
foot.
"I've been thinking Harry said she, after
a moments pause, that ''since you've got this
extra money, we might afford to buy new
rug. This is getting dreadtully shabby, my
dear, you must see.''
1 looked dolefully at the rug it was worn
and shabby enough, that was fact.
'sI can get beautiful new velvet pattern for
seven dollars, - resumed my wife.
''Velvet-seven dollars,'' groaned /.
''Well, then, common tufted rug like this
would only cost three" said my cautious bet
ter halt, who, seeing she couldn't carry her
first ambitious point, wisely withdrew her
guns.
e'That's more sensible," said l. "Wen,
yrnslI nh
''And there's another thing want" con-
tinued my wife, putting her hand coaxiBgly
on my shoulder, ssand it's not at ali extrava-
CANT either.''
s'What is it 2 ! asked, softening rapidly.
al saw such lovely silk dress pattern on
Canal street this morning, and l can get it fer
six dolars,-only six dolars-Harry It's
the cheapest thing ever saw
''But haven't you got pretty green silk
dress 20
'.ThH old thing! Why, Harry, I've worn it
ever since we've been married.
sis it soled, or ragged 20
''No, of course but who wants to wear the
same green dress forever? Everybod knows
it is the only silk dress | have"
ssWell, what then 2''
e'That's just a mans question: pouted
Kitty. ''And / suppose you have not OBJ
served how oid-fashloned my bonnet is get
ting.''
ssWhy, thought it looked very neat and
tasteful since you put on that black velvet
winter trimming"
ssOf course-you men have no taste IN such
matters
We were silent for moments I'm afraid
we both felt little cross and out of humor
with one another. In fact, on my journey
home, | had entertained serious thoughts of
exchanging my old silver watch for a more
modern time piece of gold, and had mentally
appropriated the ten dollars to further that
purpose. Savings bank reflections had come
later.
AS we sat before the fire, each wrapped in
thought, our neighbor, Mr.. Wilmot knocked
at the door. He was employed at the same
store as myself, and his wife was an old family
friend,
81 want you to congratulate me,n he said
taking seat. 81 have purchased that little
cottage out on the Bloomingdale road today
''What that beautiful little wooden cot
tage with the piazza, end lawn, and fruit gar
den behind 2" exclaimed Kitty almost envi-
ously.
sis it possible % I cried A little cottage
home of my own, just like that had often
admired on the BloomingdaIe road, had al
ways been the crowuing ambition of my life
a distant and almost hopeless point, but no
less earnestly desired.
"Why, Wilmot," said 1. show did this
happen You've only been in business eight
trife larger than mine, yet l could as soon
buy the mint as purchase a cottage like that
s'Well,' said my neighbor s'we have all
been working to this end for years. My wife
has darHed, patched, mended and saved-we
have lived on PLAIN fare, and done with the
cheapest things. But the magic charm of the
whole affair was that we laid aside every pen
ny that was not needed by actual, positive
want. Yes, have seen my wife lay by red
coppers, one by one.''
s.Times are hard you know. just now the
owner was not what you call an economical
man, and he was glad to sell at a moderate
price. SO you see that even s.hard times''
have helped ~
When our neighbor was gone, Kitty and L
looked meaningly at one another.
sHarry," said she, ssthe rug isn't so bad
after all, and my green silk will do year
longer with care.'' ssAnd silver watch is
quite as good for all practical purposes, ASA
gold repeater" said /. ssWe Will set aside
all imaginary wants.
'.The ten dollar bill must go to the bank
said Kitty, s'and I'll economIse the coppers
just as Mrs. Wimot did. Oh, how happy she
will be among the roses in that cottage garden
next spring 20
Our merry tea-kettle sung us cheerful lit
tie song over the glowing fire that night, and
its burden was ECONOMY and home OF our
own amid the roses and the country air."
The setting of great hope is like the setting
of the sun; the brightness of our life is gone.
Shadows OF evening fall around US, and the
world seems but dim refection-itself q
broader shadow. We look forward into the
coming lonely night. The soul withdraws in
to itself. Then stars arise and the night is
holy.
Some one named ssArmapd N. Toutant"
gives public notice through the New Orleans