Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-14
Q9urtester 9ailp spy.
HOW TO EARN A HOME.

The other evening came home with an ex-
ira ten-dollar bill in my pocket-money that l
had earned by out of doors work. The fact lie
Pm clerk in downtown store, at a salary
OF $500 per annum, and pretty wife and ba.
by to support out of it. Isuppose this income
will sound amazingly small to your two and
tree thousand dollar office holders, but never
theless, we contIive TO live very comfortably
upon it. We live upon one floor OF an unpre.
tending little honse, for which we pay $3.50
per aunum, and Kitty, my wife, you will I'M
derstand, does all her own work, so that We
lay up neat little sum every year. have
got balance of two or three hundred dollars
at the savings bank, the hoard OF several years,
and ii is astonishing how rich l feel Why
Rothschild himself isn't circumstance to
me!
Well, came home with my extra bill and
showed 1t trIumphantly t. Kitty, who OF coarse
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 | commenced casting interest,
and calculated in my brain. Kitty was silent
and rocked the cradle musingly with her foot.
I've been thinking, Harry" said she, after
moments pause, "that since you've got this
extra money, We might afford to buy a new
rug This is getting dreadful shabby, my
ueHT, you III uSt see.
looked dolefully at the rug; it was worn
and shabby enough, that was a fact.
81 can get beautiful new velvet pattern for
seven dollars, responded my wife.
"Velvet--seven dollars" groaned l.
"Well, then, a common tufted rug like this
would cost only three, said my cautious bet
ter halt who, seeing she could not carry her first
ambitious point, wisely withdrew her guns.
That's more sensible, said l. "Well, we
will see ab0utlt"
"And there's another thing 1 want" con-
tinued my wife, putting her head coaxingly
upon my shoulder, "and it's not at all extIav-
giant, either"
"What is it 2" | asked, softening rapidly.
81 saw such lovely silk pattern on Canal
street, this morning, and l can get it for SIX
dollars-only six dollars, Harry It's the
cheapest thing ever saw"
"But, havn't you got very pretty green
dress, Kitty 2"
"That old toing! Why, Harry Tve worn
it ever since we've been married"
"Is it soiled or ragged ~
''No, of course but who wants to wear the
same old dress forever? Everybody knows.
it is the only silk l have
"Well, what then 2"
That's just a mans question:" pouted
Kitty.
"And suppose you have not observed how
Olu-taSnlOneu my bonnet is getting.
"Why, thought it looked very neat and
tasteful since you put on that black velvet win
ter trimming"
"OI course--you men have no taste at all
in such matters"
We were silent for a moment Pm afraid
we both felt a 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 all old family
friend
81 want you to congratulate me-" he said,
taking seat. 81 have purchased that little
cottage out.on the Bloomingdale road to-day.
"What that beautiful little wooden cottage
with the piazza and lawn, and fruit garden be.
hind !"-exclaimed Kitty, almost enViously.
is it possible ?" | cried A little cottage
home Of my own, just like that l had often
admired on the Bloomingdale road, had always
been the browning ambition of my life-a dis
tant and almost hopeless point, but no less
earnestly desired.
"Why, Wlmot." said l. chow did this
happen lou We Oniy Decn Ill business eight
or ten years longer than l. at salary but
trifie larger than mine, yet could as soon buy
mint as purchase cottage like shat"
"Well," said my neighbor, eve have all
been working to this end for years. My wife
has darned, 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 moi needed by actual and positive
want. Yes | have seen my wife lay by red
coppers one by one Times are hard you
know, just now; the owner was not what you
call an econoa:ical man, and he was glad to
sell even at moderate price. So you see that
even hard times have helped me-"
When our neighbor was gone, Kitty and
looked meaningly at one another.
"Harry," said she, "the rug sn t so bad af-
ter ALL and my green silk will do yeaElonger
with care"
"And silver watch will DO quite as good
for all practical purposes gold repeater"
said |. awe will set aside all imaginary
wants"
"rhe ten dollar bill must go the bank" said
Kitty, "aud I'll econonze the coppers ust as
Mrs WilmCt did. Oh how happy she will
be among the roses in that cottage garden next
sprlng"
Our merry tea kettle sung us a cheerful
little song over the glowing fire that night,
and its burden was, Economy and home OF
ours, amid the roses and the country air."
6aan