South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-11-17
A Story for Housekeepers.

serve costy'
u don't know, Hannah"
"But you bought it this morning"
II know l did, but didn't ask the
price of it."
didn't you pay for it?"
'.No."
"Why not?"
ooh, because couldn't make change
l have opened an account with Mr.. Wal
dron, and shall hereafter settle every
three months"
This conversation was carried on at
the tea table between Charles Mathews
and his wife. Mathews was q young
mechanic who had just commenced
housekeeping. and As he was making ex.
cellent wages no could afford to live
pretty well. After lie had made known
his determined arrangement to his wife
she remained for some time in silent
thought.
Charley" she at length said, i'm a
mild, persuayive tone, II think it would
be better 20 pay for things when you
buy them. You get your wages every
Saturday night, and you could pay as
you go very easily"
81 know could" replied Mr.. Math-
ews, with the air Of one who had unan.
swerable arguments at his command :;
'but then it would not he so handy
You see shall save all the trouble of
making change, and shall not only save
time, but also avoid making mistakes"
Mistakes u echoed Hannah, GLOW
can mistakes occur when you pay for
things as you get tliem?'
81 will tell you. Sometimes it may
be inconyenient to pay for thing when
! get it. / may forget my money, or
may take it on trial-then if / pay for
part, and not for all, some things may
get charged that have paid for. No,
Hannah, settlement ut the end ofeach
quarter will be most convenient all n
rounds l am satisfied of that
"Well, perhaps it may be as you say"
replied the wife, with an earnest tone
and look, "and yet" with smile, Il
can not see as you do"
"Why not?"
"On all accounts. In the first place
you will buy more than if you paid cash
down. No, you needn't shake your
head, for | know it. There are many
little luxuries, little extra trfles, that
we do not need, but which YOU will be
apt to buy if you do not pay the money
down. L know something Of this credit
system, and know it is not 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 hand than when he has to carry the
amount OH his ledger"
but let me tell you, Hannah, Mr..
Waldron will not cheat. lie is not the
man to take advantage Of good custo.
mer in that way"
You misunderstood me, Charles :;
don't you know that all traders can af.
ford to sell cheaper when they get their
pay in hand and do not have to carry
the amount to their ledgers? They can
afford to do so. Traders like to secure
cash customers. think you would find
1T to your advantage to try the cash sys.
TEN. Now, do not believe you would
have bought this peach preserve if YOU
had to take the money out ofyour peck.
ct to pay for it,
'But | bought it to please you, and
thought you would he pleased
81 know You did," she replied, as she
placed her hand affectionately on his
shoulder. 81 know you would do any,
thing to please me, but for the sake of
helping you ! would forego all such
things. Then, after few years, We
might own little cottage Of our own"
For several days Charles only sent up
from the store what was really needed
AT length, as he went to the store one
morning on his way to work, he saw
some splendid pickles in fancy Jars
He had ordered the articles he needed.
and was leaving. when Mr.. Waldron
spoke:
"Mr. Mathews, don't you want n Jar
Of pickles? carried my wife 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 MIR, Waldron's wife had some Of
these fancy ones, and why shouldn't
Hannah have n Jar Of them too?
And then he ordered jar Of them.
and rs IL was announcement 20 paw for
them, ordered il charged.
"Mr. Mathews, you may rest assured
VIC shall be very happy to accommodate
you in anything "
Now it was catering to young Math.
ews' feeling to think that the trader had
such confidence in him; and he left
with exceedingly good opinion Of him.
self and his credit, and especially of
the trader.
Only a dollar! Yes-only a dollar
on the traders ledger-that's Of no nc.
count. But = dollar out orone's pocket
that was different. Charles would not
have bought them had he been Obliged
to pay tue cash at the time.
"Ah, Mathews, look here, have some.
thing to show YOU"
This was said by the trader the very
next morning after the purchase Of The
plchles' an1 SO Air. WaidroP led our
of Orauuqc