The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-01-17
"CAN"T AFFORD II.
4 Sketch of Everyday Life.
Can't afford it, Maria"

cmphatIcaliy. IL "o"'o eo'' wv VI
three dollars. at the very lowest, to put
up such gate, and the old bars will an
swer every purpose.
"No, they won't, Walter. The neigh
bors' children very often leave tho bars
down, and then the cattlc come into the
garden. We may lose moro than the
cost of gate in one hour, if COW
should ge. in when I am away"
81 should like to know who leaves
the bars down." said Walter, very threat.
cuinyly. "The same children might
leuve a gate open
But yoa can have a gate made TO
close Of its own accord, with a weight or
>pr;n.," suggested the wife. john
| Niles has had such gate put IN his
ya:d.' ;,
But amt john Niles, my dear,
replied Waiter.
But his family is as large as yours,
and his wages arc not higher.
"Nevcr mind about that. tell you
| can't afford it-at any rate not at
present. Aud with this Walter started
off to work.
Walter Gray was young man, about
thirty, an Industrious mechanic; had
been married about eight years, and had
an Interesting family.
lie mcan, to provide well Tor those
who depended on him, and in meas'
urc he did so. But there were maay
little comforts which at times they actu.
ally needed and which in the end might
| have proved 4 source Of saving.
And more too; it might have ADDED
to his own happiness had he felt able to
grant the requests. But he couldn't
ford it-al least so he thought and
whether he thought so with sound Judg.
mcnt the sequel will show.
The gate which his wife was so anx
ious to have put UP was needed at the
entrance to the garden at the back OF
;Ec house, where there was only pair
Of short bars. The children often came
rhro' there, and left the way open behind
tlem-iDIccd there were many ways in
which those bars were apt to be le!'
down, and Maria Gray had very often to
leave her work to drive ou: cattle that
got in.
it was oalJ BY extreme watchfulne*s
on her part that the garden was pre-.
served. She must keep her eyes upon the
spot and see that the troublesome bars
we're kept shut.
Only few days after this Mrs. Gray
asked him il he was going to hire pew
in the church for tic following year.
and he 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 five
ioilars."
{" I can't afford it, was Walters re
ply. 81 should get no good tiom the
meetings, any way"
"DDnt say so husband. Suppose cV'
cryJody should feel like that. You Ger
,ainIy wouldn't wish to live and bring
up your children, where there was no
religious influence. And if ycu reap the
benefit Of good Christian institutions,
YOU certainly ought to feel willing"
- II could afford it; but can't
Mrs. Gray looked very serious, and
seemed to hesitate, as though there was
u subject upon her mind, aud she deter
mined to let it cut.
"Walter," she said, little trcmulous'
ly. but still resO!utcly, ."you have ten
dollars a week
"Ycs."
"And how much Of that docs it take
to feed us"
Il don't know, I'm sure. I only know
that it takes all to feed and clcthe us
and pay up the interest on the house
Il haven't made new dress siocc
last fail. and | was reckoning up ycster'
day how much We had spent 10: the
children, and | foand it to Lc only iii
:cen dollars for the last ten moaths.
have worked over some clothes for
Charles, and Lucinda jumps into Mary
dresses as tic latter outgruws them.
"That's all very we'll, replied Walter
little testify. Il understand my own
business, aad know just what can
! afford, and what cant. While have
payments to make on my housc | must
cconc mizs--I must cconomizc,' he re-
pca;ed, very decidedly.
"And | would have you cconomlze,
returned the wife, "but do not forget that
ali is not economy which many call 50.
| think that to hire half Of John Niles
pew, would be great source of economy
and lasting good. 1t would be five dol
lars laid out to good advau;ase--surc to
I return a heavy interest to US and our
children. And l think it would be
good saving to put good gate at tho
garden"
"S,opT interrupted Walter, with q
ncrvous motion. "Iou said enough:
know my means -,
LET me coy one word" urged Maria
There was a seriousness in her tone
which caused her husband to stop aud
listen.
"Ir you will give me fvo dollars Q
week will agree to furnish all tSe pro
visions for the household. and c!othe
myself and children. will do this fol
enf