The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-24
Wednesday Morning, February "a, 1864


Charles Lynford was good mechanic, in
prosperous business. At the age OF twenty
six he had taken to himself wife. Caroline
Eustace, the daughter OF a neighbor, who had
nothing TO bring him but her own personal
merits, learned in an economical household
under the stern teachings Of necessity.
1t was well perhaps, that Charles Lynford
should obtain wife of this description, as he
himself found it very difiiculs to save anything
from his income.
IL was not long before Caroline became ac-
quainted with her husbands failing. She
could feel quite easy in the knowledge that
they were living fully up to their income,
foreseeing that a time would come when
their family would be more expensive, and
perhaps her husbands business. though now
fiourishing, might become less so
Accordingly, one day, she purchased from
a tin pedler who came to the door, little tin
safe, such as children frequently use as sa-
wings banks. This she placed quite conspicu-
ously on the mantelpiece, so that her husband
might be sure to see it on entering.
'Halloa, Carrie, what is that, ?" he asked
curiously.
"only little purchase / made to-day y
said his wife.
"But what is it meant for ?" he asked again.
"Let me illustrate, said his wife playiully.
"Have you ten cent piece about you?"
Charles drew dime from his waistcoat
pocket. His wife, taking it from his hand,
dropped 1t into the box through the little slit
at the top. Charles laughed.
$50 you have taken to boarding, Carrie {?
My wife become miser."
mo, only little prudent. But, seriously,
Charles, this is precisely what want you to
do every night"
what? drop a dime into this new-fangled
arrangement OF yours?'
Exactly"
"Very well, that will be easy enough. A
dime is no gaeat harm. But may i know
what you are going to do with this newly
commenced hoard?"
''Lay it by for rainy day." answered Caro-
line.
Charles laughed, merely.
This ended the conversation for time.
The plan thus inaugurated by the young
wife was steadily carried out. She was not
one Of those who enter upon a plan zealously
but soon tire of it. In the present case she
was fully satisfied OF the wisdom of her pur-
pose and resolved to carry it through.
Every morning she called upon her husband
for dime, and every morning it was added
to the accumulation. Frequently he had not
the right change, but would toss her quarter
of dollar instead. She would laughingly
assure him that it would answer her purpose
just as well.
More than once Charles bantered her on the
subject of her savings bank. This she bore
quite gallantly.
But these were not the only accessions the
fund receioed. Her husband had early ar
ranged to make her an ample allowance fer
dress. / say ample, though dare say some of
our city readers might not have considered it
so; but Caroline, who was in the habit OF max
ing her own dresses, provided herself with a
good wardrobe at much less expense than some
not so well yersed in the science of managing,
could have done.
After considerable calculation she came to
the conclusion that out OF her allowance she
should be able TO make daily deposit equal
TO that she had exacted from her husband.
OF this, however, she thought it best on the
whole not to inform Charles, enjoying in an
ticipation the prospect of being able at some
future time, to surprise him with the amount
of her savings. AT the close of every month
the tin box was emptied, and the contents
transferred to savings bank OF more preien-
sions, where interest would be allowed.
When the sums deposited there became
large enough, Mrs. Lynford, who had consij-
cradle business capacity, withdrew them and
invested in bank and other stocks, which would
yield large per cent. OF her mode of man
agement her husband was in complete ignor-
ance. Nor did he even express any desire TO
be made acquainted with his wiie's manage
ment. He was an easy, careless fellow, spend
ing as he went, enjoying the present and not
having any particular concern about the fl-
ture.
At the end OF eight years, during which
time he had been unusually favored with pros
perty in business and uninterrupted health
his books showed that he had not exceeded
his income, but that, on the other hand, he
had saved absolutely nothing. Twenty-Five
cents stood on his credit.
"Running pretty close, amt it, Carrie?
take credit to myself, though, for keeping on
the right side of the line. But then suppose
you have saved up an immense sum"
"How much do you suppose?" asked his
wife.
perhaps a hundred dollars" said Charles
Lynford, careessly, ''though it would take a
good many dimes 10 make that"
His wife smiled. but did not volunteer to
enlighten him as to the correctness of his con-
lecture.
SO things went on till at length came the
banjo OF 1857 a panic SO recent that it will be
remembered how universally trade and bus
iness of every kind were depressed at that
period; among Others the trade which occu-
pied Charles Lynford suffered much.
One evening he came home looking quite
Ftllouos ai SAPiccciOu Nuitu sciuOm came
over his cheerful face.
Caroline who had watched all the sighs Of
the times, was not prepared for this. She
sucpected that her husbands business was af.
fected. "What is the matter, Charles ?" she
asked quite cheerfnlly.
"The matter is we viii have to economist
greatly
Anything unfavorable turned up in busi-
mes matters ?"
81 should think there had. will have but
half days work for some time to come, and
am afraid this will fail before long, You
have no ieda Carrie how dull business has be-
come"
81 think l haye," said his wife gently. Il
have read the papers carefully, and have been
looking out for something of this kind"
"Do you think we can reduce our expen-
es to one half?" asked the husband doubtful
ly.
Il think we will be able to do so. Both OF
us are well supplied with clothing, and will
not need any more for year at least. This