The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1871-05-11
THE MANAGING WIFE.

asked MS wiIe, iooklng up, HOW w
you come out p
al fnd," said her husband, "that
my expenses during the ost year
have been thirty-scven cents over
thousand dollars"
"And your income hae been q
thousand dollars"
"Yes. managed pretty well,
didn't Iw
/" DO you think it managciug well
to exceed your income ?" said his
wife.
What's thirty seucn cents p asked
Mr.. Newton, lightly
I" Not much, TO DO sure, but still
something. II seems to me that we
ought to have saved, instead Of falling
behind"
But how can we save on this sal.
ary, Elizabeth !? We haven't lived
cxtravagautly. Still it seems to have
taken it ALL"
Perhaps there is something in
which wc might retrcnch. Suppose
you mention some Of the items"
"The most importunt are house
rent, one hundred and fifty dollars, and
articles of food, five hundred dollars. "
"Just half'
"Yes, and you'll admit that we
can't rctrench there, Elizabeth. l
ike to live well. | had enough Of
poor board before | was married
Now | mean to live as well as | can.
"Still we ought TO DO saving up
something against rauy day, Ezra
THAT would be something like
carrying and umbrella when the sun
Shines
Still it is we'll to have az umbrella
in the house,
81 can't controvert your logic, Eli
zabcth, hut | am afraid we shan't be
able to save anything this year. When
get my salary raised, it will be time
enough to think Of that
Let me make proposition to
you,' said Mrs. Newton. You say
one half of your income has been cx-
pendcdi on articles Of food. Arc you
willing to allow me that sum for the
purpose p
"You guarantee to pay all bills out
ofit?"
eyes,
"Then will shift the responsible
ty upon you with pleasure. But ]
can tell you beforehand you won't be
able to save much out Of it,
Perhaps not At any rate l will
engage not to exceed il "
That's well | shouldn't relish
having any additional bills to pay.
AS | am paid every month, ] will at
each payment hand you half the
money!
The different characters Of husband
and wife may bc judged from conver-
sation which has been recorded. Mr..
Newton had but little prudence or
foresight. lie lived chiefly for the
present and seemed to fancy that
whatever contingencies might arise in
the future, he would somehow DO pro-
vided for. Now trust in Providence
is very proper feeling, but there is
a good deal of truth in the old adage
that God will help those who help
themselves.
! Mrs. Newton on tho contrary, had
been brought up in family which
was compelled to be economical, and
although she was not disposed to de-
ny herself comforts, yet she felt that
it was desirable to procure them at n
fair price.
The time at which this conversa-
tion took place was at the commence
ment of the second year OF their mar
ried life.
The FIRST step which Mrs. Newton
took, on accepting the charge Of the
household expenses, was to institute
the practice Of paying cash for all ar
ticles that came under her depart
ment. She accordingly called on the
butcher ard inquired
"How often bave you been 10 the
habit of presenting your bills, Mr..
Williams p
"Onco 10 six MONTHS was the re-
ply.
"And suppose you sometimes
have bad bills p
AYES, one-tLird Of my profits, on
an average, are swept off by them"
"Aud you could afford, suppose,
to sell somewhat cheaper for ready
money? ~
"Yes, and would be glad IL all my