Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-01
Calls aud Sketehes.
THE MANAGING WIFE.

out?"
II find" said her husband, THAT my
expenses during the last year have been
thlrty-seyen cents over a thousand dollars,
And your income has been thousand
dollars 81
Yes. | managed pretty well, didn't
I?"
''Do you think it managing well to ex-
cced your income? ?" said his wife.
whats thirty-seven cents?n asked Mr..
Newton, lightly.
Not much to be sure, but still some
thing. 1t seems to me that we ought 10
have saved, instead of falling behind
But how can we save on this salary,
Elizabeth? We haven't lived extravaganza
ly. Still it seems to have taken it ALL
''Perhaps there is somethins in which we
might retrench. Suppose you mention
some of your items"
1.-The most important 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 re-
trench, Elizabeth. like to live we'll had
mean to live as well as | can
Ctlll W L oU1llt 10 bC SiN Iu1 up SOIllt-
thing against q rainy day, Ezra
That would be something like carry
ing an umbrella when the sun shines"
''Still it is we'll to have an umbrella in
the house,
Il can't controvert your logic, Elizabeth,
but I'm 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 a proposition to you,
said Mrs. Newton. You say one half of
your income has been expended on articles
of food. Are you willing to allow me that
sum for the purpose ?"
'Nou guarantee to pay all bills out of
it ?"
'Yes.n
"Then will shift the responsibility
upon you with pleasure. But | can tell you
before hand you won't be able to save
much ont of it,"
"Perhaps not. At any rate, will en-
gage not to exceed it"
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 be Judged from the conversation
which has been recorded Mr.. Newton
had but little prudence or foresight. He
lived chiefly for the present, and seemed
to fancy that whatever contingencies
might arise in the future, he would some
how be provided for. Trusting Provi-
dence is a very proper feeling, but there
is good deal of truth in the old adage,
that God will help those who help them
selves.
Mrs Newton, on the contrary, had been
brought up in II family which was COM
PEELED to be economical, and although she
was not disposed to deny herself comforts,
vet she felt that it was desirable to procure
them at a 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 articles that came un-
der her department. She accordingly
called on the butcher and inquired:
How often have YOU been in the habit
of presenting your bills, Mr.. Williams ?'
"Once in six months" was the reply.
"And | suppose you sometimes have
bad bills ?"
Eyes, one third of my profits, on an av-
erage, are swept off by them"
And you could afford. | suppose, to
sell somewhat cheaper for ready money!
YES, and l would be glad if all my
customers would give me chance to dc
So
Il will set them an example them" said
Mrc ssIIaraaftor
tcles shall be purchased of You will be
paid for on the spot. and we shall expect
you to sell as reasonable as you can"
This arrangement was also made with
the others, who, it is scarcely needful to
say. were very glad to enter into the an
rangement. Ready money is the great
support of trade, and cash customer is
worth two who purchase on credit.
Fortunately Mrs. Newton had small
supply OF money by her which lasted till
the first monthly instalment from her hus-
band was due. Thus she was enabled to
carry out her cash plan from the begin
ming.
Another plan which occurred to her as
likely to save expense, was to purchase
articles in large quantities She had soon
saved enough from the money allowed her
to enable her to do this. For example,
instead of buying sugar few pounds at
time, she purchased Il barrel, and so
succeeded in saving a cent or more on u
pound. This perhaps amounted to but a
triile in the course of year, but the same
system carried out in regard to other ar
ticles yielded result which was by no
means Il tritle.
There were other ways in which care
full housekeeper is able to limit expense,
which Mrs. Newton did not overlook.
With that object in view she was always
on the lookout to prevent waste, and to
get the full value of whatever was ex-
pended.
The result was beyond her anticipations
Az the close of the year, on examining
her bank book-for she had regularly de-
posted whatever money she had not occa-
sion to use in one of these institutions
she found she had one hundred and fifty
dollars beside reimbursing herself for the
money during the first month, and having
enough to last another.
"Well, Elizabeth, have you kept within
your allowance?" asked her husband at this