Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-04-21
A PLEASANT HOME AND HOW
TO GET ONE.

Returning home rather later in the
afternoon than usual, took short cut
through a part of the town in which
many of the poor people had their
dwellings. The houses were small, and
most of them had a neglected look;--
The paint was worn off the doors and
Windows; the gates to the little yard in
front were, in too many instances
broken of, and there was a general air
of comfortlessness aud want of thrift
that was sad to see.
Here and there you met with a
pleasant exception "a house with q
clean door-yard in which flowers grew
the woodwork clean with paint,
shades at the windows, around many Of
which grew Towering vines.
In the yard of one of these latter
dwellings | saw a man working among
the borders, l stopped at the gate,
and as he looked up recognized a
journeyman carpenter who had often
come jobbing to my house and store.
"Ah WilliamsE" said l. "Good
evening sir" he answered in the frank,
pleased way of one who meets friend
"And this is your homer" looked
up at the pretty little house as spoke.
Eyes, sir"
Owned by your
81 made the last payment only yes
terday. Won't you come in, sir. Ex-
cuse me for making so free, but I'm
proud of my house, and want TO be
showing it. Mary--that's my wife
keeps it like a new pin.
| was interested, and so went into
the house. 1t was plainly furnished,
but neat and clean, and comfortable
everywhere. In the kitchen we found
Mrs. Williams washing up the supper
things. Her hair and dress were tidy,
the clean, wide checked apron giving
her real housewifely look. She had a
pleasant, contented face.
l sat down in the small parior at
Williams invitation, and, as | did so,
put this question: Isa
"Who live in the houses around you9
Or, rather, what business do the men
follow?"
"Oh! as to that, all kinds Of business.
Most of them are mechanics"
Earning fair wages?'
eyes"
''How much?'
sFrom two to four dollars a day, ac-
cording 10 what they work at You
see that miserable looking house at the
corner? and he pointed from the
window.
eyes
,"Well, Michael Jones, who lives there,
is one of the best front bricklayers 10
be found, and can earn his four dollars
a day whenever he pleases--just dol
lar day more than get
docs he own his heuse?'
80 dear, no! He hardly owns him
self"
Whats the matter?''
"Just what ails most of them about
here. Don't make the best OF what he
earns. Four dollars a day is twenty
four dollars a week-six dollars
week more than get. Eve bought a
house and paid for it, and Jones is in
debt. Took me five years to do it, but
what of that?'
Maybe you hayn't so expensive a
family? said l.
1--WE stand just about even there, sir.
No, it isn't that. If Jones and his
wife had been es careful and saving as
we have been, they might now be iy-
ing in snug little house of their own,
all paid for, and with hundred or two
dollars laid by"
"What has he done with his
money!" Fot
at would be hard to tell; and yet"
after pause, ''it wouldn't be so very
hard, either, if one thought little
In the beginning, he and bis wife start
ed wrong. He had earned good wages
as a young man for three years, but
hadn't dollar ahead. All spent in
self-indulgence and the formation of
unthrifty habits. She had been in a
bookbindery for long time. receiving
fair wages, and with only light board
to pay. She lived with a sister But
her earnings were spent in dress, or