Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-20
Misffllanfons.
The Money Well Spent.
~ Nom~ Csmforss Better than Toe ~ ssh h

Nov we are not only gu; of debt. hu; We
have 60, : 900 ahead. and the question -,
how are We going 10 invest II =
Hiram Graham. sitting just outside Of the
open door, io ENJOY the Coolne.s Of the sum
incr ~ cuing. threw aside h.s paper a. he
spoke. and av ai;ci his wife. reply. HIS
~..e busy over her sev!ng. did not answer
immediately.
Come. he ,aid. let me have ,oar opin-
ion. III be; you've made up ,our miud
what tu DO Sith J; long ago. You kuow the
saving. a man 20 save money and a woman
to spend Il" and be laughed good uA,urcGly
lc.. Nr,- Graham had made up her mind
long ago. The thought Of a time hen the,
should b. clear Of debt. and some VI their
,urplu, earning, could he expended for home
comforts. had helped her 20 make over and
F,pAiF manS an old garment that she ~as
about 10 throw aSal .u despair II had en-
couragcd her TO con;cn nd with u4mbcr.e.,
Inconvenience. But nos. the tune had
really come. she felt strange reluctance
about revealing her thoughts.
She vas oppressed With the fear that her
long cherished plans might bc dashed To the
earth HoWescr she commenced hra,cl,
enough
Il have though; Ne could Frpaint the
house some pretty color. such a. silver gray.
and have shutter, p4, up al the window .
the rlght shade Of green o. harmonic wiih
the hou>e-thc same ~ the green leaves oi
the poplar harmonic ~lth the loft gray ui
it, trunk and hranehc,"
WIN. Jennie. exclaimed Mr. Graham,
there j, a good Goa; Of PAIN; ou the house
now And there !, no color as durable As
red lead n III, estimation"
And. continued the vlfc. Il would have
the ward enclosed With neA, picket fence r.
Il doni see ans use ia ieAnng dow that
fence. The raids art a. good and sound A.
~ years ago-"
Please don't interrupt me. Hiram.
would repair the rooms. buy new ingram
carpet FOR the parlor. and mL.lIn curtains
for the Windows
"Thunderai.on What !, the sense Of
having curtain. 4 YOU have ,hutiers' Be
sides, these paper curtains answer every
purpose. a. | can see. The paper on the
walls il perfectly whole. Il Is true that YOU
have patched il considerably but tina; don 7,
show much And A. for the carpet-why.
haven't YOU got new "a, carpet IN the room
nov ?"
YES. but that would be for the sitting
room. And | would have 4 bay window
made of the south side OF the sitting room
for house plants.
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at this.
Nov Jennie" he sad, II never said any
thing about II. but have always thought II
kind Of foolish to spend a. much money and
time as YOU DO fussiag with flowers out OF
doors but when YOU come TO make flower
beds of-;hat beats fne :"
Hiram" said Nrs. Graham, .'you asked
me for my opinion. Now please don't inter
rupt me -
Very we'll. 90 ahead ~
81 would have portico built over where
YOU are sitting, and a wood house and a
| large. cool pantry. tina, | need so much on
| the back Of the kitchen. One part of the
wood house would be finished off, where the
| cook stove could stand III warm weather
| Il would be 80 much cooler tor US TO eat in
/ Besides this, there are so many little adorn-
! ments. such pictures, etc, that | would
add afterward."
why" exclaimed Mr.. Graham, If We
were going into that, it would take ever.
| cent of the money.
! well. we earned IT TO lnves, in some
thing. didn't we?''
Yes, but ] want 10 invest my money IN
something tina; will bring me in some kind
| Of an income"
ut would bring US the best Of all incomes
not in dollars, but what is better farm
| loy and happiness. Life would have fuller
| and purer meaning for US both; il would
bring higher and better atmosphere il
which 10 rear up our children. Even the
! IL iarL isrfl.
1 nest with pretty MOSES and liehens. Ought
We not to have as much love for home and IT,
adornings as Gods dumb Creatures
Il have something more important TO live
for than humming bird has, said Mr.
Graham, tartly. Il would rather leave
something substantial to my children, such
as bonds, well-thled acres, for instance.
will tell YOU what have been thinking of,
he said with an air Of one who felt that the
expressing of an opinisn must necessaril,
bring conviction 10 his superior Judgment
You know tina, | have always wanted thai
40 acre lot of Southwells that joins me on
the north. They say he is hard up now, and
when he finds out ths. | can make large
payment down, believe can get il might,
reasonable. And when ! get that paid for
/ | shall have one of the best farms in the
country. Now, what do you say TO that ?
be asked triumphanily.
alt would run US tight in debt again,
said Mrs. Graham.
"well. suppesing it did? +? We have swung
clear this time easy enough, and can again
You must remember that this land was badl,
run down when first got hold of it, but the
farm is in good condition now"
Easy enough" Mrs. Graham did MOI
repeat the words aloud. Her husband die
not know of the little sacrifices and acts o
self-denial il had cost her. He never eoulc
know it. and therein lies the pathos Of man,
q sacrifice.
| The next morning Mrs. Graham was ~
betimes, and busy as usual amidst her house
hold cares, but her heart had lost its light
meas; and as she stood under the locust-tres
| which shaded the hack door, churning, j