Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-09-30

lar note in my hand, WIN hot-to.oc-reIuseu
air, "and will CRAFTY !our curiosity; for
there is no use pretending that you are not
n little curious"
There was hearty, respectful freedom
about this that was Irresistible. I put the
note in my pocket and the man, going to
door, opened it into n closet of moderate
size, and displayed the bench and tools of a
shoemaker.
"You must be an extraordinary workman,
said /, looking around the room, which
seemed luxurious; hut which, as | looked at
each item, found that it cost very httlc.
mo, nothing extra. barely manage to
earn little over Il dollar n day. Mary helps
some. With the housework to do, and our
boy to look after, she earns enough to make
our wages average eight dollars week. We
began with nothing-we live as you Sec"
Al. this comfort this respcctability, the
almost luxury, for eight dollars week !
expressed my surprise.
II should be very sorry If we spent so
much" said lie. ave have not only man.
aged to live on that, but we have something
laid up in up in the savings bank"
"Will you have the goodness said
lust TO explain to me how you do it 2" for
was really anxious to know how shoe
maker and his wife, earning but eight dol
lars a week, could live in comfort and clc-
gance, and lay up money.
took chair which he handed me. We
were seated, and his wife, after gong to
listen to the soft and measured breathing OF
little Willie, sat down to her sewing.
MY name is William Carter. My father
died when | was young, and was bound
out apprentice to shoemaker, with the
usual provision of schooling. / did ms well
us boys generally do ut school and us was
fond of reading, made the most of my
spare time, and the advantages of the Ap-
prentice Library. Probably the book that
helped me most was the sensible writings
of William Goblet. Following his exam
pie determined to give myself useful
education, and have to some extent succeed
ed. But Il mans education Is n lifelong
pr, cess and the more learn the more
see before me.
Il was hardly out of my time when fell
in love with Mary there, whom some people
think very prettv, hut whom | know to be
very good"
Mary looked up with such bright, low
ing smile, as to fully justify some people"
in their notion.
When had been one year Iourneyman,
and laid up few dollars, Oor had strong
motive to he saving) we were married.
boarded at her fathers and she bound shoes
for the shop where worked. We lived
few weeks at her home but it was not our
homc-the home we wanted; so we dctermln-
ed to set up housekeeping. 1t was rather
"A small set up, but We made it answer i
spent a week in house hunting. Some were
too dear some too shabby. At last found
the place. 1t was new aul clean, high and
airy. and thought it would do. got 1t
for ii ty dollars year; and though the
rents all around have advanced, our land
lord is satisfied with :hat, or takes 1t Ill
preference to risking worse tenant. The
place was naked enough, and we had little
to put in save ourselves but we went cheer
! fully to work, earned all we could, saved all
we could and yon see the result"
II sec; but confess do not understanh
/ it" said | willing to h"Ar him eNplaih ..'S T,
! nconnn,i,, or this modest and beautiful
/ home. "Well, it is simple enongh. Mhen
/ Mary and moved ourselves here, and TOOK
possession with u table, two chairs, cook.
ing stove, a sauce pan or two. ant. cot-Dc',
with straw mattress, the first thing we die
was to hold council of war Now, Mary,
my love, said |, here we are; we have next
to nothing, and we have everything 10 get
and nobody but ourselves to help ourselves
I'VE found that we could earn, ON al
average, eight dollars week. we deter
mined to live as chcaply as possible, save III
we could and make ourselves home. ou'
rent was dollar a weck-our fuel, liSht
water rent, and some little matters, dolla
more. We have allowed the same amour
for our clothing and by buying the bes
things, and keeping them carefully, We dres
well enough for that. Even MY wife
satisfied with her wardrobe, and finds tina
raw silk at six shillings yard is cheaper II
the long run than calico ut one sliiling.-
: That makes three dollars week, and W
still had our living to pay for. That cos
,, us, with three in our family, just one dolla
! a week more"
"One dollar apiece ?"
5 "No-one dollar for all. Iou seem SUI
> Drised, but we have reckoned 1t over an
!. over. 1t cost more at first, but now W
o have learned to live both better and che'
per. So that we have clear surplus
y four dollars week, after paying all e'
pcnses of rent, FIRE, light, water, ciothin
# and food. | do not count luXuries, such
l. an evening at the theatre, concert, or
s treat to our friends when we give party
,e know smile came over my lace, Il
II he continued: 49,. ...
d YES, give party; and we have son
n splendid ones, | assure YOU sometimes
Is have dozen guests, which is quite enout
for comfort and our treat ot chocolate, CAKE
!, nn,S2cmange, etc, costs us as much as "
Is dollars bu. this is not very often. Ont
n our surplus-which comes, you see, "
r, hundred dollars year-we have bonGhl
~ Won sec, and have money in the bank.
an 81 see IL ALL" said l; "all bnt the ivii
os Many mechanic spends more than that
,s cigars, to say nothing of liquor. Pray
,te us how you live5" A..
ke with pleasure. First OF all, then'
NO smoke no cigars, and chew no tobacco, a
ne Mary takes no snuh.
,ce Here the pleasant smile came in, but t,i
ne. was no interruption, for Mary seemed
think her husband knew what he was a9o
! and could talk very well, without her
rat ~ have not drank glass OF hquor 81
he the day was married, except glass
wine four times year, on Christmas, n
% Years, Fourth of July, and Wilhes I'LL
Md day. The last is our especial holiday
GET had road enough of physiology to make
sot. my mind that tea and coffee contain
,cas au nutriment, and are poisonous besides
,rd. | tried vegetable diet long enough to
me it better than mixed one, we nave
hat and experienced together, OF COURSE o
,om thinks as do" r...-a
I to "But what DO you eat and drink
asked; curious to see how this seilta'
n sW