The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-12-04
Selett StOrp.
THE MANAGING WIFE.

Ezra Newton had been looking over his
yearly accounts. "Well, asked his wife,
looking up, chow do you come out?'
81 find, said her husband, "that my
expenses during the last year have been
thirty cents over a thousand dol.
lars"
"And your Income has been thousand
dollars ?"
"Ycs, | managed pretty well, didn't II"
"Do you think it is managing well to
exceed your inconie?' said his wife.
whats thirty seven cents p asked
Mr.. Newton lightly.
"Not much, to be sure, but still some.
thing 1t seems to me that we ought to
have saved, instead of falling behind
"But now how can we save on this sal
airy, Elizabeth? We haven't lived ex.
,ravagandy. Still it seems to have taken
it all.
perhaps there is something in which
we might retrench. Suppose you men.
tion some of your items
The most important is house reRt, one
hundred and fifty dollars, aud articles oil
food five hundred dollars.
"Just half
"Ycs, and you'll admit that we can't
retrench there like to live well.
had enough of poor board before | mar,
ricd. Now | mean to live as well as
can
"Stil We ought to be saving something
against rainy day, Ezra.
That would be like carrying an um.
brella when the sun shines.
"Stil it is well TO have an umbrella in
the house.
81 cant eontroycrt your logic, Eliza.
beth, but I'm afraid we shan't be able Ia
save anything this year. When | get my
salary raised it will be time enough to think
of that"
Let me make proposition to you,
said Mrs. Newton. "You said that one
half Of your inconie had been expended
on articles of food. Are you willing to
allow me that sum for the purpose ?"
"fou guarantee to pay all bills out Of
it?'
Eyes"
"Then will shift the responsibility upon
you with pleasure. But | can tell you
before hand you won't be able to save
much out of it.
"Perhaps not. At any rate will en-.
gage not to exceed il"
That's well. | shouldn't relish having
any additional bills to pay. As | am
paid every month, | will at each month
hand you half the money"
The different character Of the husband
aud wife may be judged from the conver.
sation which has been recorded. Mr..
Newton had little prudence or foresight.
lie lived chiefly for the present, and seem
ed 10 fancy that whatever contingencies
might arise in the future be would some.
how be provided for Now to trust in
Providence is a very proper way, but there
is a good deal of truth in the old adage
that God will help those who help them.
selves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had been
brought up in family which was com
PEELED to be economical, and though she
was not disposed to deny herself comforts,
yet she felt that it was desirable to pro.
cure them at fair rate.
The time at which this conversation
took place was ut the commencement Of
the second year of their married life.
The first step Mrs. Newton took on ac-
ccpting the charge Of the household ex.
penses was to institute the practice of pay.
ing cash for all articles that came under
her department. She accordingly called
on the butcher and inquired
"How often have you been in the habit
Of presenting your bills, Mr.. Williams ?"
"Oocc in six months" was the reply.
"And | suppose you sometimes have
had bad bills n i'
"Yes; One-third of my profits, on the
average, are swept off by them"
"And you could afford to sell cheaper
| suppose, for ready money p
"Yes, and | would lie glad il all nv
customers would give me chance to d.
So"
al will set them an example, then, y
said Mrs. Newton. Hereafter. whatever
articles shall be purchased Of You will be
paid for on the spot, and shall expect
you TO sell them as reasonable as YOU ca q. "
This arrangement was also made with
the others, who, it is scarcely necdrul tc
say, were glad to enter into the arrange
ment. Ready money is the great supper
ter Of trade, and cash customer is worth
two who purchase on credit.
Fortunately Mrs. Newton had small
supply Of money by her which lasted iii
the FIRST monthly insiallment from hel
husband became due. Thus she was en-
abled TO carry out her cash plan from The
beginning.
Another plan which occurred TO her a,
likely TO save expense, was to purchase
articles in large quantities. She had soon
saved enough from the money TO allow hol
to do this. For example, instead Of buy
ing sugar few pounds at timo she pur.
chased a barrel and Al encenadod L, =. ,,;ne