The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-24

i''i4AtAD htA'4V. .'fA'A t4It tCIl4EtA
ancc society. felt very dry a. he
walked along the street. Before
signing the pledge he would have
quenched a similar state OF thirst
with an iced punch or mint iulep.
Now he merely stepped intoa drug
gists and called for a glass of min
eral water, fer which he paid his
ftp, thinking. If he thought at all
about the expenses, that it was the
merest tritie IN the world. An
hour afterwards he INDUCED in the
luxury Of q couple Of oranges, Al
four cents each. which tempted Kim
As he passed a fruit stall.
"Rlyers, said a neighbor step
ping into his store after dinner,
Its terrible hot. and IA there i
nothing doing, I've made up my
mind to take a little excursion
down the river IN the steamboat
that leaves at four o'clock. Come,
90 along, won't YOU: We can be
home by tea time"
Il don't care if | do" replied
Rivers. Il want a little recreation
badly"
\ thought of the expenses or
whether he could afford it never
crossed his mind.
At four he was on board the
steamer, having spent a shilling 70;
cigars, which were shared with his
neighbor.
Come, lets have a glass Of lem
onade," he said, shortly after they
were on board the steamboat; and
the two men went to the bar and
each drank acool glass of lemonade,
for which Rivers settled. Shortly
afterwards the fare was called for.
1t was only twenty-five cents.
Cheap enough remarked
Rivers.
Eyes, cheap as dirt. No wonder
the boat is crowded"
Twelve and a half cents more
were spent by River for an ice cream
before he returned from the excrr-
sion. He could afford this very
well.
On arriving in the city, between
seven and eight o'clock in the even
ing, it occurred to him that as long
as he had been enjoying himself 50
well, he ought to take something
home to his family that was a little
nice. While wondering what this
should be, he passed a fruit shop,
in the window of which was a large
display of oranges.
"Ill take a dozen oranges home
that will do he said.
And so he went in and got a doz-
Ell oranges, for which he paid thir-
ty-seven and a half cents: and
bought besides, ii fps worth of to-
bacco.
The extra spendings of Mr.. Riv-
crs. who could not afford to take a
magazine, were for that day,just one
dollar and twenty cents, or at the
rate of three hundred and sixty dol
lars a year, And yet Mr.. Rivers
thought himself a very economical
man, and took merit to himself for
saving on newspapers and maya
zines.
On the next day, Mr. Rivers felt
as if he needed a little exercise-he
was so closely confined in his store
and as it was dull, he could as
easily be spared as not. SO he hir-
ed a horse and sulky for a dollar
and a half, and took "a pleasant ride
by himself.
Previously to his riding out, he
spent a shilling in mineral water.
During the ride, he paid to gate
keepers, stable boys and tayerns
where he stopped for lemonade and
for what he drank and smoked, Just
thirty-eight cents. Ten cents in
cakes for the children, laid out to
satisfy the idea of having INDUCED
in a ride while his family remained
at home, completed this days extra
expense of the man who could not
afford to take a periodical: the
whole amount was just two dollars.
On the day succeeding this, fifty
cents were spent in acknowledgements:
on the next, twenty-five cents, and
on the day after, nearly a dollar.
And SO it went on day after day,
and week after week, while Mary
continued to borrow from Jane
Iompklns, magazines, newspapers
and books.
One day, shortly after the new
magazines for the month had been
announced. Mary called as usual
upon her friend Jane. On her ia
bic lay Iiarper's and several other
magazines.
GLOW much | do envy vou.." she
said. What would | not give if
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