The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-02-09
JUST CHARGE IT.

JOSI OaIHuVI lts
A LESSON IN ECONOMY.
"Charles, what did this peach pre-
serve cost2"
I'm sure don t know, Hannah"
seBut you bought it this morning."
"I know T did, but I didn't ask the
price of it.
Didn't you pay for it9"
emo" -.
"Why nota"
"Oh, because couldn' t make change.
I have opened an account with Mr.. Wal
dron and shall hereafter settle once in
three months.
This conversation was carried on at
the tea table between Charles Matthews
and his wife. Matthews was a young
mechanic who had just commenced
housekeeping, and as he was making e1-
cellent wages he could afford to live
pretty well. After he had made known
his determined agreement to his wife
she remained some time in silent
thought.
Charles" she at length said, in a
mild, persuasive tone, 81 think it would
be better to pay for things as you take
them. You know you get your pay for
work every Saturday night, and you
could pay as you 60 very easily"
"I know I could" replied Mr..
Matthew'S, with the air Of q man who
had unanswerable arguments at his COM
mand; "but then it would not be near
so handy. You see, shall save all the
trouble of making change, and shall not
only save time, but also avoid making
Mistakes" r.,,
Mistakes Z" repeated Hannah.
Glow can mistakes occur when you pay
for things as you get themt"
II will tell you. Sometimes it may
not be convenient to pay for q thing
when I get it may forget my money,
or I may only take it on trial-then if I
pay for. a part and not for all, some
things may get charged which 1 pay
for. No, Hannah, a settlement once
a quarter will be the best and most con-
venient an round, I am satisfied Of it. "
"Well, perhaps it may" said the
wife, with an earnest tone and looks sapd
yet with a smile, "but I cannofWghk
as you do"
"But why not9"
"Why, on all accounts. In the first
place you will buy more than if you paid
cash. Now you needn't shake your
head, for know it. There are many
little lu1nries, little extras, which we do
not need but which you will be apt to
buy if you do not have to pay the
money down. I know something of this
credit system, and know that it is not
a fair or good thing. In the second
place, if You pay cash for everything
you will get your goods cheaper. A
trader will sell cheaper when he can
have the money in his hands than when
he has to carry out the amount on bis
ledger"
"But let me tell you, Hannah, that
Mr.. Waldron will not cheat. He is
not the man to take advantage in that
way" =
you not know that all traders can afford
to sell cheaper when they have the
money in their hands and do not have to
carry the amount to their ledgers. They
could afford to do 81. Traders like to
secure cash customers. 1 think you
will find it for your advantage to try the
cash system. Now I do not believe you
would have lPught this peach preserve
if you had had to pay cash for 1t.
"But I bought that to please you,
and l thought you would be pleased"
81 know you did," she replied, as
she placed her hand affcctionately upon
his shoulder. "I know you wonld do
anything to please me ; but for the sake
of helping you, I would forego all such
things. Then after few years, per.
haps we might own e little cottage OF
our own."
For several days Charles only sent up
from the store what they really needed.
At length, as he went to the store one
morning, on his way to his work, he saw
some splendid pickles in fancy jars. He
had ordered the articles he needed, and
was about to leave when Mr.. Waldron
spoke: =.
"Mr. Matthew'S" said he, "dont You
want jar of pickles. I carried my
wife in o jar last evening and she thinks
them superior to any she ever saw"
Now Charles knew that his wife had
plenty of plain picked cucumbers, some
that her mother had put down for her,
but Mr.. Waldron's wife had some OF
these fancy ones, and why shouldn't
Hanpah2
And so be ordered the jar, and as il
was inconvenient to pay for it, ordered
it charged.
"Mr. Matthews, anything you may
want you can order at any time, and you
may rest assured we shall be very happy
to accommodate you."
Now this was fattering to Young Mat,
thews' feelings, to think that the trader
had such confidence in him, and he went
away with an exceeding good opinion OF
himself and credit, and of the store.
keeper in particular.
Only one dollar! Yes-only one dol.
lar on the traders ledger-that's of nc
account. But dollar right out of ones
pocket-that was different. Charles
would not have bought them had be
been obliged to pay the cash at the
time.
"Ah, Matthews, look here, I have
something nice to show you" This was
said.by the trader to the young man the
very next morning after the purchase oi
the pickles. And 80 Mr.. Waldron led
our hero to the back store and opened a
box. ;......r.