The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-02-05
THE TIN SAVINGS BANK.
BY HORATIO ALGER, JR.

Charles Lyuford was a young mechanic in
good business. At the age of twenty.six he had
taken to himself IA wife, Caroline Eustis, the
daughter of neighbor, who had nothing to bring
him except her own personal merits, which were
many, aud habits of thrift, learned in an econom.
ical household under the stern teachings of
necessity.
1t well, perhaps, that Charles Lynford
should obtain q wife of this character, since he
himself found it very difficult to save anything
from his income.
It was not long before Caroline became acQuan.
ted with her husbands failing. She could not
feel quite easy in the knowledge that they were
living fully up to their income, foreseeing that
time would come when their family would grow
more expensive, and perhaps her husbands bust
ness, now hour.shing, might become less SO.
Accordingly one day she purchased of a tin
pedler, who came to the door, a little tin safe,
such as children frequently use for savings
bank. This she placed censpicuoasly on the
mantel piece, so that her husband might be sure
to see it on entering.
"Helo, Carrie, what's that?" he asked cur.
iously.
"only little purchase made to-day said
his wife. - --
"Let me Illustrate said his wife playfully.
"Have you a ten cent piece about your"
Charles drew dime from his waistcoat pocket
His wife taking it from his hand dropped it into
the box through little hole at the top of the box
Charles laughed.
$50 YOU have taken to boarding, Carrie My
little wife become q miser 7"
"No, only a little prudent. But seriously,
Charles, that is what | want you to do every
night"
"What-drop dime int this new tangled ar.
rangement of yours,"
"Exactly."
"Very we'll that will be easy enough. A dime
day is not a great sum. But may know what
you are going to do with this newly commenced
hoard?"
"Lay it by for rainy day." Caroline an.
swered
Charles laughed merily.
'And what will dime day amount Y" he
inquired.
"In year it will amount" commenced his
wife, seriously
80, never mind-spare me the calculation It
sounds too much like business, and I have enough
of that during the day"
"But you don't object to my planf"
''Not in the least have no doubt it is very
commendable, but you know, Carrie, 1 never was
gifted with much produce"
81 am quite aware of that" said his wife
smiling.
This ended the conversation for the time.
The plan inaugurated by the young wife was
steadily carried out. She was not one of those
(of whom there many who enter upon q
new plan zealously but soon tire OF it. In the
present case she was thoroughly satisfied of the
wisdom of her purpose, and resolved to carry it
through Every morning she called upon her
husband for a dime, which was forthwith added
to the accumulation Frequently he had not the
exact change, but would toss her quarter in
stead. She would assure him laughingly that
her " yyell
More than once Charles would banter her on
the subject OF her little savings bank, but this
she bore gaily. But these were not the only ac-
cessions the fund received. He husband had
early arranged to make all ample arran GENE o Is
for dress-l say amrle, though dare say some
Of my city readers might not have considered it
SO; but Caroline-who was in the habit of max.
ing hes own dresses-provided herself with \
good wardrobe at a much less eX pensc than some
not SO well versed ia the science managing could
have done
Ate. considerable calculation she came to the
conclusion that out of her daily allowance she
should be able to make daily deposit equal to
that she exaCted of her husband OF this, how.
ever, she thought it best, on the whole, not TO
Inform Charles, enjoying in patton the pros.
pect OF being able, AT some time to surprise him
with the unexpected amount ct her savings.
AT the close OF every month the tin box was
savings bank of more pretcusious. where interest
would be allowed. When the sum deposited
here became large enough. Mrs. Lynford, who
had considerable business capacity, withdrew
them and invested in bank and other stocks,
which would yield large per cent. Of her
mode of arrangement her husband remained in
complete ignorance. Nor did he ever express
any desire to be made acquainted with his w;fe's
management He was sn easy, careless fellow,
spending az he went, enjoying the present and
not feeling any particular concern about the
future.
At the end OF eight years, during which he
had been unusually favored by prosperity in
business and with uninterrupted health his book.
showed that he had not exceeded his income. bu,
that on the other hand he had saved absolutely
nothing Twenty-Five cents alone stood to hi,
credit.
Running pretty close, Carrie ?" he said laugh
ingly. II take credit to myself for keeping on
the right side of tie line. But then, suppo,,
that you have saved up an immense sum-"
"How much do you Think" inquired hi,
wife.
''oh. perhaps hundred dollars" said Charlie,