The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-10-02
MISCELLANY.
An Afternoons Economy.
BYuARRIET PRESCOTT sroFFoRD.

I'm sure I've always advocated econo-
my, and practiced it, too, for the matter
Of that bought set ofmajolica only
yesterday, that might spare the French
china; and, instead Of taking that jewel
ed singing bird at two hundred dollars
that tempted me so much, when was in
the city of New York, VENT without it,
and took wonderfully taught hooking
bird, at;half the price Pm so sorry the
poor little thing died l do have the
strangest luck! l never give my SER
wants presents of money, but always of
my half-worn clothes, so they look about
as fine as do. My silk dresses. by this
way, wear great deal longer than other
peoples stuff ones; so that if they co st
more In the beginning, they are cheaper in
the end. always have them turned by
Kitty and made over with something
handsome, you know, to exc out, or lace
to hide the cracks; and although Rex
says they're like the Scotch laird's hose,
of which there was none of the original
left, and that it would be great deal bet
ter if thsre wasn't since the making over
costs more than another whole silk would
do, and all that sort of nonsense, still re
mains the fact that there is an exquisite
dress, as good as new, which costs no
body penny and he can put that in his
pipe and smoke it And there's the vel
vet and lace, besides, to trim another
dress, by-and-by, of course-although
lace does fray out and catch so. Only
the other night, running up to Mrs Glea-
sons cottage on the cliff. just threw my
shawl over my head-that lovely Chan
tilly Of Grandma Marsden's-and the
wind blew it against the sweet. brier, and
the sweet. brier waved one way, and ran
the other, and l suppose it will cost me
forty dollars to have it mended, if there
is lace maker in the city, who can med
die with that stitch. However, that is
neither here nor there. Isay l approve
Of economy-at least do, if he wants
me too-at least used to do so-and
Rex says l don't even know how to spell
the word, and that when 90 shopping,
say to the salesman, Dear me, how
cheap! can't you take little more ?"
1t wasn't. you know, as if we were in
any want that we would have this talk
about economy; for, between the money
that dear papa left, and all that Grandma
Marsden has given me, and the income
entailed on Rex, we are able to do pretty
much as we please, within bounds, and
allow ourselves some one great extrava-
gance, every year. We took it, last year
in foot Of wood. A foot of wood2 ltl
ySs I'll p assHs or sSt -
| do, or not; he thinks he does he says
that's the way papa and Grandma Mars
den made and kept; and once he said that
to 60 on, as we were going, would make
a prince come to the end of his purse
And said, GLOW do we go'"
I'D hbium,' said he. ....,......
"And how would you have us go?" l
asked ..r
GAS il there were a day after to NOR
row." he returned.
I'm sure, Reginald Parks, l don't
know what you mean. AS if there were
a day after tomorrow. OF course there
is, unless the world comes to an end"
81 don't mean that mean with
some thought for the future
"Oh, if you only mean foresight, l
have day after to morrow's dinner order
ed, to. day-white soup, salmon, lobster
outlets and sweet breads, roast chicken
and tongue, peas and potatoes, ard rata
fla pudding and strawberry Greenland |
should think that was foresight enough
for anybody" s...
/" Dinner enough. A dinner like that,
for two! Well, after we've picked lit
tie of it, what becomes of the rest"
"Becomes of the rest2 How do you
suppose know?'
"You ought to know
"Why, it goes to the kitchen"
"And then p ...~ .
Reginald Parks what no earth has
come over you? Do you suppose am
going round, spying through the kitchen
to see if the servants eat too much ?"
"No. don't suppose you are. That's
just what l say. But l suppose you
should"
Hurry into the kitchen and say ::
Save this and Don't touch that'-all
dressed for dinner, too! That's just your
idea of economy, Rex! Take one ofmy
beautiful toilettes into that steamy, grea.
sy place, where dinner has been concoc-
ted, keep, perhaps, the breast of bird,
ard lose breadth of silk You put me
in mind of old Tom. at his cider barrel,
saving at the Spite, and spilling at the
bung"
Every inelegant, my dear! l mean
nothing Of the sort. If l were house
keeper, should go in the morning"
"My morning toilettes are just as
pretty" =.
ooh, hang your toilettes l should
90 in in the morning, and take my inven
tory and my measures together And ii
the servants knew you were coming daily
10 perform that act of superintendent,
it would make the difference of couple
of dinners week to u.s."
"Id rather take in sewing. should
In: dare look them in the face, The idea
of cruoiE ing my servants
"Oh, Cla1c, you are perfectly nope
less " then Rex wound up. And at that
l cried, and of course, then, he had to
console me and it was great deal nicer
than If We hadn't qusreled.
ppm sure l want 10 economize," 1
said 81 wear silks, but Kitty makes
| them and l think that they're the cheap
cat in the long run, and one feels SO much
more comfortable. And then you always
nscd to like to see me IN silks"