The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-06-20
Hard Times.

" Jesse needs q new cap, Mr.. Browne.
His old one is quite shabby, and unfit to
wear to church"
:" He must wear it. if it is. Boys are a
great expense, certain"
g But you forget, husband, that he has
worn it long time; he really deserves
new one"
Hard times, Mrs. Browne, hard timesl
Money is as tight as-as the bark 10 a
tree. have hard work to get cent, or
to keep one after have got it.
g don't think Jesse has drawn very
heavily on your purse, for the child has
had scarcely anything this winter, !"
added the wife.
Mrs. Browne, coal is ten dollars
toni Don't speak of new caps in these
hard times.
q High, certainly; but"
And wood is the same cord. It's
exorbitant," !" interrupted Mr.. Browne,
growing warm with his subject.
But the children must have boots
and shoes, and clothes, just the same as
though fuel was lower. Those are neces-
sary articles that cannot be dispensed
with"
"You must economiza, wife. Mend
mp the old clothes, and send the boots to
the shoemaker; a patch or two won't
hurt the looks much, and makes them
almost as good as new, advised Mr..
Browne, who was very particular about
wearing mended clothes himself-a darn,
in his estimation, being sufficient to con-
denim coat or vest.
81 was hoping to be able to get the
girls new bonnets this winter, for their
present ones have been in wear two sea-
sons already; but 1 suppose they viii
have to go without" continued the wife,
In a disappointed tone.
''Of course they Wilt Clark tells me
that -four was S12 %, yesterday. won
der what the country is coming to?
But the poor will feel these high
prices more than we do. Think how
much less we shall be incommoded by
them than poor widows with large fami-
lies of small children. We must try and
help sick Mrs. Wilson this month; the
last time I was IN she had but misera-
bic fire, though the day was bitter cold.
She would feel very grateful for little
wood, "reioined benevolent Mrs. Browne,
who had given the woman in question
many good dinner.
''Charity begins at home, especially
when beefsteak is a shilling pound, and
other meats in proportion" replied the
husband, emphatieally, leaning over and
lighting a cigar by the glowing anthra-
cite, and then, tipping his chair back to
an easy position, amused himself by
putting ont the smoke in fieeey columns.
So Mr.. Browne, how much did that cigar
cost !" asked his wife. \
The individual addressed didn't appear
to be sensible that he had been spoken
to until the question was repeated.
How much did this cigar cost, did
You ask? Four cents only, and cheap at
that. Exquisite hayorl Smith says he
L II 4. III
cious brand before, and mean"
s. You never smoke less than five day,
husband, and sometimes more, she con-
tinued, In the same quiet way.
''That's very moderate number, Mrs.
Browne. Some people make nothing of
smoking dozen. What would you say
if l."
8 Five cigars at four cents each
amounts to twenty cents, and seven times
twenty is a dollar and forty. Almost
nine shillings for smoke, Mr.. Browne!
Did it ever occur to you that the money
might be more proftably spent-in pur-
chasing new cap for Jesse, for instance,
or buying Mrs. Wilson few groceries
every week
Mr. Browne suddenly bethought him
self ofR most pressing engagement, and
left the house without answering this
Y. Ills WIG SIllAEu
meaningly and went on sewing. She
had heard great deal about hard times
for several months, and had had econ
omy preached to her, until, prudent and
saving as she undoubtedly was, the words
had become disagreeable to her ears.
Mr.. Browne was entirely willing to
practice this commendable virtue when
he could do so without interfering with
his comfort but, unfortunately for his
wife and children, this did not often oc-
cur. In fact, he loved his ease, and
would do without nothing that gratiied
his palate, or administered to his enjoy
ments in any other way. His clothes
must be of the best material, and made
up in the most fashionable style, no mat
ter what it cost but Mrs. Browne and
the children might wear theirs till they
were threadbare, although their manu-
facture originally was no outlay to him,
his wife being handy at her needle, and
not unwilling to turn tailoress once or
twice year to save expense.
And now Mrs. Browne queried las she
had often done) whether her husband
ought not to economize his share
whether a little self-denial on his part
would not do rather more good than the
continual cry of hard times, and lyon
must practice economy, my dear"
She asked herself If few practical
hints would not serve good purpose in
reminding him that practice was better
than preaching, and that example went
farther with most people than advice.
The subject was still in her thoughts
when domestic entered the room and
said:
There's sofa come, ma'am; where
will I go Z"
. A sofa There's some mistake, I
think replied Mrs. Browne, stepping to
the door; but the man was so sure that
it was the right place, that she allowed
him to bring it in, although puzzled to
know what Mr.. Browne wanted another
sofa for, as they already owned a good
one; and as times were hard and money
scarce, it did not look reasonable that he
would spare twenty-five or more dollars
for a needless article Of furniture.
But her doubts were dispelled when
tea time came, and with it Mr.. Browne.
$50 the sofa got here before me, he
remarked, as his eyes rested on the new
purchase Have you examined it
Sarah ?"