The Richmond palladium., 1874-02-07
MILK VERSUS BEER.
A LIFE LESSON.

MILK VERSUS BEER.
ALHE LESSON.
"Look here! How much milk is
that boy going to drink."
John Middleton spoke sharply,
and not by any means with smile
upon his face. They were at the
breakfast table, and little Freddie,
the five year old, q robust, bright
eyed, laughter loving and laughter
making boy, was calling for q Sc
cond mug of milk. John Nibble-
ton loved this little hero, and was
proud of him; but John Middleton
had his ideas of economy, and on
this particular morning those ideas
had been stirred afresh. His milk
man left his milk bill for the month
"a bill of between three and four
|dollars-an John Middleton had
groaned when he saw it. One
third, at least, of the amount was
for extra milk, the stated quantity
being one quart day. It was this
extra matter which made John
Middleton vince. and in memory of
which he had called out
"Look here! How much milk is
that boy going to drink?'
His wife, who had carried the
nose of the pitcher to the boys cup,
suspended the movement, and look
ed at her husband.
'sWhat7" she said, as though she
had not understood.
"He has had one mug of milk,
hasn't he?"
| Eyes"
II should think that might ans
wer. There's no need of him drink
ing himself full"
"But John, milk is more than
half his living"
II don't see it. He eats as much
as I do
"But think how he is growing.
You know what DR.. Bunkum said
how he explained why children
needed to eat so much, and why
they might eat oftener than grown
people needed to eat. just lool
and see how our boy is growing"
Ordinarily, John Middleton woulo
have responded to such a remark
with pompous pride, but on thu
present occasion he had started te
enforce a great moral precept-
moral because it was of domesti,
economy, and he knew that dir,
calamity often followed in the walk
of domestic extravaganza.
II know he is growing" Joh1
said slightingly; and I don't thinl
he'll stop growing while he hal
enough to eati but I can't afford tt
let him grow on milk at eight cents
q quart. There's no need of it
fYou ought to think how hard it il
to meet these bills"
Nancy set the pitcher back in it,
place upon the table, and ittl'
Freddie sobbed aloud.
"Bah! What fuss! Let hin
have it, since you have gone SO far
Butyou know what I mean. There
no need of his drinking 80 much
I've no doubt he'd drink a quart
day if you'd give it to him."
Nancy did not answer at once
She pourd the milk into Freddy
mug; and after q little thought sh
said musingly:
"a quart q daylight cents
and how he enjoys it; and how b
grows upon it. Suppose it was
quartz"
sThat's the way with you women
cried John, with lofty assurance
and he proceeded with NOR,
. grandeur in his tone, 'syou ca
never look at things from reaso1
able point of view-you can neve
gather them up and look at thel
as whole. Eight cents q ds
: grows to be two dollars and a ha
q month, almost. Why don't 20
think of that!"
II do think of it," returned MAJ
J, cy, 'sand I shink beyond that"
ssEh?'
II think I could, if I were to tr
estimate my expenses for the mont
to come, instead of waiting for Il
months to pass before the sum I
the expense is known; and thus
could plan what articles I had be
, ter curtail, and what, under Il
circumstances, I had better retail
If I found the projected expens'
too heavy, and the milk score seer
ed to present the most fagral
superAuity, I would cut short
part of the milk, and put Mast
, Freddie on short allowance"
, The effect of making this speet
had steadied Nancy's nerves, ar
l restored her equilibrium of min
: and after a pause she added:
l "Just for o-day, John, think
= this thing. If in all the range
: your expenses you shall think, t
b night, that the milk affords Il
Q least needed, I will cut it down.
b John said "Bahr' again, al
!, shortly after got up from the tab
9 He filed his pipe, and lighted
Q and went away to work.
. That very afternoon John Nj
q bleton had an hour or two of le
9 ure time, and he went with some
Q his shopmates, over to Philip Gu
{ leigh's saloon, where they took
Q glass of beer. Before leaving t
i place, John called upon his frien
: to take q glass with him; and