Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-08-25
THE GAZETTE
CEDAR FALLS. AUGUST 25. 1871.
The Managing Wife.


over thousand dollars"
"And your income has heen thou
sand dollars:"
"Yes. I managed pretty well didn'
Im
"Do you think it managing wei
to exceed your income ?" said the
wife.
Whats thirty seven cents?a asked
Mr.. Newton lightly.
"Not much, to be sure, but still
something. 1t seems to me that we
ought to have saved, instead of fall.
ing behind"
"But how can we save on this sal.
ary, Elizabeth ?" We haven't lived
extravagantly. Still it seems to have
taken 1t ALL"
Perhaps there Is something In
which we might retrench. Suppose
you mention some Of your items"
"The most important are house
rent, one hundred and fifty dollars
and articles of food five hundred dol
lars.n
"Just halfn
"Yes, and you'll admit we can't re.
trench there, Elizabeth. like to
live well. had enough of poor
board before I was married. Now,
mean to live as well as can.
"Still We ought TO be saving up
something against rainy day."
Ezra.
THAT would be something like
carrying an umbrella when the sun
Shines"
"Still IL is well to have an umbrel.
10 i'm the house."
II can't controvert your logic,
Elizabeth, but Pm afraid we shan't
be able to save anything this year
When | get my salary raised, il will
be time enough to think about
that"
LET me make proposition to
you," said Mrs. Newton. "You say
one-half of your income has been ex.
pended on articles of food. Are you
willing TO allow me that sum for the
purpose ?"
"You guarantee.to pay all;bills out
of 1t ?' c# r.. r.r%s.r rg Z
"Yss."
Then / will shift the responsible.
ty upon you with pleasure. But
can tell you beforehand, that you
won't be able to save very much out
of it,"
Perhaps not. At any rate, / will
engage not to exceed it." ~
"That's well. L shouldn't relish
having any additional bills to pay
AS ! am paid every month, 1 will al
payment, hand you half the money
I get"
The Observation-Disclosures of hus.
band and wife may be judged from
the conversation which has been re.
corded. Mr.. Newton had but little
prudence or foresight. He lived
chiefly for the present, and seemed tc
fancy that whatever contingencies.
might arise in the future he would
somehow be provided for. Now
trust in Providence is very proper
feeling, but there is O good deal oi
truth in the old adage that God will
help those who help themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had
been brought up in family which
was compelled to be economical, and
although she was not disposed to
deny herself comforts, yet she felt
that IL was desirable to procure them
at fair price. The time at which
this conversation took place was at
the commencement of the second
year of their married 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 and inquired
Glow often have you been In the
habit of presenting your bills, Mr..
Williams ?"
"Once In six MONTHS" was the re-
ply.
"And 1 suppose you sometimes
have bad bills ?"
"Yes, one-third of my profits on
an average, are swept off by them"
"And you could afford, / suppose,
to sell somewhat cheaper for ready
money!"
"Yes, and I would be glad II my
customers would give me chance to
do so."
/ will set them an example then"
said Mrs. Newton. thereafter,
whatever articles shall be purchased
of you will be paid for on the spot,
and we will expect you to sell as rea-
sonable as possible.p
This arrangement was also made
with the others, who, IL is scarcely
needful to say, were very glad to en-.
ter into the arrangement. Ready
money is the great support of trade
and cash customer Is worth two
who purchase on credit.
Fortunately Mrs. Newton had Q
small supply of money by her, which
lasted till the first monthly install
ment from her husband became due
Thus she was enabled to.carry ouI
her cash plan from the beginning.
Another plan which occurred te
her as likely to save expense, wa,
to purchase articles in large quaint
ties. She had soon saved enough
from the money allowed hero Dc
this. For example, instead Of buy.
Ing sugar o few pounds at time, SHE
purchased barrel, and SO succeeded
In saving scent or more on thu
pound. This, perhaps, announced tt
but trifle in the course of year
but the same system carried out in
regard to other articles yielded re-
suit which was by no means trifie
There were other ways In which .
careful housekeeper IL able to limi,
expense, which Mrs. Newton die
not overlook. With an object In
view she was always on The lookou,
to prevent waste. and to get the full
value of whatever was expended -
At the close of the year, on examin-
fros hap ha b hnnk-fnr oi,o Ia II.