The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-13
Five ShiIIinss u Week.
And Wbst came OF IL.

Thomas Brown lived next door u Robert Smith,
and both worked in the same factory. But.
though they stood side by side all day. Jhcy had
very different ways Of spending their evenings.
smiths pleasure was 70 sit and chat in the Iorl"r
IF the Red Lion. while Brown thought his own
snug chimney-opner Ylcasauter and cheaper.
Brown was a " staunch teetItaicr. a. he called
himself. lie wa~ able ana strong. and lie found
tie did not need beer OF spirits: Ice saw many of
his fellJw-workmcn and their Lads slipping down
into the habit IF s~pcndin. a great part Of their
earning IN drink. and every now and then break
ing out in drunken revel. - Thomas resolved 10
keep clear 0f the temptation Z take too much
strong drink By taking none AT al.
He was surprised himself u find how much
money this resolve saved him lie found that he
had about FIVE ehiiling- Il week u sIare. after
paving all his household expenses. He consulted
with his good wife. what u DO with this FIVE shil-
lings, and they settled 70 put it into a building
society which had lately been formed. - Thomas
Brown took five fifty pound shares, and paid his
five ~-hillings Il week into the society while lis
ucighbJF and s~h,V-matc. Robert Smith. spent hi
surplus five shiiiings in the Iarlor OF the Red
Lion.
Eleven years passed over: the building society
of which Thomas Brown was a member, wound
up. and Thomas received a check ON the bank for
$3.50, with which he bought a house. which
brought him in eight shillings 4 week for rent.
~ he still had his five shiIings surplus from
his wages. and these eight shillings besides, he
thought ne could DO no better than join another
building society and - he took thirteen fifty
pound shares and paid in his thirteen shillings a
week.
Another eleven years passed over, and the build
ing society paid Thomas $3.50, with which he
bought him more houses. which brought him
twenty-seyen sLillings a week-about EGS Il year.
About this time work began TO he slack nj the
factory, and the master sent for Robert and
Thomas, and told them that he was very sorry
that he could no longer find employment for them.
Both returned home. Thomas was 4 little sad
To think that he should not - To- the old Tlacc.
where he had worked for 50 many years but
Robert had Il heavy heart. and when he told his
wife she pictured Il dismal future, and burst into
tears.
After the chcerless supper, Robert went out,
but instead of going To the Red Lion, he looked
in at his neighbOr Thomas house to see what he
was going u do, for Thomas, like a wise man,
had not bOasted about Eis savings or his property,
and few of his shopnatcs knew anything about
IL. Thomas was at MS supper when Robert came
i'll, and ne asked him to cit down and join him
but Robert was too excited 10 do that.
What i 10 be done. Thomas - said Robert
- this Is Il desperate bad job"
"Wel,' said Thomas, : for my part don't
intend To work in the factory any more. | can't
take u Il new place now, after l have been -
long used to the old shop
How do You mean % live, then?" asked
Robert. Has any one left you a fortune"
NO" answered Thomas, Il have income
enough to keep me without working in the fac
tory"
u WISH said Robert, :. that you would give
me Il leaf out of your book"
May said Thomas, Il fear il is too late
now. You know L have been 4 ~teetotaler for
twenty years, aud many a joke YOU and the rest
have mad at me for it."
"Well. you have the pail of US now, at any
rate said Robert - but YOU don't suppose |
have been a drunkard. do you? | have always
made my wife comfortable, ana given her what
she has wanted for the house.
Il know YOU have answered Thomas '. but
my wife and | agreed 70 put the five shillings a
week we could spare into the building society,
and now WI have thirty-scven shillings n week
coming in without W Working for it
Robert looked surprised, and lac said sadly as
he got up TO %. Il sec my mistake now though
| have not been n drunkard, | have squandered
away without Thought what might now make my
wife and me comfortable for the rest of our lives.
instead of having t. set out and look for work in
Il new place among strangers. "-EHgiSh Paper.