The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-17

lNANAllEN AAAAAh NhN"N " NRAAA hANAH AAMA1
| says, there's so much ceremony about
savings banks; they're only open cer-
tain days week, and the hours are in
convenient for working man, and"
"You don't know anything about them,
George" he says, taking me up short /;
"ior the Post-oiicc Savings Banks that
have just come up are open every day
from ten TO four, and youmay put money
i'm, and draw it ont, whenever YOU like"
"Woll, john | says, 'I'll see about it,"
did see about il, and found that one
of the Post-silicc Banks had been open
cd at Bardsey's, the tea-grocer's, i'm the
next street. Bardsleys is our post-oflice
and money-order office as well; and
walking up eshop through an avenue of
sugar-loayes, l found a clerk reading the
newspaper.
II want toput some money in the new
bank" says.
The clerk never said word, but plac-
ed printed paper before me to sign. |
read II over and signed it, thereby de-
claring that / was not directly or indi-
rectly entitled TO any deposit in that, or
any other savings hank, and that / sub
mitted myself to the rules of the Post
office Savings Bank. The clerk then
handed me q small paper book, about the
size of penny memorandum-bOok, only
it had Il white cover with the royal arms
at the top, and was printed all over with
rules and regulations.
Sign your name on that line, across
the inside of the cover the clerk says.
/ signed it, THAT'S your signature" he
says, "ior drawing out, and you should be
particular always to use the same one"
/ then handed the clerk five shillings
as my first deposit. He took the money,
wrote in the book, "No. S57, 1862, Jan. !,
-5," put the post-oifice letter stamp
for the day against the entry, and the
thing was done. Idon't think wasmore
than five minutes in the shop altogether.
The very next evening, when Susan and
| were sitting at supper, the postman
came to the door. Susan answered him,
and came back with letter in her hand.
George" she says, "it's letter, On Her
Majesty's Service whatever can it be
about? | shouldn't wonder if it was the
water-rates, for you know the man has
called three times, and"
"There, let's open it," says, that's
the best way TO find out what it's about.
It's all right, Susan" | says, 'it's letter
from the Postmaster-General." "And
whatever does he want?" Susan says.
"0h, nothing" ! says; "he only writes
to say that five shillings have been plac-
ed to my credit in the books of his de-
partment." "Well, it's very condescend-
ing of him." Susan says, "fOr SO little"
"Well," | says, "it's a guarantee that it's
all right, and there's his signature, Geo.
Chetwynd.'" " "Cheatwindp Susansays
"are you sure it's all safe, George?" Safe
as the bank" | says, "and safer for the
Queen, the two Houses of Parliament,
and all the taxes. are security"
Iquite took Il fancy to the Post Office
Savings Bank when l found how simple
the machinery was. 1t was almost as
handy as the drawer, to have Il bank
round the corner, where you could buy
your tea and sugar, and put pour money
away all at once, and without ceremony.
l was as pleased with it as a child with
pretty toy, and liked the importance of
receiving letters every now and then
"On Her Majesty's Service" Susan used
to put the letters on the chimney-piece
for people to see. 1t was soon the talk
of the neighborhood that | was holding
correspondence with the government,
and it was reported that | was going to
be appointed matchmaker to the Queen
and the royal family. Ipassed the post
office twice every day on coming home
to dinner and going back again to work,
and to walk in with my book and pu!
away a few shillings, was just like drop
ping into public house to have a glass
Of ale. And always the next day, wheth-
er it was pounds or shillings, had Il let
ter "On Her Majestys Service" and Su-
san would meet me at the door and say,
George. here's another letter from the
Queen" and then we'd sit down after
supperand count itup, and see how much
/ had at my bankers. / found putting
money away in the Postofice Savings
Bank so easy and so pleasant, that l
overdid the thing, and put more money
away than / could spare. So one day |
ran short, and had to draw out 1t was
almost as easy and expeditions rs draw
ing Il Cheque on one of the big banks.
At the post-oflicc they gave me a slip of
paper with form of withdrawal upon it,
and addressed in print to the Postmaster
General on the back. | had nothing to
do but to fill in the number of my book,
the amount WANTED to draw out, sign my
name double up the bit Of paper, and
shove it in the post. 1t only took me
about Il minute, for the paper was ready
gummed for sealing, no stamp was re-
quired, it being marked on the back, "On
Her Majesty's Service" Itwas two O'Clock
on Tuesday when ! posted the letter. At
four the next day had an answer in the
shape of Il printed form, very similar to
the notice paper. had nothing to do
but sign and present it ut the post-Oflice,
and the money was handed to me, the
clerk marking off the withdrawal in my
book.
It's my belief that saving is a habit like
using tobacco, or other like extravaganza.
If you begin it and 60 on with it for Il lit
tie time, you come TO have a sort of pas
sion for it. Whenever l had any spare
cash, / was off to Bardsley's with it, and
often when / thought Of Withdrawing
thought OF Withdrawing some didn't
do it, saying to myself "Oh, can give
notice tomorrow, or the next day, or any
time l wish;" and 80 perhaps / waited
and tided over temporary difficulty, and
didn't Withdraw at all
About the beginning of December, in
'Sixty-threc, when went to put in three
pounds, the clerk wouldn't receive it.
whats up?" says; "going to stOp?"
NO" he says; "but if you will read the
rules and regulations in your book, you'll
find that you amt allowed to put in more
than thirty pounds a year" That, be-
lieve, is to protect the regular bankers,
and it may be quite right, but don't ex-
actly see it. know, that before the new
year, when / might begin to putin again,
I had blewed that three pound which
they wouldn't receive. If it didn't do
any good to the regular bankers, it GER
tainly didn't do me any good. However,
at the end of 'Sixty.t6ree, 1 had fifty
noiinda Of tho poatOffice Savings Bank