Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-08-29
A STORY FOR HOBsEkEEPERs.

serve cost"'
II don't know, Hannah"
''But you bought 1t this morning."
81 know I did, but I didn't ask tn
price of it,"
Didn't you pay for it ?"
''No."
''Why uot?"
''Oh, because couldn' t make change
l have opened an account with Mr.
Waldron, and shall hereafter settle ev
cry three months" a~
This conversation was carried on a
the tea table between Charles Mathew,
and his wife. Mathews was youns
mechanic who had just commenced
housekeeping, and as he was making
excellent wages he could afford to live
pretty we'll. After he had made known
his determined arrangement to his wife
she remained for some time in silent
thought.
Charley" she at length said. in a
mild, presuaviye tone, I think 1t would
be better to pay for things when you
buy them. You get your wages every
Saturday night, and you could pay as
you go every easily"
Il know 1 could" replied Mr.. Math-
ews. WITH the air of one who had unan-
swerable arguments at his command !;
but then it would not be so handy
Y on see 1 shall save all the trouble Of
making change, and shall not only save
time. but also avoid making mistakes"
''Mistakes!" echoed Hannah. How
can mistakes occur when you pay for
things as you get them ?"
II viii tell you. Sometime s it may
be announcement to pay for a thing when
l get it. l may forget my money, or
may take it on trial-then if pay for a
get charged that I have paid for. No,
Hannah, settlement at the end of
each quarter will be most convenient
all around; 1 am satisfied Of that"
"Well, perhaps it may be as you
say" replied the wife, with an earnest
tone and look, land yet" with smile,
Il can not see as you do"
why not ~
Son 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 TRIES, that
we do not need, but which you will be
apt to buy if you do not pay the money
down. I know something Of this credit
system, and know it is not fair or
good thing. In the second place, if we
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 on hisledger."
But let me tell you, Hannah, Mr..
Waldron will not cheat. He 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. I think you would
find it to your advantage to try the cash
system. Now, 1 do not believe you
would have bought this peach preserve
if you had to take the money out O.
your pocket to pay for it,"
''But I bought it to please you, ant
thought you would be pleased"
Il know you did, " she replied, as SD.
placed her hand affectionately on hi
shoulder. Il know you would do any
thing to please me, but for the sake G
helping you I would forego all sucl
things. Then, after few years, W
might own little cottage Of our own.
For several days Charles only sen
up from the store what was really
needed. At-length, as he went to tn
store one morning on his way to work
he saw some splendid pickles in fame
iars.-He had ordered the articles h
needed, and was leaving. when Mr.
Waldron spoke /:
Mr.. Mathews, don't you want a ia
Of pickles 1 carried my wife a jar las
evening, and she thinks them superio
to any she ever saw"
Now Charles knew that his wife ha
plenty of plain picked cucumbers som
that her mother had put down for her
but Mr.. Waldron's wife had some Q
these fancy ones, and why shouldn't
Hannah have jar of them too?
And then he ordered a jar Of them
and as it was announcement to pay fo
them, ordered it charged.
''Mr. Mathews, you may rest assure
we shall be very happy to accomodat
you in anything"
Now it was fiattering to young Natl
ews' feeling to think that the trader ha
; such confidence in him and he lie
. with exceeding good opinion of himse
! and his credit, and especially of tt
trader.
Only dollar Yes-only a doll
on the traders ledger-that's ofno a
count. But dollar out of ones peck