Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-06-05
"StriVc and Thrive,

uO nOJ say lie IS going 10 Duy one,
cousin, but that he has bought the dear
est little home. just nice distance from
the city, and that we are going to take
possession before May day, so we can be-
gin to improve it bright and early next
spring. There is half an acre of ground
attached, and nice grass-plot, where the
children can tumble about to their hearts
content without being disturbed by any
notice to keep off the grass"
"But how did you manage to buy it
these dreadful times? Your income is
no larger than ours, and we think it all
we can do to live. And, to tell you the
truth, Laura" and her voice sank to
confidential tone, "we are several hun
dred dollars in debt. How'it is ever to
be paid is more than / can sec. 1t wor-
ries me daily"
No wonder the visitors countenance
assumed a troubled expression, for what
burden can compare to that which a
weight of hopeless debt imposes? One
who can be ease in the enjoyment of
home comforts, when he feels they are
not paid for, must have feelings peculiar
TO himself, and not at all to be envied.--I
The discomfort of self-denal in luxuries,
or even in comforts. cannot compare with
the feeling of distress which the conscious
ness of debt produces.
1--WE thought it the best time to buy,
as the property was much lower than last
year. We have been saving the money
for it these last eight years, and now have
enough and little over. The sooner we
move into it, the better for us all, espe
cially the little children. Just think what
change it will be from the dusty. close
street, to a country home with pure air
all about us, and "a real outdoors to our
house., as George says. The doctor
says it is the only medicine our Oracle
needs and mean they shall all three
ENJOY it to the full next summei."
Il can see the desireableness of it very
well, Laura but not the ways and
means Has any one left your husband
a legacy? | know we have no rich rela-
tons to expect anything from, the more
of a pity, too y
81 am not sure that would have been
so great benefit to us, Ida. What we
/ gain by our own exertions is really worth
great deal more to US, because it devel-
ops our own powers. DR.. Adams says,
, There is an invisible wealth in possess
ions acquired by personal industry and
economy, which cannot be computed by
the numcration table You ask how we
got the money. and l will tell you, cous-
in. When we first commenced house
keeping, we set up at my suggestion,
a savings-box, in a corner of the bureau,
and resolved to save something, If only
halfdimc, out Of all our earnings, to-
ward buying home some day. My hus-
band rather laughed over the project, and
had no great faith in the results but |
, pcrsevered, and the first years success
encouraged us to continue it. Year after
wear we kept on, until the SNOWFALL as
sumcd quite a respectable size. We have
INDUCED ourselves in few expensive lux
uries but believe we have en- Dyed our
many simple ones more than those who
am uscmcnts. The children have frequent
/ rides by ears or steamboat, and every few
, weeks a halliday in the country. By
study and forethought | have learned to
e prepare many excellent dishes for our ta-
/ bic at trilling expense. | always pre-
G pare new dish myself, and do not trust
Y Ann with it until am sure she knows
, how. We live great deal better and
= much cheaper than we did the first year
T. of housekeeping, though there are three
/ children to feed now. A cook left with
0 out oversight will squander nearly a,
T. much as family consumes"
a Il wonder you always dressed yoursel
1 and children so well, Laura, when 20,
+ were so bent on cconomizing
"That was part of my economy, Ida
n | find good article lasts longer than {
$ poor one, while the trouble of making i.
It the same and the children feel more self
II respect, and are really happier than wher
shabbily dressed. 1t is not economy t.
= buy a poor article, nor the bcst either
IS Garments of medium quality are tn
h most serviceable common good deaine
3, for twenty five cents yard, lasts bette
= for the children's dresses than wool dc
" laine at fifty cents yard; while delain
n for shilling is not worth making up.
v "But to my certain knowledge yor
= give away great deal. | saw you my
ID self put dollar in the plate for missions
ic one Sabbath, at our church while ! fel
A. that quarter was really more than
" knew how to spare. l think that rathe
at inconsistent with economy"
" "Ihere ! cannot agree with you. w
ID are mono the poorer ever by what we Civ
W to the Lord. l sincerely believe that II
s. has returned into our boSomS twenty fol
st all that we ever gave to His cause. Nc
Of that this should be our motive, for all W
possess is His, and we are only stewards
lo but then His many precious promises t
n- those who honor Him with the first fruit
At of all their increase, are intended TO b
m an encouragement to trust freely in Hir
in even in times of doubt and perplcXity."
" "Well, it is still so mysterious to m'
I'd with all your savings, how you have man
lr aged to get so much together"
A. Il know it seems SO to one who ha
TX never tried the experiment f; but try
once, and you will be astonished to sc
" how the sum counts up. ] have nevt
to felt above earning something by my sew
tn ing machine when I could, and many cd
ce dollars has it brought me in to add I
in our little stock. II we had not bee
,d willing to save the dimes, and oven per