Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-07-22

= J y
added the relentless Ellen.
Mr.. Dater reluctantly counted out the
money, 4" BE as economical rs you can, FL
len"
Ellen went out tossing her head, and NUT
tering under her breath certain undeniable
truisms respecting hcnhuHies !"
"The newspaper bill, sir," said Mary, the
chambor-maid, entering on tip-toe, with q
narrow slip Of paper between her fingers.
What is it2n
"Thir,y cents sir
Mr. Dater again uucaspcd his port-monnaie
and handed out the requisite sum. It was
hardly more than moment before Mary again
came IN
"If you please, sir, the wood you ordered
has come home, aud Patrick DAILY wants a
dollar for splitting it up.
A dollar l' lrettcl our housekeeper ,
" that is too much :"
g. lie worked half day at it, sir, aud It's
what he has always asked, said Mary, res
pectlhlly.
Take it, then sharply responded Mr..
Dater. I must see if / can't get some one
to work for me a little cheaper. ! don't be-
lieye in paying the highest prices for the least
possible amount Of work !"
This was a bomb shell thrown bcigerenty
into Mrs Dater's camp, but that lady wrote
serenely on. II was not her cue to notice any
such indirect method of warfare
" The big kettle, sir, home from the tin
mans, put in Mary, once more It's fifty
cents, sir, if you please"
Fifty cents Fifty cents for mending a
tin kettle" cried our hero
Yes, sir; it's sodered in two places,
and"
There is the grocer's boy coming up the
street" said Mrs. Dater, glaneing out Of the
window. And, sure enough, Ellen entered
presently, with sleeves rolled up and white
| bib-apron tied under her chin.
THE bill from the grocers, Mr.. nater, al.
ready receipted."
Mr.. Dater took the bill and looked hurried.
" over its list of contents
Raisins---spicos-s s-soap--preparcd flour
eggs -clothes-p -pins-carpet-ta - lemons
hum-m-iour dollars and seventy-fve cents
-Four dollars and seventy five cents for a gro
GERS bill of two days standing! My dear
this should be looked into There must b.
some screw loose in our housekeeping :"
You complained that the pudding-sauo'
was not rich enough yesterday Edward" sale
Mrs. Datcr, deliberately folding the little not,
she had Just written; "and last week yol
said that cake, without a sulheiency Of raisin
aud spices was merely galvanized bread"
g" 4 man don't want all his chance speeche
etcmally brought up against him. muttere'
Mr. Dater, looking rather confused, while hi
wife dated another gilt-edged sheet Of paper
and began q second letter.
"Well, what now ? " demanded Mr.. Da
, ter, in despairing accent as Mary came il
/ once more. stepping softly.
" It's the sl,oemakers bill. sir; aud wou
ye be pleased TO pay it now, for his rem
} comes due tomorrow, he says
" How much is it2
Seven dollars, sir" Mary handed hin
5 the bill.
Seven dollars For two pairs of child
j. rens shoes My dear Maria, isn't it ra,he
+ unnecessarily extravagant ~
l If YOU remember, Edward you reprove
+ me only yesterday for allowing Benny to :
Is out walking in such shabby shoes
a We'll, there's no use in saying anythin
| suppose the bill has got TO be paid, as Il
,sboes are bought"
e II suppose So too, said his wife, dryly.
!. But no more remarks were made unit
d Benny and Tommy, two apple-cheeked boy
: of seven and nine, came bounding in fror
school at noon, rosy aud boiserous.
Mamma mamma | want fifty cents 70
my new geography, and Tommy wants a quar-
ter for his slate Tommy's going into ii
ciphering class, mamma"
! ] q g..l Ill NJ.
t Dater; and the pateyJamaiaS slowly dsburse
the requisite funds, silently pursing up h
- mouth into whisting pose as he did so.
| Papa papa " stormed little Tomm.
f Gathering up stairs minute or two atterwar,
4 with all the combined energy Of copper-to,
n and iron-nailed heels ELLEN wants bott
o of olive oil to make dressing for the celer
V salad. Can ! go to the grocery after it
. Can I, papa2 Give us dollar"
II Mr. Dater looked at the dollar and thougl
it of the cool, delicious celery salad-his grea
If est gastronomie temptation. The latter col
,r sderation proved too strong for economy.
h Run along then my son, and make haste
"Can have ten cents for some orange
% papa ?" pleaded the child.
:. "Yes. Go along
r. After dinner, during which he did amp
Justice to the celery salad, Mr.. Dater !,
down on the lounge for his usual siesta.
9. sooner, however, did the drowsy influences
70 Morpheus begin to steal over his eyeids thu
m Bennie's voice interrupted the dreamy laps
re of iorgetiuness.
Papa !" cried the boy, Mary said
re was to give you this bill"
Bill more bills!" calculated poor NJ
y. Dater, sitting up with suddeness that ma
Benne start. Is life one tremendous bill ?
n. one endless siege of your pocket2"
n sometimes think So" said Mrs. Dat
#. who wns singing her baby to sleep by the fl
ms learn by instinct.
n. ''Sx dollars Is it possible that we,
q. moderately-sized family, burn six dolla
worth of gas in a month - he exclaimed,
ly proaohmlly.
&, 81 tried, while ago, to eeonomze in
he gas, Edward said his wife, but you SEQ
ne ed me for making the house as gloomy as
on cavern
er Without another word Mr.. Dater paid
obnoxious bill and lay back upon the loun
Of with a sigh that might have come from I
of 4" Cave of the Winds
fe For Just one hour he lay there silent a
in motionless. but not asleep. At the end
that time he spoke out
nv MRS, Dater
Yes"
sv Here are your keys"
,d "Thank you. Have you given houseke,
no ing sufficiently long trial 2"
he " Do you always have so many bills to :