The Van Buren press., 1875-08-24
NO. 20
ECONOMY IN THE d0UsRH0LD.
How Mrs.. xcGoochen did her Own WsSk
The Savings Of Z Week.
from the brunswick Brunswicksr.l

AOW AIb, ACOOOCRou Ol0 ueI VW0 " O1k
The Savings Of Week.
From the Brunswick Brunsvicksf.l
One morning about two weeks agO
Mrs. McGoochen beamed blandly acsoss
the breakfast table on her husband, and
informed him that she had concladed 10
discharge the hired girl and d her own
work. This announcement startled Mr..
McGoochen almost IS much as ifshe had
declared her determination to commit
suicide He had long known that hired
hel2 WAS heavy drain upon his meagre
salary, but his wife had educated him 20
regard II as indispensable, and be had
made up his mind to endure Il forever.
That she should voluntarily : Ter 70 dis
pense with the services 4. MI go
something for which ~ - ~ 8
Laeking At her with an expression 10
viii, h hope and doubt painfully mingled,
he said:
..You-why-yon can't do 1t. Eliza.
Can't do it, indeed! Id like ~ know
what's the reason. Lots OF women il
this town do great deal more, aud think
nothing Of it. Our fanily's smsli-juss
you and me aud Henry Ward-and Il /
can't do the work for as three Id better
80 TO a hospita! aud done with It. +"
What put you into the notion r
asked her husband, hardly yet recovered
from his surprise.
"Well. Peter, she replied, speaking
in tender. self reproving tone, " I'll tell
you I've been thinking lately how hard
you have to work. and how little have
done to assist you, in comparison With
what might and ought to do, and It ap-
pears to me that should try to reduce
our expenses as much rs possible, aud
tho best way l know OF IL to do my own
housework. We are poor. just naking
II beginnine IN life, and IL is my duty 10
help yuu.
With a voice almost chokcd with emo
tion at this unexpected evidence Of HE
wife's devotion and energy, he feebly ss-
sayed to break her resolution saying
that he didn't want her to be slave for
him, that she was too delicate for the
task she contemplated, that all he askesl
Of her was continued love AMI sym.
pathy--
Oh, thats all romance, interrupted
Mrs. McCvochen. :. It's high time my
love and sympathy was assuming prac.
lical form. I'll discharge the girl this
very day But there is one condition.
Peter.
Name it, my noble wife. =
THAT new carpet you thought we were
unable to get. Now, IL DO ny owa
work it will save at least sl00 year. aud
you can certainly afford the carpet. !"
ned Yen are not undertaking. more than
you can perform
She was satisfied. and 80 II was settled.
Mack luggcd the carpet home at noes.
and found the girl gone. His wife wAs
gone, too, but she returned shortly, hay.
ing only been around telling the neigh.
bors that she was now doing her own
work Dinner was late, but then Il VA
the first meal by her fair 1ager., -ns ne
could make allowances 10. tne novelty Of
the position Ia which she found herself
placed
Acting on her suggestion, Mack
brought home new rocking chair when
he came to supper. They we're saving
800 year, and could well afford such
little things When his wife returned
from her visit TO the rest Of the ncighbors,
whom she had been informing that she
was now doing her own work, she was
delighted with the new chair, aad declared
that they must have a full set Of fsrniture
to match it. "You know, Peter. that l
will more than save the cost II il in .
year. aud will feel 30 proud 70 know
that my labor secured II. i" This was
said 50 beseechngly. and she hung 90
lovingly on his neck the while, that Mack
couldn't resist the appeal. The furniture
was sent down the next day.
About three days after Mrs. McGooch-
IN coaxcd Peter into buying her silk
dress. and the next day she wheedled
him out Of = set Of jewslry. It vas the
same old plca-she was tightening sx-
penscs so much BY doing her own work
that she felt she was entitled to something
extra. 1t would amount to no more, she
reasoned. than the hire Of girl, aud Ps.
ter could we'll afford to give it to her.
Mack began to get uneasy. Was there.
after all, any saving in doing without .
hired girl3 Wouldn't that sort Of scen
omy bankrupt him in less than = year
He go, piece Of paper and pencil and
figured.
Carpet go %
Furniture so 90