Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-06-14
Take Care of the Pennies.

Every one is familiar with the old adj
age, Take care of the pennies, the
hounds will take care of themselves"
and the following anecdote (for the truth
of which The writer voucbes, being asz
quaiuted with The parties to whom 1T re-
fersl is strikingly Illustrative of The pow
er that lies in the hands of even the very
poorest of our readers if they VIII but
take care of the pennies.
a Manchester calico printer was, on
his wedding day, persuaded by bis wife
TO allow her. as her share, two Plhts OF
ale day. He rather WINGED under The
bargain, for, though driuker himself,
lie would have preferred a perfectly So
Der wife. They both worked hard, and
he, poor map, was seldom out OF the
public house as soon as the factory clos
ed. The wife aud husband saw little of
each other except at breakfast; but as
she kept things tidy about her, and made
her stinted and even selfish allowance
for housekeeping. meet the demand upon
her, he never complained. She had her
daily pint, and he, perhaps, had his two
or three quarts; and neither interfered
with the other, except, at odd times,
when she succeeded, by dint of one little
srtifce or other to win him home an
hour or two earlier at night, aud now
and then to spend an entire evening at
his own house. But these were rare oc-
casions. They had been married year;
and on the anniversary. the husband
looked askance at her neat and comeIy
person with some shade of remorse, Is
be observed, "Mary, wen had no hoil-
day sin we we'd; and, only that | haven't
a penny i tn world, we'd take jaunt
TO tn village to see thy mother
Wouldst thou like to 60, John 7" ask
ed shs softly, between smile and tear.
pleased to hear him speak kindly as in
old times. "If thee u like to go. John,
| II stand treat"
Thou stand treat!" said he with half
a sneer. Z" Hast got fortin'. wenchF
NAY" said she, +" but We gotten
the pint o ale"
s.Gotten what" Inquired be.
L uO DiiIl " dlos WAC tSPiys
John still did not understand her till
the faithful creature reached down an old
stocking from under loose brick in the
chimney and counted out her daily pint
of ale in the shape of 365 three pences.
THAT is, Ga lis. Al. sterling, or $23, and
put it in his hand, ezclaiming. "Thss
shall have the holiday, john" John
was ashamed, astonished, conscience-smit'
ten, charmed. He wouldn't touch it.
Hasn't thee had thy share ?-then I'll
ha' no more," he said. They kept their
wedding day with the old dame. and
the wfe's little capital was the nucleus of
series of investments that ultimately
swelled into shop, factory. ware house,
country seat, carriage. "and perhaps"
said Mr.. Owen. while relating this incl
dent in one of his addresses, "John may
yet be mayor OF his native borough"
The writer was present in tho town
hall 10 Bolton, Lancashire, in lS49, list
ening TO a mos; eloquent lecture to the
working classes" by Dir. Baxter Lang
ley, the accomplished editor of the Lon
don Morning Star, when at the close Of
the lecture, to impress on his audience
the power of such savings, ne related
the foregoing anecdote. The mayor of
the borough was in the chair. AT the
conclusion of the anecdote, he came for
ward to the foot lights, placed his hand
upon his breast and said! Lsdies and
gentlemen, John now stands before you.
lie did become mayor of bis native bor-
ouOh.