Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-06
Gales aud Skttehes.
MANY A LITTLE MAKES A MICKIE.
BY MRS. $. +. DOUGHTY

-hahlhS out your weekly accounts,
Annie ?" asked Uncle John, as he entered
Mrs. Walton's pleasant parlor one Satur-
day evening, and found his neice busily
engaged with neat little book with leath-
er covers and blank leaves.
Trying to do so, Uncle John but there
are so many items in the expenses of
family that it is quite work of time.
find it useful to keep an exact account of
all we spend. Money disappears SO fast
that 1t is pleasant TO know where it goes
to-
AN excellent plan, Annie. l was glad
10 find you so sensibly employed. 1t must
be rather difficult for you to make BOTH
ends meet. on your husbands small sal
ary.'
''It is, indeed, Uncle John; am some
times quite discouraged, and wish for the
time to come when need not weigh every
cent so carefully How injurious to the
mind it must be to have every thought and
feeling absorbed into one great object of
supplying our physical wants !"
'lt appears so, indeed, Annie but this
is the case with those far more wealthy
than you.n
Not to such degree, surely, Uncle
John. A very trifling addition to our in
come would make us perfectly easy. Say
two hundred dollars a year. just what we
now pay for rent. Oh how delightful il
would be if Henry could have his salary
raised to that amount
81 trust he may before many years, An
ME" replied Uncle John smiling; "but
am not quite sure that would be any the
less perplexing as to making both ends
meet. Our wants are very apt to increase
with our means. But where are the
babies9 hoped to have been in season
for frolic with them
"All asleep. Saturday is a holiday, you
know, and they are generally pretty weary
by evening"
"1'heir play is more fatiguing than their
work, | have no doubt" was the reply;
and after another half-hour's chat upon
general subjects, Uncle John took his
leave, and Mrs. Walton again took up her
little book, and recommended her task OF
calculating the weekly expense.
The work was soon completed, and then
for a few moments she contemplated the
sum total with a thoughtful. half-satisfied
expression of countenance.
II am quite within bounds, this week."
she said to herself. "Our expenses have
been somewhat lighter than usual. "Slil.
there is but a tritle over. and then every
little expense must be calculated so close
ly. 1t is very discouraging, with grow
ing family, not to have one cent laid bv
for time of need. To be sure, it is COM
fort not to owe Il cent in the world. II
lIenrys salary could only be raised Just
two hundred dollars, everything would be
easy. What an odd idea that is of Uncle
John 5 that it would make no difference.
One hundred might easily e-laid by every
year, and still our daily wants be much
more readily supplied. But it is useless
thinking of what might be-"
As Mrs. Walton said this she rose from
her seat, rcplace the memorandum book
in its usual hiding place, and noticing by
glance at the old-fashioned clock, which
occupied conspicuous position in the lit.
tie apartment, that the hour for her hus-
bands return had nearly arrived. proceed
ed to inspect the preparations which Bid
dy had made for his evening meal.
Next came peep into the nursery. All
of her treasures were sleeping quietly in
trundle bed, crib and cradle. There was
good prospect that the quiet hours chat
with her husband would be uninterrupted
How vastly comfortable everything look
ed! \ bright fire in the crate shed its
cheerful light on the surrounding objects,
rendering the neat shade lamp almost un-
necessary. The table with its snow-white
cloth. and its orderly arranged dishes,
with tempting contents, was decidedly at
tractive.
The crimson curtains 1--WE will not vouch
for their being damask) were closely
drawn, the pretty little workable. which
served also to support several choice vol
Il Al. ..I
light chair placed near it, while on the op-
posite side stood that inviting looking
rocking chair. with the slippers before it.,
ready to welcome the expected occupant.
1t certainly did look very pleasant. Even
Mrs. Walton admitted it; and although it
was very hard to make both ends meet.
she took up her evening work with very
cheerful feeling OF comfort in her heart
This feeling was not at all lessened
when Mr.. Walton actually arrived. He
was not one of those selfish, grabbed kind
of men. who come to their homes at the
close OF the day, with all the petty disap-
pontmchtS and yexations of the last ten or
twelve hours full in their rccollections,
casting Il shadow over the cheerfulness
which should reign in this hallowed spot.
As far as possible, business was left in
It's proper pace anu With an uHciouut"
brow. an aiiectionate greeting and dis
position to be pleased with the prepara-
tions made for his welcome. he came to
the loved ones who waited him.
ALWAYS busy. Annie" he said, play
fully. aS his wife resumed her sewing
which she had laid aside at his entrance.
.'IS il not time TO put by your work for Sat
urday night9 The old rule used to be thai
all must be finished at snndown"
And u very good rule twas, Henry;
but cannot always act up to it, The ba-
bies need so much attention during the
day, that there are generally few stitches
to be taken after they are in bed. even on
Saturday evening"
VERY eXcusable," was the reply: and
with an excellent appetite, the supper was
despatched, while at the same time the
husband lent n pleased and ready ear TO
the little details of the day. enjoyed the
funny sayings and doings of the children,
which had been treasured up for his bene-
tit, gave his advice where 1t would be use
full, and his sympathy where advice wonld
not avail.
Happy Mrs. Walton The small salary,