St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-11-29
Housekeeping Money.

If every man would pay his wife a
weekly sum for housekeeping, clothing,
etc, he would find that in nine cases
out of ten her management of the fund
would increase not only his comfort,
but that of the whole house.
If she is equal to the task of being a
wife and mother, she is also equal to
the task of supplying and paying for
the daily necessities of the home. II
she is head manager she will take pride
and pleasure in making 100 cents go a
great way-much further than a man
could make $50 go.
She will also make calculations about
the expenditure of the weekly sum,
will lay by a certain amount toward
buying such and such supplies in guam
titles will learn that there is no econ
omy in buying soap by the bar, starch
OF sugar by the pound. She will sys-
tematize her affairs, keep her books-a
day book and ledger exhibit her
well-kept accounts with pride and de-
light. The very fact that the expendi-
ture of the money belongs to her will
sweeten her life, give new zest to her
occupations, and make her happy and
more contented wife. To most women,
the idea of asking for money is abhoI-
rent. They put it off from day to day,
the dread of it is so great. They will
wear expensive clothes in the kitchen
rather than ask for the money needful
for the purchase of plain calico dress.
Shrug your shoulders if you choose,
you unbelieving husband, and say: Il
never knew such woman"
| beg your pardon, but | must con-
tradict you. The woman you call wife,
| do believe would rather suffer with
the toothache than ask you for money.
This is no false statement; most women
do shrink from asking the head of the
family for money needful for boots,
clothing and the common necessities of
life it is neither agreeable nor pleas
ant to them, and they should not be
forced to do it. If they do their ap-
pointed work, the money to carry it on
should be freely offered, monthly or
weekly, as may be desired.
Some husbands have seen how much
their mothers suffered for the want of
money even when their fathers were
rich, and they profit by the fact, and
give to their wives generous supply,
never forcing them to become appli-
cants for it, and by so doing they great
ly increase their domestic happiness.
Place confidence in wOman's ability
to act, and she will repay it; doubt her
executive powers-refuse her RESPONSE
bility-and you may rue it.
The subject of money supplies in the
home opens wide field of thought to
the husband. Will he cultivate it {?
Many wives of the middle class have
been accustomed to earn their own sup
port, to purchase their own wardrobes
before they were married. But after
marriage all is changed; they must ask
for what they require rather than have
it paid to them quarterly. At first
their wants are few, or all supplied,
but one or two years alters their out
look, and it becomes very dreary. Can
the husband understand this =? l trow
not. He will tell you, "My wife has
all she asks for" never dreaming how
many days it requires to summon her
courage to ask for necessities.
San utterly false statement" ex-
claims some one; 'there's no woman
afraid to ask for what one needs" May
1 ask you to inquire of your own wife
how she feels on such occasions 4? Un-
less she is afraid to speak the truth,
your eyes may be opened somewhat
Country Gentleman.