The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-02-06
CAN'T AFFORO 1t.
/" Can't afford it, Maria

up such a gate. and the old bars VIII al
swer every purpose
! No thew won't, Walter. The neigh-
boris children very often leave tne oais
i down, and then stray cattle come ih'o VIC
| garden. We may lose more than the price
! Of gate in one hour, if COW should nap
| pen to get in when l am away.
II sbould Ike to know who leaves the
bars down. said Walter, very threatening
IL. .The same children might leave gate
open"
"But we can have gate made to close
of its own accord, with weight or spring."
suggested the wife. John Niles has. had
gate put up in his yard
Il amt John Niles, my dear" Walter
wished his wife to remember.
But bis family is as large as yours, and
his wages are not SO high"
Never mind about that. l tell you l
can't afford it-at any rate not az present"
And with this Walter started off for his
work.
Walter Gray was young man, about
thirty an industrious mechanic; had been
married some eight years and had an in
teresting family. He meant to provide well
for those who depended upon him, and in a
measure he did so. But there were many
itile comforts of which he felt obliged to
deprive them comforts which at times they
really needed. and which, in the end, might
have proved source Of saving. And more
too it might have added to his own happi-
ness bad he felt able to grant these litte
requests. But he couldn't afford il. at least
+, 30 he thought. and whether he thought so
with sound judgment the sequel will prove.
The gate which his wife had been SO
anxious to have put up was needed at the
q L. If
where there was only a pair of short bars.
The children often came through there, and
sometimes left the way open behind them. In
short, there were many ways in which those
bars were apt to be left down, and Maria
I Gray had very often to leave her work TO
drive out the cattle that had got H. Ii was
, only by extreme watchfulness on her part
that the garden was pres erved. She had
! spoke several times to her husband about
! it but he felt that he couldn't afford it
: She must keep her eyes upon the spot, ard
! see that the bars were kept shut.
! Only few days after this, Mrs. Gray
] asked her husband if he was going 10 hire
! pew in the church for the following year,
and lie told her that he did not think he
should.
" But you can hire half of one. We can
| have half OF Mr.. Niles pew for guinea"
:. can't afford it," was Walters reply.
" should get no great good from the SER
vices any way
Don't say so, husband. Suppose every
body should feel like that You certainly
wouldu' t.wish to live, and bring up your
| children. where there was no religious in
/ fuence? And if gou reap the benefits Of
good Christian Institutions you certainly
ought to feel willing to help to support
them
80 would be .Uillirg. If could afford
/ it: but can't
Mrs. Gray looked very serious, and seem.
ed to hesitate, as though there was a subject
upon her mind, which she felt delicate about
broachipg butt had occupied her thoughts
too long, and she determined to let it out.
! "Walter," she said, a little TREMENDOUSLY,
| but still resolutely, you have two pounds
/ week %
/ Yes"
I "And how much Of that does it take to
feed us p
| II don't know, I'm sure. l only know
that it takes it all to feed and clothe us, and
| paw up interest on the house"
- haven't had a new dress since last
autumn and was reckoning up yesterday
how much we had spent for the children.
and l found it to be only three pounds for
some Of Johns clothes for Charles, and Luz
ciuda jumps into Mary's dresses as the lat
ter outgrows them
That's all very WE'LL replied Walter,
little testify. q understand my own bust
ness. and l know just what l can afford,
and what l can't. While | have the pay
ments to make on my house l must econ
omise-I mast economise," he repeated, very
decidedly.
:" And l would have you economist"
returned the wife, :" but do hot forget that
all is not economy, in comfort and lasting
good 1t would be guinea laid out to
good advautage-sure to return heavy
interest to us and our children. And
think it might be a source of great saving,
to put up good gate at the back
'.Stop!'' interrupted Walter. with
nervous motion. g You've said enough
! about this. l know my means
Let me say one word" urged Maria.
There was an earnestness in her tene which
! caused her husband to stop and listen. If
you will give me a guinea week. l will
agree to furnish all the provisions for the
household. and clothe myself and children.
1 will do this for one year. That will leave
you seventy pounds with which to clothe
! yourself and make your payment on the
mouse. ou muse ou uhNc Ohiy W pay
twenty pounds. with interes; for two years.
which will leave you twenty-nine pounds
for your clothes and otler expenses
} Walter was upon the point OF denying
this result OF the case, but he saw upon a
moments reflection, that from his wife's
statement, the deducIioa was correct, so he
denied the statement.
:, You cannot furnish the food and clothe
yourself and children, for the sum YOU have
Named" he said.
) Thereupon Maria sat down and made
known few facts TO him that had been
hidden within the mysteries Of her own
housekeeping. She was not long in proving
to him. that, during the past year. the items
of expenditure within said limits had no,
averaged guines per week. Walter said
Pooh - and then he added t: Non
senser' and then he left the house.