The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-28
TOM TAYLOR AND RETRENCHMENT.

TOM TAYLOR AND RETRENCHMENT.
Retrenchment was the word, Mr..
Cary, ! think, that you made use of?
Very well, sir, retrenchment it is but
how do you propose to accomplish it?
you have, on various occasions, talked
this before. Now, let's put our econo,
mical ideas into immediate and practi-
cal use. What shall we do first p
Mr.. Cary passed his cup for just
one more part full" of the aromatic
coffee-lool<ed at his wife little dis
trustlully, cleared his throat, and com
menced:
"Of course, my dear, it is very un.
pleasant to mention the necessity for
such change; but | find, upon COM
pairing my expenses with those Of my
friends, there must be terrible leak
somewhere Now, there's Taylor, !
suppose you'll hardly credit it, Clara,
when / tell you that it cost us almost as
much again to live as it does him and
who can say aught against the elegance
of his establishment?
If my memory serves me, Charles,
YOU have informed me of this fact on
several previous and similar occasions.
I know why our household eXpendi-
lures exceed theirs and if you haven't
sense enough to understand it, also,
can't help it. | don't care to hear the
financial management of any of your
friends discussed-much less Tom Tay-
lor's; for, in my opinion, he is just
about the meancst specimen OF man
ever became acquainted with; so, tell
me, what you desire done, and | pledge
myself to see it accomplished immedi-
ately. Will it be best to take smaller
house, Mr.. Cary p
4" Smaller house, Clara? You must
be crazy to think of such thing. OF
course, we must keep up appear
ances.'
"Three thousand a year is large fig
ure for people who find it necessary to
retrcnch ?n
And Clara Cary met her husbands
quizzical glance with a straighttor-
ward and honest expression, which
completely allayed all suspicion as to
any lurking sarcasm contained in her
words.
"That isn't to be considered for mo-
ment, Clara-nOt for q moment. 1t
would injure my business credit
at once but will tell you what ar
rangement strikes me as feasible, and
really Just the thing One more swal-
low of coffee, dear, and the least bit Of
steak. Now'-and Mr. Cary stirred
the beverage little nervously-" you
know our family is very small. 1t
isn't at all as if we had two or three
childrcn."
Very true, Mr.. Cary responded his
wife, with her head, canary-like, cooked
one side, evidently bracing herself to
listen, quietly and unresentfully, to any
plan her better half might deem it pro.
per to propose.
Three servants for two able-bodied
people does seem slightly ridiculous
doesn't it, dear2n
And Mr.. Cary rubbed his hands and
laughed little louder and little long
er than the occasion or idea seemed to
warrant.
Very well, then" replied the little
woman, whose solid and imperturbable
conference gave no indication Of dis
satisfaction" very well; how many do
you deem it advisable to dismiss p
Heavens, Clara! how uncomfortable
practical you are this morning. | want
to talk this matter over amicably, and
enter into an arrangement which shall
not only be highly beneficial, but mutu-
ally pleasant
9 You have talked great deal, and
talked it very often, for an uncomfort-
able length Of time, Charles but now, !
am ready and anxious to put your ideas
into practice
Well, them" he continued, " OF
course. we must have cook, and a
waitress: but | should really suppose
that the seamstress could be dispensed
with. You are fond Of sewing, and
should suppose the employment would
be pleasant
4" All right. Annie shall 90. And
Mrs. Cary made a note in her little
ivory memorandum book, aud demure
lysaid;
What next p
"That is one very important item
settled Mrs. Taylor doesn't keep but
one servant, and she always manages tC
look we'll dressed, and more than com
monty attractive. Don't you think so
Clara?"
a think, Charles Cary, that Mrs
TAYLOR is a modest, careful, and indus
trious woman, and have the highes
respect for her housekeeping qualiiica
tons but, at the same time, cannot bu
have a slight feeling of contempt for {
character which permits itself to be
crushed under the tyrannical heel OF
scamp. Scamp, said, Mr.. Cary. anc
scamp, repeat, most emphatically
And were | in his wife's place today,
would teach him a lesson he would re
member; or, failing to do that, would
take destiny into my own hands, anc
leave him Now, let Tom Taylor rest
So far, it reads thus: Mrs. Cary is t
dismiss her seamstress, and do he
own sewing-two very important items
Go on
" Well''-and the nerves around Mr.
Cary's mouth twitched just the least bi
in the world, and his eyes, somehow
forgot to seek hers-"you had, | be
lieve, everything new, last winter-cloal