Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-05
HIRAM GRAHAM's INVESTMENT.
by RUBY CLAIR.

HIRAM GRAHAM'S INVESTMENT.
by RUBY CLAIR.
"Now WE are not only out of debt, but
we have got $1,000 ahead, and the ques-
tion is how are we going to invest it?"
Hiram Graham, sitting just outside of
the open door to enjoy the grateful cool
ness Of the summer evening, threw aside
his paper as he spoke and awaited reply.
His wife, busy over her sewing, did not
answer Immediately.
"Come," he said "let me hear your
opinion. I'll bet you had made up your
mind what to do with it long ago. You
know the saying: "A man to save money
and a woman to spend it," and he
laughed good, naturedly. .......
Yes, Mrs. Graham had "made up her
mind" long ago. The thought of the time
when they should be clear Of debt and
some OF their surplus earnings could be
expended for home comforts had helped
her to make over and repair many an old
garment that she was about to throw aside
in despair; it had encouraged her to con-
tend with numberless disadvantages and
inconvenience. But now that the time
had really come, she felt strange reluc-
tance about revealing her thoughts. She
was oppressed with the fear that her long
cherished plans might be suddenly dashed
to the earth. However, she commenced
hravely enough;
al have thought that we would repaint
the house some pretty color, such as sill
very gray and have shutters put up at the
windows the right shade of green to har-
monize with the color of the house; the
same as the green leaves Of the poplar har-
monies with the soft gray of Its trunk
and branches"
"Why, Jennier' exclaimed Mr.. Gra-
ham, "there is good coat of paint on
the house now. And there is no color as
durable as red lead in my estimation"
"And," continued his wife, ~ would
have the yard inclosed with neat picket
| fence -"
don't see any use in tearing down
that fence The rails are as good and
sound as they were twenty years ago."
Please don't interrupt me so, Hiram.
| would repaper the rooms, buy new
| ingram carpet for the parlor and muslin
curtains for the windows"
Thunderation What is the sense OF
having curtains if you have shuttersg Be
sides, these paper curtains answer every
purpose, as far as l can see. The paper
on the walls is perfectly whole. 1t is true
you have patched it considerably but that
don't show much. And as for the carpet
why, haven't you got new rag carpet
in the loom now?"
"Yes, but that would be for the sitting
room. And l would have a bay-windoW
made off the south side of the sitting-room
for house plants" ...
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at this
"Now, Jennie" he said, 81 have never
| u, ,;,,o oh I,t,f o1x
thought it was kind of foolish to spend as
much time as you do fussing with flowers
outdoors. But when you come to fetch
ing dirt into the house to make flower
beds of-that beats me!'
"Hiram," said Mrs. Graham, "you
asked me for my opinion. Now, please
don't interrupt me-"
every well. Go ahead"
Z" would have portico built ovel
where you are sitting, and a wood-housC
and large, cool pantry, that | need Sc
much, built ON the back OF the kitchen
One part of the wood-house would be fin
ished off, where the cook-stove coulC
stand in hot weather. 1t would be Sc
much cooler working there than in thu
close kitchen. And the kitchen, too
would be much cooler for us to eat in
Besides this, there are many little adorn
ings, such as pictures, etc., that woulC
add afterward.''
"Whyp' exclaimed Mr.. Graham, "i
we were to go into all that it would taxi
every cent of the money"
Well, we earned it to invest in some
thing, didn't
Yes, but want to invest my none,
in something that will bring me in som
kind of an income"
" 1t would bring us the best of all in
; comes; not in dollars, but in what is bet
ter, far, in joy and happiness. Life woult
have fuller and purer meaning for u
both il would bring higher and bette
atmosphere in which to rear our children
We could leave them the richest of al
legacies, an earthly paradise, to which thei
thoughts could always turn, as to the on
sweet spot on earth. Even the humming
bird loves to deck its little nest with prett
MOSES and lichens. Ought we not +
have as much love for home and it
adornings as Gods dumb creatures?"
81 have something more important +
live for than humming-bird has" sal
Mr.. Graham, loftily. g would rathe
/ leave something more substantial TO m
children, such as broad, well-tilled acres
for instance. / will tell you what hav
been thinking of" he said, with the al
of one who felt that the expression of hi
opinions must necessarily bring conviC
tion of his superior judgment. "Yol
know have always wanted that forty-acr
lot of Southwell's that joins me on tn
north They say he is hard-up now, an
when he finds out that / can make a bi
payment down l believe ! could get
mighty reasonable. And when / got tha
paid for would have one of the best farm
in the county. Now what do you say t
thatY' he asked triumphantly.
1T would run us right into debt again
suggested Mrs. Graham.
well, supposing it did, We hav
swung clear this time easy enough, an
can again. You must remember that tn
land was badly run down when l first e
hold of it, but the farm is in good cond
! ton now"
Easy enough" Mrs. Graham did nc
3 repeat the words aloud. Her husband di
) not know of the hundred little sacrifice
7 and acts Of selfdenial it had cost her. Ii
never could know it, and therein lies III
5 pathos of many sacrifice.
| The next morning Mrs. Graham was u
+ betimes and busy as usual amidst he
D household cares, but her heart had lost il
. lightness; and as she stood under the Il