Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
Ilarper's BnSnDr.


nave dreamed Of marrying lnst May il
il had not been for old Miss Vanteltuy-
fels legacy. The old lady left NIL her
household furniture, including her
china, silver, and table.linen, TO Emily,
who was her fayorite niece as well ~
namesake; and, Of courc, that made us
think at once of setting up n house Of
our own. We had been engaged two
years already, there waS no likelihood
That my salary would be raised, and
altogS her we decided that we might NJ
well make beginning
Emily's' papa and mamma--in fact,
the whole iamily-obIected Mt first to
what they called our want 81 common
sense; hut finding rs quite nnmoyed by
their forebodingS, they yielded, and be-
gan 10 make preparation for the we'd
ding.
"Bnt now, Charles" said Emily 10
me, NJ soon US every thing WAS amcably
settled nov, Charles, We have great
deal to learn. Suppose we begin by
studying domestic economy
"How p asked, somewhat bcwild-
cred by this proposition.
"In This way" Was the prompt answer.
She drew fiom her pockota small note.
book, and placed il in my hand. "Seo
there" she added, proudly, "that is mn
beginning, and intend to follow il mp.
You must have book too, Charles"
gnnced over the first pngo and
read: "U@fM information. Heard Mr..
Smith tell papa that beef was sold by
farmers Cor Just half the Uriec asked by
city butchers. hem.-To buy our
beef and mutton always Of n farmer.
Might order vegetables, milk, and fresh
eggs ut the same time"
"Thcre, Charles dear, what do you
think Of Mat?p asked Emily, triumph
nntly. Isn't that economy And only
think how you viii olioy II nice fresh
laid egg for your breakfast
But, my dear girl" | said, trying to
look grave, "we couldn't buy II whole
sheep ora whole OK ut once, you know"
I" But if the whole animal didn't cost
~ much as half MI animal 1T the
butchers price, what them persisted
Emily, looking annoyed.
Gwen then, my darling, ! think ii
would DO cheaper 10 buy orr chops and
outlets from the butcher" said |, per-
sunsively; " because, You see, wo should
got 40 tired Of whole animal before
we hnd eaten il all"
"Wcll, we won't argue. You know |
don't approve OF arguments. Charles,
replied Emily, ioelingIy, and 30 the
subject was dismissed.
However, tool; Emily's advice, and
Il.
provided myself with notebook;
asked my married friends 80 many
questions about prices, values, and
quantities that became positively tire
some; lost no opportunity OF adding
TO my stock Of knowledge as regarded
fuel, provisions, wages, and house rent
All tho information thus CLEANED was
carried duly TO Emily, aud carefully
classified by her under various hcad
lngs,
Tho evenings we suent together were
no longer devoted to "sweet nothings'
with which ordinary lovers are wont tc
delight themselves. On tho contrary
We gave ourselves up to tho most NIB
s,ruso and porplexing calculations, il
which my slender salary was divideC
and suhdividcd to suit our plans.
should have enjoyed these evenings
much moro if could have persuaded
Emily to add up column of figures
without counting on hor fingers, but
couldn't,
Seventeen and six-let me see
eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twcuty-one
twenty-five, twenty. three" she woul,
say, drumming each finger on tho tahl,
until she reached the sum total, which
she gave with triumphant emphasis
always.
However, finding that my romon
strances seemed to hut the dear girl,
feelings, said no more.
About this time our correspondence
lost much of its distinctly loyo.like char
acter, and for the same reasons | uscc
70 send Emily so many scraps of uselu
information for her notebook, and 20
SO many directions in return, that tn,
results were rather peculiar, For III
stance, would write thus;
"My q, u. y. u. L. p..--Lamh is al
ways dearer than mutton, and does no
10 rs tar. find that cream of tartar
il certainly cheaper by the barrel. hu
Jones wife says she never buys but hal
pound nj time. Ever yours,
CHARLIE
But perhaps you may not understand
the meaning Of those six initial letter
at the beginning Of my note. Why
that was very simple and convenient
arrangement osave time and space il
writing. Instead of having to write
over and over again, M orrn dor pre-
ciots darling htte PIT" just used thos,
initial letters, and Emily knew exact,
what meant every time, II WINS rcall,
capital idea, and we we've the origina
tors; and the truth il, il il had not beer
for the publicity involved, | would hay
taken out patent for the invention.
In the same way she would write I,
me:
I'D. Q. d. D. (and | understood
Dearest ga ddtiing dukg' At oncel,-
please find out II corned beef is NOR
economical when hashed. Ask you
friend Smith, there's u ID. S. r.
Gould any one with ordinary intelli