Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-24
Money Well Spent; or, a wife's Surprise.

"sV''NJ NNh Dpthts a Dht Httsts
"Now we are not only out of debt but we
have got 81 900 ahead and the question is
how are we going to invest it ?"
Hiram Graham, sitting just outside of
the open door, to enjoy the grateful GOODNESS
of the summer evening, threw aside his pa
per as he spoke, and awaited his wife's
reply. His wife, busy over her sewing, did
not answer Immediately.
"Come," he said, "let me have your opin-
ion. III bet you've made up your mind
what to do with it long ago. You know the
saying, 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 time when
they should be clear of debt, and some of
their surplus earnings 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 numer.
Gus Inconvenience. But now that the time
had really come she felt a strange reluctance
about revealing her thoughts.
She was oppressed with fear that her long
cherished plans might be dashed TO the
earth. However, she commenced bravely
enough.
al have thought we would repaint the
house some pretty color, such as silver
gray, and have shutters put up at the win
dows 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 gray of its trunk and branches
"Why, Jennie" exclaimed Mr.. Graham,
"there is good coat of paint on the house
now. And there is no color as durable as
red, in my estimation"
"And," continued his wife, al would
have the yard closed in with neat picket
fence
al 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.
would repaper the rooms, buy new ingram
carpet for the parlor and muslin curtains
for the windows
Thunderaton What is the sense Of
having curtains if you have shutters Be-
sides, these paper curtains answer every
purpose, as far as | can see. The paper on
the walls is perfectly whole. 1t is true that
you have patched it considerably; but that
don't show much. And as for the carpet
why, haven't you got new rag carpet in
the room now 2"
ayes, but that would be for the sitting.
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, 81 never said
anything about it, but have always thought
it kind of foolish to spend as much money
and time as you do fussing with flower beds
that beats mel
Hiram" said Mrs. Graham, "you asked
| for p,in,oa ,,,
terrupt me-"
"Very well. Go ahead"
al 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
Besides this there are many little adorn
meuts, such as pictures, ETC., that | would
add afterward."
"Whyl' exclaimed Mr.. Graham, if we
were to go into that it would take every
cent of the money"
"Wel, we earned it to invest in some
thing, didn't we 7"
at would bring us the best of all in
comes-not in dollars, but what is bette
farm JOY and happiness. Life would havt
fuller and purer meaning for us both il
would bring higher aud better atmospher,
in which to rear up our children. Even tn,
humming-bird loves to deck its sweet littl,
nest with pretty MOSES and lichens. Ough
we not to have as much love for home anC
its adornings as Gods dumb creatures ?"
al have something more important tC
live for than humming-bird has" said Mr.
Graham, tarty, d" would rather leave some
thing 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
expressing of his opinion must necessarily
bring conviction of his superior Judgment
You know that have always wanted thai
forty acre lot of SouthwelPs that joins IN,
on the north. They say he is hard up now
and when he finds out that can make
large payment down, | believe can get il
mighty reasonable. And when get thai
paid for, would have one of the best farm!
in the country. Now, what do you say t.
that ?" he asked triumphantly.
at would run US right into debt again,
said Mrs. Graham.
"Well, supposing it did. We have swung
clear this lime easy enough, and can again
You must remember that this land wa,
badly run down when first got hold of it
but the farm is in good condition now"
EASY enough !" Mrs. Graham did not re
peat the words aloud. Her husband die
not know of the little sacrifices and acts Of
selfdenial it had cost her. He never coulC
know it, and therein lies the pathos of many
sacrifices.
The next morning Mrs. Graham was W
betimes and busy with her household cares
but her heart had lost its lightness and a,
she stood churning under the locust tree
which shaded the back door it seemed, too
as if much of the brightness had gone ou
of her life. Golden dandelons nestled il
the grass that carpeted the yard like stray
strips of sunshine; they were still brighl
with the dewy freshness of early morning
To the right there was low meadow land
the silver thread that traversed it showed
where a brook murmured along, its tin,
waves sparkling in the sunlight. To tn,
left were fields of grain with ripened head,
bowed down, waiting for the sickle. Tn,
air was full of happy sounds; the tinkle o.
distant COW bells, the voice of domestic
fowls and the song of wild birds. But hel
great disappointment overshadowed it all.
She could think of nothing but the grea
barn-like house painted a glaring red with
its large shutterless windows, like lidles,
eyes, staring out upon the dusty highway
What wonder, if her thoughts and eyes ther
wandered over the fields of waving grain te
where stately stone house stood on al
eminence. She knew that there was beaut,
there, breezes stole into large, airy rooms
through lace curtains there were rich car
pets and costly furniture, and a library that
was almost an intellectual feast to look at
outside there were pleasant walks aud
drives, and flower garden filled with the
rarest floral treasures; and then she sighed
softly as she thought to herself-but love
would not have been there, aud life would
have been OF very little worth without that
"Jennie Jennie Oh, here you are,
aud Mr.. Graham came out through the back
kitchen door and seated himself upon the
edge of huge log that had been hewed out
aud did duty for eaves-drop and cistern. Ii
was not unusual for him to seek her, he
always did when he came in and found her
not in the house. 1t was not bad habit in
the man. His very life seemed bound up in
her and although he had the reputation
among his neghbors of being close in his
business transactions, he was kind-hearted
and generous, too, in his way. This morn
ing he had something of Importance to COM
municate.
81 didn't tell you last evening" he said, "that
had already had some talk with Southwell
about that land, He wouldn't listen TO a
cent under y 900 then, and wouldn't offer
more than 81 800. lie came over to see me
this morning, aud offered to split the differ
ence. Amt that bargain, though A
| little better than spending money for paint