Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-07-27

how fond Hattie was of oranges. Of
course he would have them.
And SO the days passed on and the
month came to an end. George Brown
was paid by his employers, and he set at
once about paying others. On his way
home he stepped in and got Mr.. Skidd's
bill.
"You can take it and look it over," said
the trader with patrouiziug smile, "You'll
find it all right"
George had intended to pay the bill then
aud there; but when he aaw the large COL
umn Of figures, and glanced his eye at the
sum total his heart leaped up into his
mouth. He was astonished. He had
thought to himself, as he came along, that
Skidd's bill would be about twelve or IF.
teen dollars. After paying everything else
he would have twenty dollars left, which
would satisfy this last demand and leave
something over. lie had just commenced
housekeeping, aud did not expect to save
much at first.
But-mercy how his anticipations
were knocked in pieces as he looked at the
bill. He told Skdd he guessed he would
look it over, and on his way homeward ex-
amined it; but he could find nothing
wrong-nothing wrong in the items-but
the sum total was poser-twenty-six dol
lars and forty-two cents!
For long time after he had reached
home he tried to convince Hattie that
nothing was the matter with him; but at
length he plucked up courage and drew
forth Skidd's bill. He had expected that
his wife would be paralyzed. But, on the
contrary, she only smiled and said it was
all right.
"All right?" echoed George.
"All right, so far as Mr.. Skidd is con-
cerned," said Hattie. "You remember
what told you once before; and now
let's sit down and eat supper, and then we
will look the matter over"
Aud after supper they went at the
work, Hattie took the bill and piece of
blank paper, and followed the items down
with her pencil.
First" said she, els box of figs, at
fifteen cents pound. 1t was very cheap,
no doubt ; but the eight pounds came to
dollar and twenty cents. Had you been
required to pay cash, you would not have
bought them. You would at least have
asked me if I liked them, and l should
have told you no. Next We have gallon
of golden syrup, which we did not need,
and for which you would not have paid
cash without consulting me-"
And so she went on, and in the end she
had cut the bill down by throwing out
articles which they had not absolutely
needed to less than fifteen dollars.
A dollar here had not seemed much to
George, end dollar and half there, and
seventy-6vc cents, and then only fifty cents,
but there had been twenty visits to the
store during the month, aud the aggregate
of these trivial sums was considerable.
George saw the whole thing, and he
knew his wife had been right from the
first.
"Don't say a word" said he, II see the
mistake. But I'll have to work around
into the right track by degrees"
"IIow so, George:"
"Why-I haven't money enough left
Of my months wages to quite pay this
bill; so l shall be utterly unable to enter
upon the cash principle at present"
"There need be no difficulty in that di.
reetion," said Hattie. II have not quite
spent all my little capital. I had already
fixed it for bit Of nestegg; and I don't
know as it could be put to better use
than the laying foundation for cash pay
meuts. At any rate, George, let Us try ii
for while"
George kissed his vile and said she was
blessing; and he promised he would fol-
low her advice in the future. He took the
money which she had to give, and held it
as loan, which he was to return at the
earliest possible moment; and he felt an
ambition, too, to sec how speedily he could
do it..
And on Monday morning the new rule
Of life went into operation. George paid
Mr.. Skidd's bill and told him hereafter he
should pay cash for everything he bought.
The storekeeper pooh.pood, and said there
was no need of it.
"Bless you, my boy, I had as lief trust
you as not"
81 do not want to DO trusted. I would