The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-07-25
An Afternoons Economy.
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoFFoRD.

I'm sure I've always advocated econ
omy, and practiced it too, for the matter
of that. I bought set of majolica only
yesterday on purpose that might spare
the French china and instead of taking
that ieweled singing-bird at two hun
dred dollars thai tempted me. SO much
when was in New York, ] went with
out it, and took a wonderfully taught
mocking-bird at half the price. I'm SO
sorry the poor little thing died I do
have the strangest luck And then I
never give my servants presents OF
money, but always OF my half-worn
clothes, SO they look about rs fine as | do.
Ny silk dresses, by the way, wear Il great
deal longer than other peoples stuff
ones so that if they cost MOI e i'll the be-
ginning, they are cheaper in the end. I
always have them turned by Kitty, and
made over with something handsome
velvet, you know, to exc out, or lace to
hide the cracks and although Rex gays
they're like the Scotch laird's hose, Of
which there was none of the original left,
and that it would be great deal better if
there 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, rs good rs new, which costs
nobody penny; and he can put
that in his pipe and smoke it!
And there's the velvet and lace,
besides, to trim another dress by
and-bye, OF course-although lace does
fray out and catch so. Only the other
night, running up to Mrs. Gleason's cot
tage on the cliff, just threw my shawl
over my head-that lovely Chantilly of
Grandma Marsden's-andt the wind blew
it against the sweet .brier, ami the sweet
brier waved one way and ran the other,
and I suppose it will cost me fortv dol
lars to have it mended, if there is lace
maker in the city who can NEEDLE with
that stitch. However, that's neither
here nor there. say approve of econ
omy-at least I do if he wants me to at
least used to do so-and Rex says I
don't even know how to spell the word,
and that when 60 shopping, say to
the salesman, "Dear me, how cheap
can't you take little more
It wasn't, you know, as if we were IL
any want that we would have this talk
about economy for between the money
that dear papa left and all that Grand.
ma Marsden has given me, and tie il
come entailed on Rex, we arc able to dc
pretty much as we please, within bounds
and allow ourselves some one great ex
travagance every year. We took it las
wear in foot of wood. A foot OF wood
I'll tell you all about it. Bat, as l wa!
saying, Rex approves ofeconomy wheth
er 1 do or not; he thinks he does h
SAYS that's the way papa and Grandm;
Marsden made and kept and once h
said tlat to 60 on as we were goins
would make q prince come to the end o
his purse. And said, "How do we go !?
..fAd li6ituns," said he.
"And how would you have us go,?"
asked. >.
GAS if there were day after to-mor
row." he returned.
"I'm sure, Reginald Parks, 1 don
know what you mean. As if there wer
day after tomorrow OF course ther
is, unless the world comes to an end"
Il don't mean that. mean will
some thought for the future"
"Oh, if you only mean foresight,
have day after to-morrow's dinner order
ell to-day-white soup, salmon, lobste
outlets and sweet-breads, roast CHECKER
and tongue, peas and potatoes, and rata
fla pudding and strawberry cream-an
should think that was foresight enougl
for any body"
"Dinner enough. A dinner like tina
for two! Well, after we've picked
little of it, what becomes of the rest?'
Becomes of the rest? How do yo
suppose I know"
"You ought to know"
"Why. it goes into the kitchen"
"And then %
Reginald Parks what on earth In
come over you? Do you suppose I ar
going round spying through the kitche
to see if the servants eat too much ?"
"No, 1 don't suppose you are. That
. Just what I say. But | suppose 20
should.
"Hurry into the kitchen and Say
Save this, and Don't touch that
dressed for dinner, too! That's Just you
idea of economy, Rex! Take one of m
beautiful toilettes into that steamy
greasy place where dinner has jul
been concocted, keep, perhaps, the brea:
of bird and lose a breadth of silk Yo
put me in mind of old Tom at his eide
barrel. Saving at the spile and spillip
at the bung.'"
every inelegant, my dear, I mea
nothing of the sort. If I were hous'
keeper, should go in in the morning.
"My morning toilettes are just
pretty"