The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-05-14
ssMAKE IT DO FOR ANOTHER SUM-
MER.ss

MER,
Coming down street yesterday morning
We observed a woman endeavoriug to nego-
tate with that useful member OF society,
the tinker, for the repair of the broken han
die of parasol. We did not intend to lis
ten, but Ne heard, without listening. few
words of the negotiation. If it could be
done well, aud cheap enough to make it an
object, she woull like to have it mended.
She did not know whether it could De mend
ed at all or not, but il it could, she would
try ''to make it 90 for another summer"
"Penurious y say you ? Not bit Of
it. The high, generous forehead, the large,
expressive eye. the clear. ringing. silver
tone, bespoke no narrow, stingy soul. We
have seen such faces and heard such voices
before. They belong TO persons whose
names may not, it is true, be found SO often
as some others upon subscription to "popu-
lar" enterprises Of benevoleuce but they
are indelby engraHe ed upon the hearts of
many whose lives have been made more full
of sunshine through their deeds Of unboast
ed charity. Prudence is not inconsistent
with genuine beneyolence. Our unknown
economist will have dollar more to ex-
pend in ministering to the needs Of some
hard pinched neighbor, from making that
parasol edo for another summer"
In fact, quite a train of thought was sug-
gested by the simple remark, intended only
for the rnker's ear. In the swift approach
ing days, whether the war be continued
long or finished soon, the present fictitious
prosperity Of community must meet with a
severe. we fear terrible reverse. But
now, the temptation TO individual and ma
tional extravaganza is well nigh irresistible,
when of all times economy is the most ne
cessary, as we shall learn to our abiding
sorrow by and by. If every man, woman
and child were 10 save a dollar each the
coming summer, and as much more the
coming winter-and where one person could
not do this, dozens could do more-there
could be saved among the citizens of the
loyal North, forty millions of dollars-equal
to the yearly average expenses of the Gov
eminent from its beginning to the begin
ming Of the civil war-just by making some
thing edo for another summer"
And IN these coming "hard times" he
will be best off, not who owns the greatest
amount OF stocks or land, but who in these
easy times has got out Of debt. and fore
handed with the world. Aud the man
whose wife thinks of saving a dollar by
mending parasol handle, thinks likewise
of thousand other ways of saving other
dollars. And when ''hard times come,
they will find such man-and his wife
with ''their lamps trimmed and burning"
prepared TO meet them and triumph over
them. Many a man has been saved from
bankruptcy because his wife understood the
mystery of making pants for Tommy and
Johnny out of their fathers threadbare
coats, aprons for Mary and Jenny out Of
mothers dresses that had outlived their
usefulness, rayeling the legs of much darn
ed socks to make into juvenile stockings,
manufacturing toilet tables and lounges
from old boxes. with their prominent points
hidden by we'll arranged calico coverings,
diyertng flour sacks from their original in
tent and recognizing them into towels AID
pillow cases, and hundred expedents as
simple as that of mendiug broken parasol
to make it do for another summer
But after all, the financial aspect is the
least important in which the subject is TO
be considered. In family imbued with
such a spirit, fashion and show are second
airy matters. We feel assured that here we
shall find earnestness of purpose, independ
ence of character, and an sinner lile'' that
can keep on the even tenor of its way, with
out depending entirely upon the allurements
ard excitements of ''elegant society,""
With full appreciation of the delight and
dangers of ''hIgh life,'' they know some
thing of "higher life" If they are not
leaders in fashionable circles" they can
enjoy with keener zest the pure pleasures
of the family circle. Interesting looks and
tasty ornaments, loving parents and obedi-
ent children, atfectionate sisters and respect
| full brothers, pleasant hearthside and a
happy home-al these we're bespoken by
the face and voice that proposed mending
the parasol, so as TO ''make it do for anoth-
er summer"
! May be we have been too liberal in our
differences. and built too laIge a superstruct-
ure for so small a foundation. If so, our
only apology is we have drawn from the
treasures of our own experience, in our
lchildhood's humble home, where mended
/ parasols, home made caps, renovated coats,
patched pantaloons, and many another ex.
pedient of economy, were necessary and
not ashamed of. And why should we now,
when she whose contriYances were so mani.
fold to make so many things edo for an
other summer" has left US her teachings,
her example, and her memory. and risen tc
Everlasting life in the Eternal Last Summer
Dubuque Times.