Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-02
The Tin Savings Bank.

good business At the age Of tweuty-six he
had taken to himself a wife, Caroline Eustis,
the daughter Of neighbor, who had noshisg
to bring him except her own personal merits,
which were many, and habits Of thrift, learn
ed in an economical household under the stern
teaching Of necessity.
1t was we'll, perhaps, that Charles Lynford
should obtain wio Of this character, since
he himself found it very difficult to save any
thing from his income.
IL was not long before Caroline became ac-
quainted with her husbands failing She
could not feel quito easy in the knowledge
that they were living full up to their income,
ioreseeing that a time would come when their
family would grow more expensive and per-
haps her husbands business, now fourishing,
might bbcomc less so.
Accordingly, one day she purchased Of a
tin-peddler who came to the door, little tin
safe, such as children frequently uso as a sa-
wings bank This she placed conspicuously on
the mantel-piece so that her husband might
be sure to see it on entering
Halo Carrie what's that he asked,
curiously.
"Only little purchase made to-day"
said his wife.
But what is it meant fort" he asked
again.
Let me Illustrate" said his wife, play
fully. a." Have you ten cent piece about
you ?"
Charles drew dime from his pocket. His
wife, taking il from his hand, dropped II
through little slit at the top.
Charles laughed.
80 you have taken to boarding, Carrie
My little wife become a miser ?"
"No, only little prudent But, seriously
Charles, that is what want you to do every
night"
What drop dime into that new-faugled
arrangement of yours {"
Exactly"
"Very well that will be easy enough, A
dime is no great sum. But may know what
you are going to do with this newly-com-
menced hoard2"
Lay it by for rainy day." answered
Caroline.
Charles laughed merrily.
And what will dime a day amount to ?"
he inquired.
In year it will amount" commenced
his wife, seriously
40, never mind-spare me the calculation!
enough of that during the day"
But you don't object to my plant"
"Not in the least. have no doubt it is
very prudent and commendable; but you
know, Carrie, | never was gifted with much
prudence
Il am quite aware of that" said his wife,
smiling.
This ended the conversation fer the time.
The plan inaugurated by the young wife
was steadily carried out She was not one Of
those, of whom there are so many, who enter
upon a new plan zealously, but soon tire of it.
In the present case she was thoroughly satis-
fed of the wisdom of her purpose, and re.
solved to carry it through. Every morning
she called on her husband for dime, which
was forthwith added TO the accumulation.
Frequently he had not the exact change, but
would toss her a quarter instead. She would
assure him, laughingly, that this would an
swer her purpose equally as well.
More than once Charles would banter her
on the subject Of her little savings bank, but
this she bore gayly. But these were not the
only accessions the fund received. Her hus-
band had early arranged to make an ample
allowance for dress. say ample, though
dare say some of my city readers might not
have considered it SO. But Caroline, who
was in the habit of making up her own dresses,
provided herself with a good wardrobe at
much less expense than some not so well
versed in the science Of managing could have
done.
After considerable calculation she came to
the conclusion that out of her allowance she
should be able to make daily deposit equal
to that which she exacted Of her husband.
OF this however, she thonght it best, on the
whole, not to inform Charles-enoying, in
anticipation, the prospect Of being able, at
some time to surprise him with the unex.
pected amount of her savings.
At the close of every month the tin box
was emptied, and the contents were transfer.
red to savings bank of more pretensions
where interest would be allowed. When the
sums 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 management her
husband remained in complete ignorance. Nor
did he ever express any desire to be made
acquainted with his wifes management He
was an easy, careless fellow, spending as he
: went, enjoying the present and not feeling
any particular concern about the future.
At the end of eight years, during which be
had been unusually favored by prosperity in
business and uninterrupted health, his books
showed that he had not exceeded his income.
, but on the other hand that he had saved ab-
solutely nothing. Twenty-Five cents alone
stood to his credit.
> Running pretty close, isn't it, Carrie ?"
he said, laughingly. II take credit to my.
! self for keeping on the right side of the line
But then, | suppose you have saved up an
: immense sum-"
How much do you think !" asked his
wife
90, perhaps a hundred dollars said
Charles Iyntord, carelessly " though it
would take good many dimes to do that"
His wife smiled, but did not volunteer to
enlightan him as 10 the correctness Of his
conjecture.
So things went on, till at length came the
panic Of 1874 panic SO recent that ii wiu
be remembered by many readers Of this
sketch. II will be remembered how univer-
sally trade and business Of every kind we're
depressed at that period Among others,
the trade which occupied Charles Lynford
suffered.
One evening he came home looking qsite
serious--an expression which seldom came
over his cheerful face.
Caroline, who had watched tho signs Of the
times, was not unprepared to see this. She
had expected that her husbands business
would be affected.
"What is the matter, Charles 2" she asked,
cheerihlly.
"The matter is, that we shall hsVe to econ
omize greatly" .,
Anything unfavorable turned up in bust.
ness matters"
II should think there had. I shall have
but half @ days work fox some time 70 cone,