The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-25
ABOUT SUSDRIEs.

lI1l - ...a.... y r..FE 900 so
have been reading, Lately, some words
d a wise woman, about living on email
incomes. She says that one must save in
large thing8; that little savings may pinch
nad demeau q family, but they won't CT.
lecl much IN the long run Now our leak
has always been through the small things,
though We did not know it for long
time, A thousand dollars Is not much,
you'Il say, 10 feed, clOthe and house five
pcoplc; but then, Simpson only has as
much, with his Wi!e's sick mother In ad'
dtion 10 his three children; and only last
year he bought new carpet for his par.
ior, and his vile had iorty.dollST shawl.
Why, they look twice a. well OIL as my
l4miy; and know they talk about own.
iny a house. They'd never do that with
mi some prospect, Tor simpson.is no bragy
and he would die IN y howell before he'd
run in debt, whercho didn't sec the means
To pay, coming.
Jane and 1 talked 1t over about two
years ago, aud VIC determined to find out
why we couldn't do as well, with the same
money, as the Simpsons. ~
at can'tbe that people cheat us, and
make US pay moro for our goods, can il!'
asked Jane. showed her the absurdtty
ot that notion.
we don't buy useless things for the
children, suppUseg ~
That was my question. Wheroupon
Jane demonstrated its folly by, shall say
"uo,ting OUT the three little Simpsons,
first in their school, and-nextin their 60
mmccting, garb. l was obliged to sub
mt that my friends off spring GhOne in
princely raiment, while mine were Just
dccentiy attired, even Tor church,
We'll" said |, "let US try keeping q
strict account OF oil expenditures Tor one
month, that will Just finish our quarter ;
and then we can make an estimate OF
what We must have in each department.
House rent so much, we will put down
groceries so much; clothing so much;
butchers bill, fuel, &C., &c, we will ap-
portion so much to each, and keep within
ii Perhaps that will show US how to re-
trench. will make it q matter Of con-
science 10 put down the smallest items.
II we can't have my moro out Of oul
thousand dollars, VIC shall at least know
what it buys"
Jane agreed after a little hesitation. II
the first place, she had always fanciet
there was i'll luck in keeping strict &C
counts Of family expenses; and then sht
didn't sec how one could make An estt
mate of each expense and keep within It
no two months would be alike; there
might DO sickness, and certainly there
would DO company before tho three
months were over,
said we would make u rough estI-
mate, leaving little balance for contln-
GenCies.
but then" she urged show can every
thing come into or under a certain head
Tor instance, q spool OF cotton, a paper o.
needles, or some little present ! nigh
even feel 1t necessary TO make, or you
extra newspaper and ride down town
what class will those come under"
"Why, that's easy enough; put all such
little things down as sundries, and Sci
apart sum which will cover them, five
dollars o quarter, or say ten, at tho most
We won't be beaten by spOols OF cotton
OF an extra newspaper"
We began the first day of the month;
bought two small diaries, and each eve
ming Jane and l jotted down the day.
ont ,goings. We kept straight on with
Whist We bought lor cash and what VIZ
had on credit; and Saturday night VIZ
compared notes, and ! copied from both
books into more imposing one, putting
each item under Its proper head. liked
the new method, 1t seemed practical, bus
ness-likG; II we made our money &c
farther, II was next to having my salary
raised. looked back remorsefully TO TIT
old reckless days Of loose-end affairs.
But believe Jane feared and doubted
thenew scheme. She always had dreaC
Of black and white; feeling that one wa
bound to do something; and also tina
ones shortcomings had no place for re-
pentance after they were written in
book. Ia" tI ...
AT the end Of the month we came on
better than l expected;l found that tn
grOcer's and butchers bills were less thai
had anticipated and l should hNv
said that 1t must cost moro In the year 10
shoes So l was able to make my apprO-
pIlaliOns and feel that the actual outla!
would certainly fall inside them, The
one place where theAmount exceeded m.
expectations was in the class "sundrics;
had said ten dollars for tho quartz
would DO large, this one month exceeded
twelve. ICOuldn't find any special thin
that was extravagant, that Is, l couldn't
recall anything, for neither Of us haC
kept the items. So set apart thlrty,si,
dollars Tor the quarter, determined, how
ever, that itthould not go rs the las
months portion had; we must have haO
to by extra things, l knew.
To my dismay, the next quarter fouu
fifty dollars charged to sundries. 1t mus
have been that the first few months "
had unconsclously prRcuccd unusuI
economy, in view Of the figures whic
were to lace us, Tor now VIC were as Oadl
OIL rs ever-just able TO make both end
meet SIill We were certain that in tn
matters Of groceries, meat, luel, shoe
leather and general clothing, wo had keT
our expenses down rs lar as possible
Ihe little things, how was It they iOote
up 50; Jane declared 1t was folly to keG
up the farce oil account books any longel
The fact Il" she argued, your salar
e only enough to live upon; and We mul
1--we, suppose; let us give up irving I
save where It can't be done, and DO i
peace"
But thought Of Simpson with his 81