The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-12-19
Economy in Little Things.

A great many people who pride them
selves upon their frugality, and who con-
slider extravaganza one of the worst of
sins, are often very careless in little
things, .and really lose more by their
neglect than some whom they condemn
spend for the articles which their critics
deem entirely unnecessary, and the cost
of which they consider an unwarrantable
expenditure. Some of these people go
very far on the penny wise, pound fool
ish" principle. They are so much afraid
of extravaganza that they will not buy
things which they really need, and to the
purchase of which q true economy would
point. For want of proper tools, which
they do not buy on account OF the eX-
pense, they can not harvest their crops in
season, and suffer considerable loss in
consequence. For want of the requisite
tools they can not make the simple re-
pairs on their buildings which should be
attended to directly. For a long time
nothing is done. The condition of the
buildings constantly and rapidly grows
worse and the expense of repairing them
is largely increased. At length carpen-
ter is called, does quite job, and is we'll
paid for his work. If the farmer had
cost but little, this expense might have
people are so careful about small expen-
ses as to become involved in much larger
ones.
But it was not to the neglect of pur-
chasing needed articles which we wished
to call attention so much as to the neg
lect to care for those which are already
owned. This neglect involves constant
and, in the aggregate, heavy loss. Ex-
amples OF this kind can be found in al
most any community in which there are
people who desire to be extremely eco
nomical The man who wears pair of
shoes so long without oiling that they
will be spoiled in half the time which
they would have lasted if he had been to
the slight expense of oiling them, is
fair representative of this class Anoth-
er farmer can not afford to buy a little
oil to apply to his harness. He uses it
few years and the leather becomes hard
and lifeless The harness is utterly
spoiled at q time when it might have
been worth half as much as new one if
it had only been properly cleaned and
oiled once or twice year.
In the house, neglect and consequent
loss are just as common as they are on
the farm. By neglecting to turn the
damper to the stove many woman
burns third more fuel than she really
needs. Water is left in the wash basins,
and frequently stands in them over night,
thus eating the tin and destroying the
basins Whoever uses basin should re-
member and turn out the water and also
turn the basin bottom side up. Many
persons who do not design to leave any
water in the basins which they use are
careless about turning it out. A little
water is left, remains in the lowest part
and soon rusts a hole through the bot
tom. If the dish is turned over no water
can remain and the basin will last as
long again as it will with careless usage
The instances cited are given only as
examples. In a multitude of ways things
are injured unnecessarily, and money is
lost. Things small in themselves make
large aggregates, and people who are too
careless to attend to the little matters
are not truly economical. They over
look one of the great aids to success in
their business. It is not the amount of
money which a man receives, but the
amount which he saves, that determines
the question whether he will be rich or
poor. And saving is not always to be ac-
complished by merely attending to large
things, but ought to include small ones
also. The man who is truly economical
will not only strive to avoid waste in
buying things which he does not need,
but will take good care of the articles
which he is obliged to purchase and
make them last as long as possible.
E.