Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-02-13
MMisetllzntons. g
NJ. Brownies Plan.


Nov ~ EeeoeotseA by Piaehtag ssheS 2
People.
Jesse needs a new cap, Mr.. Browne.
His old one Is quite shabby and unh, to
wear to church"
"He must wear IL. II Ii Is. Boys are a
great expense. certainly"
But you forget. husband. that he has
worn it a long time; he really deserves a
nsw one"
Money i a. tight as-as the bark Of = tree.
l have hard work to get 8 cent, or TO keep
one amer have got IT,"
IL 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 n ton I,
Don't speak OF new caps in these hard
times"
"uI~h. .-.--
''And WOO anne q cord, It's exor-
bitantr' inter Mr.. Browne. growing
warm with his subject.
But the child must have boots, and
shoes. and clothes just the same s. though
fuel was lower. Those are necessary arti-
cles that cannot be dispensed with"
''(ou must economic, wife, Mend up
the old clothes, and send the boots 10 the
shoemaker; patch or two won't hurt the
looks nuch. and makes them almost as
good as pew" advised Mr.. Browse, aho
WAS very particular about wearing mended
clothes himself; darn, in his estimation
being sufficient 10 condemn q coat or =
vest.
Il Was hoping 10 be able To get the girls
new bonnets this winter, for their present
ones have been in wear two seasons al
ready, but suppose they will have TO go
without" continued the wife, Ia a dlsap-
pointed tone.
"of course. they will, Clark tells me
that -four was twelve twenty-five. yester-
day. wonder what the country Is coming
tor
mir. Browne. how much did tha, cigar
eosty' asked his wife.
The individual addressed didn't appear
10 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 flavor! Smith says be never had
the luck 10 get such delicious brand be-
fore. and | mean"
You never smoke less than five day. +.
husband. and sometimes more" she con-
tlDued, Ia the same quiet way.
That's . moderate number, Q very mod
crate plumber. Mrs. Browne. Some people
make nothing Of smoking = dozen. What
would you say i'll"
Five cigars at four cents each amount
to twenty cents, and seven times twenty Is
dollar and forty. Almost nine shillings
! . week for smoke. Mr.. Browne! Did II
! ever occur to you that the money might be
more probably spent-in purchasing new
| cap for Jesse, for instanceT
Mr.. Browne suddenly bethought himself
| NJ nYaSainn and laft
the house without answering this pertinent
| inquiry. His wife smiled meaningiy. and
went on sewing. She had heard . great
deal about "hard times" for several
months, and had had economy preached to
her, until, prudent and saving as she un-
| doubtediy WAS. the word had become dis
| agreeable to her ears. Mr.. Browne was
entirely willing to practice this commend
| able virtue when he could do 50 without
Interfering with his comfort; but. unfortu-
nateiy for his wife and children. this did
not often occur. In fact, he loved his ease
and would do without nothing that graft
fied his palate, or administered to his en-
| JOY ment 10 any other way. His clothes
must be Of the best material. and made up
Tn the most fashionable style. no matter
what ii cost; but Mrs. Browne and the chill.
dren might wear theirs till they were
| threadbare. although their manufacture Or
iginally was no outlay to him. his wife
being ''bsndy" at her needle, and not un-
willing to turn tailoress or dress-maker
once or twice year to save expense. But
now Mrs. Brow ne Queried (as she had often
done before) whether her husband ought
not to econOmize bis share-whether lit
tie self-denial on his part would not do
rather more good than the continual cry OF
''hard times. and you must practice econo-
my. ~ dear" The subject was still 10 her
thoughts when . domestic entered the
room and said:
There's sofa come, lna'am where will
hgoT
replied Mrs. Browne. stepping 70 the door /;
but the msu Was 80 sure that It was the
right place, that she allowed him to bring
| it in. although puzzled to know what Mr.
Browne wanted Of another sofa. as they al
ready owned good one; and as times
we're hard and money scarce. 1t did not
look reasonable that he would spare TWEEN.
ty-6ve or more dollars for . needless srti-
Gle Of furniture.
But her doubts were dispelled when tea-
time came, and with it Mr.. Browne.
| $50 the sofa got here before We." he re.
marked as his eyes rested upon his new
| purchase. Have you examined II. Sarah p
mo, for supposed 1t was sent here BY
| mistake"
| ''It's all right; I'll tell you how II WAS. ''
| he resumed. Il looked in At LeOnard's
| when this WAS being knocked on to some.
body for tribe. so over-bid him dollar
| aud got 1t myself. Only twenty-six dollars
| for an elegant sofa that undoubtedly cost
Aty. originally! Do look st It. Mrs.
Bcowne-hne silk veIvetl"
Mrs. Browne did look at il, but without
getting out Of her chair, or exhibiting any
more interest than she would have done in
Ejsneing e two chilling cricket.