The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-13
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

legacy. The old lady left all her house
dold furniture, including her china, sill
yer and table-linen to Emily, who was
her favorite niece as well as namesake;
and, of course, that made us think at
once of setting up home of our own.
We had been engaged two years already,
there was no likelihood that my salary
would be raised and altogether we de-
cided that we might as well make be-
ginning.
Emily's papa and mamma-in fact the
whole famiIy-objected at first to what
they called our want of common sense;
but finding us quite unmoved by their
forebodings, they yielded, and began to
make preparations for the wedding.
"But now, Charles" said Emily to me,
as soon as everything was amicably set
tled-"now, Charles, we have a great deal
to learn. Suppose we begin by studying
domestic economy%
"How" | asked, somewhat bewildered
by this proposition.
an this way" was the prompt answer
She drew from her pocket small note
book, and placed it in my hand. "See
there" she added proudly, "that is my
beginning, and intend to follow it up.
You must have a book, too, Charles"
glanced over the first page and read
"Useful information. Heard Mr.. Smith
tell papa that beef was sold by farmers
for just half the price asked by city
butchers. Mem.-To buy our beef and
mutton always of farmer. Might order
vegetables, milk and fresh eggs at the
same time"
"There, Charles dear, what do you
think of that?' asked Emily, triumph
antly. "Isn't that economy? And only
think how you will enjoy a nice fresh
laid egg for your breakfast"
But my dear girl" l said, trying to
look grave, "wc couldn't buy whole
sheep or a whole OK at once you know"
"But if the whole animal didn't cost as
much as half an animal at the butchers
price, what them" persisted Emily, look
ing annoyed.
even then, my darling, think it
would be cheaper to buy our chops and
outlets from the butcher" said I, persua-
sively; "because, you see, we should get
tired of whole animal before we had
eaten it ALL"
"Well. we won't argue. You know I
don't anprove of arguments Charles D
replied Emily, feelngly, and so the sub
iect was dismissed,
However, took Emily's advice. and
began to study domestic economy. l pro-
vided myself with notebook; | asked
nv married friends so MANY ouestions
about prices. values and quantities that
7 became positiyely tiresome. lost no on
portuuity of ADDING TO nv stock Of
knowledre as REGARDED fuel nrovis;ons
WAGES and house rent. All the informa.
tion thus cleaned was carried duIv to
Emily, and carefullv classified by her
under various headlines.
The evenings we spent togetber were no
longer devoted to the "sweet notbing,"
with which ordinary lovers are wont 10
delght themselves. On the contrary, we
gave ourselves up 10 tne most aDSiruSe
ana PerpieN'hS calcuituOns, IN Which my
9iel'uer '' 'alaty was oIVlueu ana suDdlYided
10 t' sun our pains l 5houlu nave GhJoyed
t tn,,se eneniIIs1 Ii!i lnugll more II eould
i nhne l,S'funuru e l-IIilS ,itI 10 "uu up cor
fingers. but could not.
Seventeen and six-let me see
eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twcntv-onc.
twenty-five, twenty-three," she would
say, drumming each finger on the table
until she reached the sum total. which
she gave with triumphant emphasis al
ways.
However. finding that my remon-
strances seemed to hurt the dear girls
feelings, | said no more.
About this time our correspondence
lot much of its distinctly fover-like
character, and for the same reasons.
used to send Emily so many scraps of
information for her notebook, and get
so MANY directions in return. that the
results were rather peculiar. For in
stance, would write thus:
u,r. n nn1n -,
W. I v, ~ l. ~. Il. I.-l1amp Is al
ways ue"feT slial mutton ana aoes loI
70 a. t lar. niu 'llaV cream oi Tartar Is
certainty cheaper py the barrel put
Jones Tiie says She never Duy' out nail
ittE,ou, ,,,,, r,u
Ever yours oHAKLlE'
But perhaps you may not understand
the meaning of those six initial letters
at the beginning of my note. WHY, that
was very sim Pile and convenient ar
rangement to save time and space in
writing. Instead of having to write over
and over again "My own dear precious
darling little pet" l Just used those mi
tial letters, and Emily knew exactly
what | meant every time. 1t was really
a capital idea, and we were the origina-
tors; and the truth is that if it had not