The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-11-09

IL TO buy some cloth with. asked her
II she could not get along without It. 1
had only fifteen shilllngs with me, and
/ hated to let one Of them 60. She said
she really needed 1t, but II / hadn't the
money TO spare she could wait. knew
she was disappointed, but thought she
could get along and went away. That
evening went into the saloon, and we
had fine social time. 1t cost me just
even-and-asixpence 1 had paid the
money willingly-without n thought of
objectlon-and then 1 went home
When entered the hall 1 heard my
wife trying to paclfy our Oldest child.
The little thing had expected a new
dress, which had been promised her,
and she felt badly because she had not
got II.
Well, urged my wife as the child
sobbed In her disappointment. Papa
has not got the money now; but he'll
have some by.and.by, and then you
shall have pretty dress. Poor papa has
to work hard"
THE words smote me to the heart
could not afford five shilllngs to dress
my child, but / could afford any amount
for the useless entertainment of others
The crown which my needy wife could
not get when she asked for 1t, paid
away almost twice told for nothing but
1t taught me lesson. 1 opened my
eyes, and have kept them open. On
the very next morning offered my
wife the crown, but could not afford
any more for the beer man. 1 had not
dreamed how much was wasting but
when i stopped up that leak and allow
ed my funds to flow In the proper chan
mel, soon found could afford every
reasonable comfort my wife and children
needed. So 1 stick to the principle that
has been 80 beneficial to myself and
family. Ah what's that : there's an
animal In your garden"
They had reached the garden fence,
and by the dim starlight Walter could
see horned beast trampling among his
sweet corn. The bars had either been
left down or hooked down and a stray
COW had got In. They drove her out
and Miles went home. Walter saw that
the beast had done considerable damage,
but he was not angry, for he had some
thing of more importance to think of.
He went and sat down beneath an apple
tree and pondered.
"Bless me, If he hasn' t put the case
down about squarel ~ he said to himself,
at the end of some minutes of medlta-
ton. Let me see," he pursued:
There's five shillings for spirits
four and two pence for ale-four and
two pence for Soda And that's within
the last three days Thirteen and four
pence Is 1t possiblel Over twenty. five
pounds year And yet can't afford
ten shillings for gate, nor guinea
that my family may receive religious
instruction for year Walter Gray
think you had better turn over new
leaf.n
And Walter Gray did turn over new
leaf. On the very next day he did two
things, thereby astonishing two parties.
He had new gate made for the en-
trance of the garden, and thereby aston
ishing his wife he refused to toss up
for the ale, and thereby astonished q
crowd of expectant thirsty ones. For q
month he pursued this course, and at
the expiration of that time, he could
fully appreciate the new blessings that
were drawing upon him. He discovered
that he could afford everything which
the comfort of his family demanded, and
in arriving at this result he had only to
could not afford. 1t was a wonder to
him how he could have been so foolish.
When at the end of a year he had paid
his note, and had twenty pounds left, he
felt at first as though there must be
some mistake; but when his wife went
over their household expenditures with
him and showed him that all they had
needed had been paid for, he saw that
for years he had been wasting his sub
stance, and depriving himself and loved
ones of the comforts they needed--not
intentionally, but through the strange
mistake that leads thousands In the
same course. But he did so no more,
for he had learned lesson that brought
happiness and comfort to his loved
ones.
Sometimes now even Walter Gray
says, !" Can't afford 1t, and he says it
very emphatically too. But it is not
when his wife or children ask for COM
fort and joy, or when the needy poor
ask foo help and charity.