The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-17

They should remember that, as Hood says,
when bread is dear, flesh and blood is cheap
Mrs. Nettleton WINGED visibly through her
triple armor of pride, parsilnony and ohtuse-
ness; and her husband, who never directly
opposed her, contented himself with resolving
to make it up to her victims in some way,
if he did not forget it.
A few doors from Mrs. Nettleton lived Mrs
AimwelI, a widow in moderate circumstances
with three young daughters yet in their teens.
Her means were very much less than those
of her hard handed neigbor; in the bex of
times she could never helpa friend without
denying herself something she would have
liked to own. Now, she felt iu common
with others that there was new call for re-
trenchment, and she set about it in her own
considerate, womanly way.
'Nettie,' said she to her oldest daughter, a
promising girl Of aixteen, we must make
our own dresses this year, think, only en-
ploying Mrs. Jones to fft them.'
we can do it very well, mother; but will
it not be a great disappointment to Mrs
Jones ? She always depends upon having
our work to do p
True but fitting is better paid, proper
tionaliy than plain sewing. and she will at
least have the relief Of little rest. Resides,
| have heard her say that she could save
great deal by fitting up old dresses for her
little ones, if she could only command the
time. think she can do so, this year, and
have several things of Annals saved for
her, which, with few hours time, will save
quite little sum. The child has quite grown
away from them, and will be glad to think
that her rapid rise has been positive bles.
sing to the little Joneses.'
That will do nicely. By the way, moth
er, have you seen Robert about the hot
bed 81
Yes he was here this morning in an old
suit of Mr.. Nettletan's, q little too long and
loose for him. thought he looked some.
what ashamed ofhis mature and pretentous
belongings, and he was very sorry to learn
that we cannot employ him in the garden as
much as usual. told him we should only
require him to lay out the beds and do
little occasional hoeing. The seeds we can
easily sow ourselves, and pulling weeds will
be fine morning exercise for you girls this
summer
Yes, we have decided to let it take the
place Of our walks but isn't it sad to think
that we cannot fetrench our own expenses
without taking the bread out of some other
PERSONS mouth p
1T would be, If bread were all but I have
thought how you can make it up to Robert
for the loss of his wages. You know his
great ambition is to improve his education,
aud he employs all his leisure hours In study,
because it is very long since he has been
able to attend school, have given him the
school-books that you were obliged to lay
aside when the committee made their last
change. They are quite as good for his
purpose as those you are using now, and he
will get on very well, with little aid now
and then in arithmetic. I have offered TO
help him with the hard sums, myself; anu
| suppose we shall occasionally see carica-
ture of Mr.. Nettleton sitting in the back pi-
azza and pouring over partial payments,
during the coming summer
Just then, Grace, the second daughter,
came in from the kitchen, laughing and
blushiag. % mother said she, 4 have a Sc.
cret to tell you. Biddy is going to be mar
ried'
4 have suspected 1t for some time, and
am almost glad Of it, returned Mrs Aimwell
Now we can employ Winnie Hayes. She
has been an admirable domestic, but nobody
likes to employ her now, because she is a
widow with babe. She can't afford to put
it to nurse, on the low wages that girls are
getting now but there is plenty Of room
i for cradle in our pleasant kitchen, and If
our meals are not always promptly served,
it is not as if there was business men in the
family to be incommoded by the delay
NO, mamma. But aren't you planning
great deal of work for the summer Sew
ing and gardening, and teaching Robert and
tending babys We never thought Of doing
so much before
mo, dear but then we were never quite
SO old before. nor SO well able to do Ill these
useful things. Besides, they tell us times
are going to be hard, and suppose we shall
have to give up some pleasures to which We
have been accustomed, but am resolved
never to give up the pleasure Of doing good.
People who have plenty Of money can help
the poor By giving them employment; we
must be content to help them at present in
different way ~
THAT is not Mrs. Nettleton's idea,' re-
turned Nettie. She says she means to meet
the added cost of living by cutting down the
wages Of those she employs
sMrs. Nettleton must choose her own
course. five were to act in the way you
speak Of, we might dress as well and live as
comfortable as ever before, but we should
deny ourselves something more important
than food and clothing. We should be CON-
PEELED to narrow our sympathies and harden
| our hearts. and though we miyht he very