Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-02-13

basket piled up high with the family sew
ing (which Mr. Browne decided he could
not afford to have done ost,l and thought
her maps would necessarily have TO he
short and great way apart. She had q
shrewd suspicion, too. that he had consult
ed his own feelings more than her comfort
but having Q little scheme In contempls-
ton. SHE prudently forbore to say so, list
enng without Offering much comment to
his euloyistic remarks conc erping thesofs
That evening was a fair sample of seversl
following evenings; Mr.. Browne smoked,
lolled and dozed alternately, and Mrs.
Browne sewed diligently In order to keep
the Juvenile Brownies In whole clothes
Il saw man who had some nne apples
for sale. aud told him to brlng up bar
rel has he done soy' inquired the former,
q week or two Afterwards.
"A man called with apples, but as he
demanded the modest sum OF i've dollars
per barrel, | declined buying any. remem-
bering that times were hard and money
scarce" Mrs. Browne readily replied.
bending q droll look upon our economist,
who was remarkably fond OF apple dump
Iings. or necessity, he bad no argument
at hand half so cogcut AM powerful as
this. so the apples were not again referred
to.
II thought we were to have roast to-
day." was his next remark, when the fam
lily were seated at dinner. as he took OF!
first one cover and then smother withou,
exposing anything that seemed to look
very inviting.
"A good roasting piece. Mr.. Browne,
would have cost you one dollar and half,
and | WAS not so cx'ravaganf rs to suppose
you would pay that smount for piece of
hAn Ash Ia cha
for a moment suppose. husband, that I'm
so thoughtless and !mproyident As 10 spend
money in thst way. when I've so many les.
sons on retreuchment," responded rogulsh
Mrs. Browne. demurely fixing plate OF
fsh for the youngest boy.
"But like roast beef better than this
grumbled the latter. gathering courage
from his fathers dscontented expression
10 express his own dissatisfaction.
But IL 10 expensive, my dear, said the
mother. Your father has no money to
waste, so We must be as saving aud as con
tented as We can"
Mr.. Browne suddenly helped himself
plentifully to the piscat.rial food; an act
that greatly stimulated the boys appetite.
which WAS governed In great measure By
the fathers example.
I'm ready for pie. mother said the lad.
after he had despatched second allow
snce of the principal dish
mo pie to-day, nv dear. The applcs
cost 80 much, couldn't buy them, and
eggs are twenty-five cents dozen. We
must go without pies and puddings. chil-
dren, until things are cheaper. Think OF
the little Wilson boys, Charlie. and how
glad they would be OF a plate OF that nice
fish"
When am 10 have 4 new cap. mother :"
broke in Jesse.
Just as soon as your father can afford
to buy you one" replied Mrs. Browne
ou musnt he tsnpAfient, nv son for he
has great many things To get ana uon {
Ike TO be troubled with our applications
Recollect that these Are hard times and We
must do without what Is not needed very
much. and not find fault with simple din
ners. because II will make Ii so much easier
for him II our market bills are not so large
as they used 10 be. Seli-denial, Jesse. Is
s good quality aud cannot be too much
prsoticed by little boys
Mrs. Browne talked To the children and
at Mr.. Bro~ne-a method, We believe
which has been practiced before. But
though every word she uttered had a
meaning. and he felt the tull force of them.
he could hardly suppress . smile At the
facility with which she employed his own
mode OF reasoning, and her aptness in turn
Ing the point OF his own weapons against
himself
Mr.. Bro~ne got no roast beef or poultry
that week; soup, vegetables and other sim
pie and cheap dishes made up the bill Of
fare. and Mrs. Brown began TO talk serl-
ously OF substituting less expensive coffee
for the delicious Mocha which the prudent
head OF the family took so much comfort IN
slipping every morning. The nice sand
wiches and tongue that generally graced
the tes-table had mysteriously vanished
and the rich cake and fine. favored pre-.
serves had probably kept them company
Common tub butter was also made 10 take
the place Of the sweet, neatly stamped
Jumps which he had been In the habit OF
eating; for his careful wife had hit upon
the fact that she could save precisely thir-
teen cents on the pound by the change.
or a truth, Mr.. Browne was In q straight
place. Every day or two he was called
upon to give up something that tended TO
bis qualification, although perhaps not es-
sen'ial TO his happiness. Ii positively ap-
peared as II Mrs. Browne had put her wits
together 10 see in how many ways she
could fetrench. His linen, which had for.
merly been sent To 6 laundry Che always
prided himself on the polish and smooth
ness II was there sure TO receive.) was now
washed aId ironed at home (minus the
gloss And why? Because ii could be
done In the house at nn extra expense. and
Is times were hard and money was scarce.
II was sheer nonsense TO pay IL ont to q
laundry" That was all. Mr. Browne had
been accustomed to having . fire lighted In
his sleeping apartment previous to retir-
Ing during the winter season. He had q
horror of cold rooms and particularly ked
to be lulled 10 sleep BY the swapping and
cracking OF the brands In an open CRATE.
But now there seemed fair prospect Of
his losing this small qualification as his bet
ter-half protested "thst another fire was
useless and wasteful when fuel was so in.
Ordinately high, there was so much the
more need OF ecOnOmizing in wood and
coal"
Mr.. Browne submitted-what else could
he dor He could not complain with very
good grace, so he went to bed shiveriny,
with erm determination to give Mrs.
Browne no more lessons In retrenchmeut,
II that Was the way she practiced on them
Before he slept, he fell iuto q train OF
thought OF this nature: IF it Is so disa.
greeable for Ine to give up \ few gratinca-
tons. pleasures. luxuries or whatever they
may be termed. how much more difficult
must ls Oe 10 exniOlt true self-denial In mat
tiers OF greater moment. III have exper-
fenced disappointment at the absence of a
cheerful blaze, or q fsvorite kind of pastry i,
Jesse must have felt the denial OF new
cap still more keenly. III have been in-
clioed to murmur At dinner less palatable
than ordinary. surely my wife has harder
trial In complying with my q begin to sus.
pect) selfish and thoughtless demands on
her time and strength. Mrs. Browne is a
prudent woman, and l wish-I wish
hadn't said SO much about economy; III
buy her q new silk dress tomorrow. and
for the future do without something myself
which do not need. when our expenses
need curtailng;" and with this excellent
purpose strong In his mind. Mr.. Browne
fell asleep.
Mother, when are we to have new bon
nets? l think We ought to have some.
sOOn," remarked the eldest daughter, the
next day.
$50 do l. my love. but fear you will
have to wait awhile longer" replied the
parent. kissing the pleading face that was
so eagerly watching her own. Father has
co money to let US have, times are hard.
and"
MRS. Browne. Obli2e me by never re-
-. Al Il u