Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-01-22
MONEY WELL SPENT
A Wife's Surprise.

Now we are not only out of debt,
but we have got l,0O0 ahead, and the
question is how are we going to invest
Hiram Graham, sitting just outside
of the open door, to enjoy the grateful
GOODNESS of the summer evening, threw
aside bis paper as he spoke, and awaited
his wife's reply. His wife, busy over
her sewing, did not answer immedi-
tely;c ..,.
opinion. I'll bet you've made up your
mind what to do with it long ago. You
know the saying, A man to save money
and woman to spend it," and he
laughed good naturedly.
Yes. Mrs. Graham had made up her
mind long ago. The thought of a time
when they should be clear of debt, and
some of their surplus earning could be
expended for home comforts, had helped
her 10 make over and repair many an
old garment that she was about to throw
away in despair; it had encouraged her
to contend with numberless inconveni-
ences. But now the time had really
come she felt Il strange reluctance about
revealing her thoughts.
She was oppressed with fear that her
l ,ng-cherished plans might be dashed to
the earth However, she con menced
bravely enough.
g have thought we would repaint
the house some pretty color, such as q
silver grey, and have shutters put I'D at
the windows the right shade of green
to harmonic with the color of the house
--the same as the green leaves of the
poplar harmonize with the soft grey of
its trunk and branches"
"Why. Jennie" exclaimed Mr.. Gra-
ham. there is a good coat of paint on
the house now. And there is no color
as durable as red lead, in my estima-
tion.n
"And, continued his wife. 81 would
have the yard closed in with a neat
picket fence"
'' don't see any use in tearing down
that fence. The rails are as good and
sound as they were twenty years ago"
"Please don't interrupt me, Hiram. I
would repaper the rooms, buy a new
ingram carpet for the parlor and muslin
curtains for the windows" re -
'Thunderation! What is the sense
Of having curtains if you have shutters?
Besides, these paper curtains answer
every purpose, as Tar as can see. The
paper on the walls is perfectly whole.
1t is true that you have patched it con-
siderably; but that don't show much
And as for the carpet-why, haven't you
got new rag carpet in the room nowp"
Yes, but that would be for the sit
ting-room. And | would have a bay
window made off the south side of the
sitting-room for house plants.''
Mr.. Graham laughed outright at this
" Now, Jennie" he said, "Inever said
anything about it, but have ALWAYS
thought it kind of foolish to spend as
much money and time as you do fussing
with flowers out doors; but when YOU
come to make flower beds of-that beats
mel"
Hiram" said Mrs. Graham, "you
asked me for my opinion. Now please
don't interrupt me-"
&c Very well. Go ahead"
would have portico built over
where you are sitting, and woodhouse
and a large cool pantry, that / need so
much, on the back of the kitchen. One
part of the woodhouse would be finished
off, where the cook stove could stand in
warm weather. 1t would be so much
cooler for US to eat in. Besides this,
there are many little adornments, such
as pictures, etc., that l would add after
ward.n
why" exclaimed Mr.. Graham, " if
we were to go into that it would take
every cent of the money!
"Well, we earned it to invest in some
thing, didn't we?"
Yes, but want to invest my money
in something that will bring mein some
kind OF an income"
"It would bring us the best of all in
comes not in dollars, but what is better
far-ifl joy and happiness. Life would
have a fuller and purer meaning for us
both; it would bring higher and bet
ter atmosphere in which to rear up our
children. Even the humming. bird
loves to deck its sweet little nest with
pretty MOSES and lichens. Ought we
not to have as much love for home and
its adorDings as Gods dumb creatures p'
g have something more important to
live for than a humming bird has, said
Mr.. Graham, tartly. " would rather
leave something more substantial to
my children, such as bonds, well titled
acres, for instance. / will tell you
what have been thinking Of" he said
with an air of one who felt that the ex-
pressing of his opinion must necessarily
bring conviction of his superior iudg.
ment. You know that have always
wanted that forty acre lot ofSouthwelps
that joins me on the north. They say
he is hard up now and when he fndI
out that can make a large paymen,
down. believe / can get it mighty rea
sonable; And when ! get that paid for