North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-03-25

window, and the little watchers were at the
door ready to catch papa," the moment he
entered the hall. The good, wholesome sup
per was on the table in five minutes time
and gentle, womanly Grace helped her little
brother and sister, while mother poured out
the fragrant tea. There were pleasant little
every day matters to be talked over by moth
er and children, and Iehearsed to father, all
which he listened to, and commented on with
as much interest as if he had not been all day
delving in dry old ledgers and day BOOKS, and
counting up endless columns Of figures, keep
| ing the mind on a continued stretch for the
working hours of the day. He needed just
such home in which to relax himself, to
keep him from growing irritable. and unsocal
and prematurely old.
As Mary and her husband sat, that evening
by the pleasant lamp light, he related the con-
eersation which had passed.with Alfred Lewis.
the families had been cid acquaintances before
their removal to the city, and each took an
interest in the others welfare.
81 WONDER" said Mary, if" Fanny would
not sell her piano. She told me herself she
did not open it except for company to play, e,
and it was no use to her, as the boys had no
taste for music She never was much Of
musician, and has forgotten the little she did
learn when we were at school together.
would as lief have it for Oracle to learn on as
II to b.p ~
day. Fanny's instrument is an excellent one,
and know, if she parted with it at all, she
she would rather should have it than any
one else"
1t was decided that John should make the
proposition, at least, the next time he met
his friend, and Mary sent an invitation to the
Lewises to all come and take tea with her the
next evening.
1t was a merry little party. The children
were all so full of glee, and Grace managed
so eXcellently to harmonize everything among
them. The oldest boy was near her age, and
baby Frank wore dresses still. They spent
the evening together in the dining room,
while the elders conversed in the parlor. A
good, cheerful supper is great help to amia
billy. 1t puts people on good terms with
themselves and all their neighbors. Mary's
tact had taught her that lesson long before !;
so she never introduced business until that
was fairly over. But when they were all
comfortably seated by the glowing grate-the
gentlemen in the arm-chairs, and Fanny and
herself in the light rockers, stitching away al
some light needle work-then the momentu-
Gus questions of ways and means were freely
discussed, and some very valuable decisions
made on that well remmbered evening. A bar
gain was made for the piano, with the under
standing that it might be bought back at any
time, if they choose-so it did not seem like
a sacrifice altogether. With economy, they
thought, they might live on the sum it
brought them for the next three months,
without running up the accustomed g terrible
bills" Mary lnducted her friend into many
little mysteries Of economy she had never
thought of before.
"That old Valencia plaid Of yours, Fanny,
would make lovely suits for Frank, this win
ter Make little skirts to button on white
waists, and an open jacket like the skirt
I make Nendy's waists out Of the plaits Of
worn-out shirt fronts, and finish them, about
the neck and sleeves, with little worked
edge, or plain, narrow rufile. | have bot
nothing but shoes and stocki ngs for him for
six months"
"Well, you are a manager, Mary. will
certainly try to follow your example. l
have often wondered how you could afford
to dress your children so handsomely.
81 intend, when Neddy is older, to cut
his fathers worn out clothing into suits of
bows clothes for him. Only get good pat
terms, and it is very easy matter. | used
often to help my mother about such work.
"A penny saved, is two pence earned,' she
she used to say-an old-fashioned proverb,
quite out of date nowadays, but as true as
it ever was"
And SO the friends spent apleasant even
ing, imparting and receiving valuable les
sons in practical economy, which gave very
different coloring to the future comfort and
success IN life of one of the parties. Though
it was working against wind and tide, Tor
the time, Fanny Lewis and her husband per-
severed IN their determination to adopt the
motto Of" Pay as you go y and, before the
year was done, the habit was well establish
ed. Mr.. Lewis, too, was astonished to find
himself the possessor of handsome surplus,
which was deposited, with great satisfaction
in the Savings Bank, though he had always
been well assured that could lay up nothing
for rainy day until his salary was much In
creased.
What an advantage it would be, if all
heads of families could adopt the same rule
of life What a world of harrassing care
wou,d be removed from the mind of both
L