Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-01-01
HOW To EARN A HOME.
\ STORY FOR THE HARD TIMES.

The other evening ] returned home with
IN extra SO in my pocket-money that L
had earned by out of door wOTk-The fact
Is, Pm a clerk in a down town store, at
salary of $500 per annum, and pretty wife
and baby to support out Of it.
Isuppose this income will sound amazing
" small to many Of you two and three
thousand dollar Office holders. but never
theless we try to live very comfortably upon
It. We live upon the. floor Of an unpretend-
ing little house, for which we pay one hun>
cred and fifty dollars per annum and Kitty,
my wife you viii understand, does all her
own work, so that we lay up neat little
sum every year. Pve got balance of two
or three hundred dollars in the savings
bank, the hoard of several years, and it is
astonishing how I feel. Why, ROthschtld
himself isn't circumstance to me.
Well, came home with an extra bill, and
showed it triumphantly to my Kitty, who
was of course delighted with my Industry
and thrift.
Now, my love- said I, Just add this to
our account at the bank, add with interest
to the end of the year.
Forthwith commenced casting interest.
and calculated on my brain. Kitty was sill
ent, 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 dreadful shah
cy, my dear you must see.'
looked dolefully at the rug it was worn
and shabby enough, that was fact.
Z I can get new beautiful pattern for
seven dollars responded my wife.
'Velvet-seven dollars groaned l,
We'll. then, common tufted rug like
this would only cost three said my cautious
better half, who seeing she couldn't carry
her first ambitious part, wisely withdrew her
guns.
That's more sensible We'll see about
it,
And here's another thing I want con
tiHued my wife, putting her head coaxingly
on my shoulder, and it's not at all extrava-
CANT, neither
WHAT is it q asked.
go ---.-'' 4 ~velv silk pattern on Ca
eve: then the remegbgor / can get it for
~, ..-EE,ss9 s,7Is9 I'D OF '4Iono 8, Harry It's the
sr,aoq Iod sIy'1sBer saw
: But haven't you got a very pretty green
silk?'
That old thing Why, Harry, I've worn
.;,,c1 ,,.o',-, 1,ao,, ,,,ovr5oI
Is it soiled, or ragged ?
No of course, but who wants to wear the
same cd dress forever Everybody K nows
it is the only silk have
We'll, what then p
That's just a mans question: pouted
Kitty. And l suppose you have observed
how old fashioned my bonnet is getting.
Why, thought it looked very neat and
tasteful since you put on that black velvet
winter trimming
'Of course-you men have no taste in
such matters
We were silent for a moment; I'm afraid
we both felt a little cross and out of humor
with one another. In fact, l on my way
home. thought of taking that ten and ex,
changing my old silver watch for a more
modern time peice Of gold. Saving bank
reflections had come later.
As we sat before the fire, each wrapped il
thought, our neighbor, Mr.. Wiimot, knock
ed at the door. He was employed at the
same store as myself, and his wife was an
old family friend.
I want you to congratulate me, ne sait
taking a seat. | have purchased that little
cottage OUT on Bloomingdale road, to-day.
What that little wooden cottage HON,
Of my own, Just like that had often admir-
ed on the Bloomingdalo road, and had al
ways been the crowning ambition of my life
"a distant and almost hopeless point, but
no less earnestly desired
Why, Wilnot. said l, how did this hap
pen? You have only been in business eight
or ten years longer than ], at salary but q
trjfle larger than mine, yet could as soon
purchase a mint cottage ike that
WELL said my neighbor, we 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 lad aside
every penny that was not needed by actua
positive want. Yes. 1 have seen my wife
lay by red copFers, one by one. Times ar,
hard. just now the owner was not Nha
you call economical man, and he was glal
to sell even at moderate price So yol
see that even hard times have helped me.
Wher ni1r neicI,lnr ,unS cr,r,o L-:L.-