Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-04-25

parlor and enjoyed herself greatly
for an hour. Then, begging to be
excused, she went to prepare din
ner. She had to buy beef for n
roast, which cost a dollar, but she
consoled herself with the thought
that she had enjoyed their society
more than a dollars worth, if il
could he measured by dollars and
cents, and perhaps she could make
it up some way the next week.
She was a good cook, and the
dinner was really excellent, and the
way that her beef and potatoes
bread, butter, and pudding disap-
peared was really fattering.
The next day cousins Nell and
Janney came and stayed to tea, and
she paid twenty-five cents foI
peaches for dessert.
Toward the last of the week her
stock of provisions was exhausted,
and she had to take the remainder
of the money to replenish it.
81 had a real good visit, anyway
she sighed, as she took the last bill
from her purse. "There are some
nine-dollar patterns that are real
pretty"
She expended her money very
judiciously the next week, and
economical every stick of wood,
making every FIRE do double duty,
by baking, ironing and boiling at
the same time, and congratulating
herself upon saving something from
that expense.
"There," she said, with feeling
of satisfaction one morning, as she
took a nicely baked pie from the
oven, "my baking is all done for
this week, and / have saved almost
four dollars. Perhaps l shall be
able to get the twelve-dollar dress,
after ALL"
There was mass meeting in
town that day, and cousins Will
and John and Joanna, and a young
gentleman and lady who were Wis
itiDg them, came to attend it, and
stopped at Mr.. Sheldon's for din
ner. Mrs. Sheldon bought little
more beef this time, for she hal
noticed that the demand was fully
equal to the supply on the previ-
Gus occasion, and, as the young la
dy and gentleman looked like very
aristocratic people, she felt as If it
was necessary to make extra pre-
parations.
1t was rather late when they ar
rived, and she had to make haste
about the dinner. "How cool and
comfortable this parlor is, said one
of the ladies, looking around the
pleasant room.
"Yes," replied another, "what
nice, easy times city people do
have" and that was also the gener-
al comment, as they looked at the
pictures, and read the magazines,
while Mrs. Sheldon was sweating
over the cooking stove.
81 suppose could get a dress
for six dollars that would be quite
pretty, if stylishly made and neatly
trimmed" thought Mrs. Sheldon,
as she laid away her empty purse
on Saturday, after having settled
all the bills.
She again received the weekly
allowance, and made her purchases
with all possible economy, and Fri
day morning she congratulated her.
self upon being able to have some-
thing that week, at any rate, for
the week was so nearly gone, and
she had provisions enough to last
until Monday morning, and three
dollars left.
Her work was neatly done, and
she had just seated herself at her
sewing, when q buggy stopped at
door.
"It Is uncle Josiah and aunt Mar
tha," she said. 81 am glad to see
them, Just as glad as | can afford to
be, but ! shall have to find some
sewing to do to get my dress, and
that good, unsel6sh old aunt shall
have q pleasant visit and hearty
welcome II I have to wear dresses
Of bed ticking or brown denims."