Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-01-03


closely, during the following six days..The
consequence was that rode seldom, wait
ed till I reached home for the paper in
stead of buying one on the way, in my hur-
ry to get the latest news.
l wanted to induct Jane into the mystery
of saving, but found her quite decided In
favor of her accounts.
"To work one must have Materials" size
argued there's no sewing without nee
dies and thread; there's no cutting ont
clothes for children without patterns; 1 ain
willing to try hiring the work done as an
experiment; but bricks without straw
cannot make"
Things then went on unchanged for a
while something was gained by my meth
cd, but still the column of sundries footol
up surprisingly. was certain that Jane
was mistaken, yet 1t seemed dreadfufyi
mean In man 10 curtal his wife's meats
of work. My savings were in so difIereAt
a direction, that II was not easy TO compaA
the two things.
One morning, just before was ready. to
go down town, Jane sent me to her work
box for bit of string to tie package In
lily hurry, ny SOlnC CluulSy nlONtUCuI, L
upset the box, and to my dismay saw the
spools roll in all directions over the floor.
l tried hastily to gather them up, but my
time had run out, and Jane was freed to
come to the rescue. l think that little
light broke in upon her at the niDment,
though its results did not Immediately ap-
pear.
One of my items of expense, my largest
one, was the livery bill ; it was no eNrav-
agance, had always said, to take Jane and
the children for ride once a month. / do
not think now that it was. But IL did
come to me in the course of my interpga-
tions, that common horse and carriage
would carry us just as well, and that twas
a contemplate sort of pride which induced
me to hire fancy teams, to please the eyes
|, of people who cared no whit for me or nv
family.
had become so much in earnest since
my talk with Simpson, that the next les-
ure day hired the kind of animal had
always called donkey, that is, common,
homey, well-behaved horse, and decent
carriage, with which l took my wife and
children for few miles into the country,
at one-third of the usual cost.
The next little provident scheme was
, worked out by myself, and l take no little
pride in it as an original and eminenuy
useful method, though, like the discover
les of greater men, it was suggested by an
accident. One morning left my coat at
home for slight repair, forgetting to trans
fer my purse TO the substitute, in which !
fn hpc I l,otI = l..
want of change several times during the
morning; and said to myself 81 won't for
get to take my money again. But after
dinner, being in "a hurry, l exchanged
coats again, leaving the purse in my desk,
: where my wife had placed it. The conse-
3 quence was that | took no ride that day
that no treat for the children was purchas-
ed on the way home. / almost always in
$ vested few cents in apples, candy or pea
nuts, just TO have the little things hunt my
| pockets, but the hunt went on this time
more vigorously than usual, and the pity
for poor papa who hadn't a cent to buy any
. thing was more genuine and much more
l affecting than the hasty thanks of other
! times.
+ Jane had always doubted about the little
treats, though we did make q feint of hav.
' ing them put off till morning, the supper.
Y were quite often spoiled by nibbles of can
f dy and stray peanuts, to say nothing of tn,
8 temptation TO eat more slyly, which an
afraid prevailed in many cases.
Il l was none the worse for my walks ant
e it occurred to Inc TO try the penniless prof
ect again, coaxing Jane and the children t,
4 meet me half way at night. The plaI
G worked admirably the little ones had ter
r times the delight in 'going after papa" thai
: the finding of treasures in his pockets af
$ forded; ate better and slept better for tn,
exercise four times a day. / found tn
: fresh air rested and refreshed me, and i
h was such tonic as no medicine had eve
70 been. Jane, too, after one or two evenings
G decided that the walk didn't tire her as sh
e had expected, and the getting the childre
e ready was made up by the pleasure it CAV
l. them. On the whole concluded to remai
!, penniless for the present. In this way IN
a expenses were really lessened and by wa
It of emphasizing the benefit of such econo
10 my in practical manner, took the q
mount saved at the end of the month, an
rs bought sewing chair for my wife-an art
IS Gle she had long desired, but which we ha
never found money before to purchas,
it This was not using the first savings as
t, nest egg toward our house, according [
s. my original intention but it was pla
$. having in it more of wisdom and of for,
i'd sight l considered, and the event prove
A. that l was right.
r Hitherto l had copied accounts, and W
had compared notes without reservation
st but just at this point Jane took to keepin
or her own counsel, saying that comparison
I'd were odious, and she would have no moi
H. Of them. But at the end of the seccn
month aher my successful experiment, Il
d, in the corner of the little sitting room, tt
ct spot where 1 always sit to read or write
e.. an evening, new writing-desk and tabl
he all in one, appeared 1t was the most beat
- tiful, convenient article, just what I wan
he ed, and all fitted with pens, ink, pape
We blotters, pen-wiper-the last James ow
is work, and the whole my wile's presen
When was woman ever outdone in sue
ed matters? Jane was out of sight and hea
O. ing when l came home and found this su
Az prise awaiting me. When she finally can
r. in, was writing upon my new proper
IT. as calmly as if il had been mine for year
Dy But l rose, gave into her hands the note
thanks had penned, thus dedicatng h
wv gift, and left her to read.
on That night we talked over our late e
es periments: "May l ask how your succe
at over our enemies was achieved ?" | said
ur Jane. "First, by taking account of stoc
ut and then by setting out to use up the fra