Smyrna times., 1881-09-28
The Managing Wife.

=" | find said her husband, that my eX-
penses during the last year have been
cents over thousand dol
lars"
"And your income has been one thOus-
and dollars?"
eyes. managed pretty well, didn't II"
"Do you think it's managing well to
exceed your income ?" asked his wife.
What's thirty-seven cents?" 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 how can we save on this salary,
Elizabeth? We haven't lived extrava-
gantly. Still 1t seems to have taken it
ALP"
:"Perhaps there is something in which
we might retrench. Suppose you mention
some of your items"
"The most important is house rent, one
hundred and fifty dollars, and articles of
food, five hundred dollars"
"Just half"
"Yes, and you'll admit that we cannot
retrench there. like to live well. Ihad
enough of poor board before / married
Now mean to live as we'll as ] cam
Still, we ought to be saving something
against rainy day, Ezra"
"That would be like carrying an UNI
brella when the sun shines"
"Still, we ought to be saving something
against rainy day, Ezra"
THAT would be like carrying an UNI
brella when the sun shines"
"Still it is we'll to have an umbrella in
the house."
II can't controvert your logic, Elizabeth,
but I'm afraid we shan't be able to 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 income had been expended
on articles of food Are you willing to
allow me that sum for the purpose 2"
"You guarantee to pay all bills out OF
it?"
"Yes."
"Then will shift the responsibility upon
you with pleasure But l can tell you
beforehand you won't be able to save
much out of it,"
Perhaps not. At any rate | will en-
gage not to exceed it,"
That's WELL shouldn't relish having
any additional bills to pay. AS am paiC
every month, l will at each month hant
you half the money"
The different character of the husband
and wife may be judged from the conver
sation which has been recorded.
Mr.. Newton had little prudence or fore
sight. He lived chiefly for the present
and seemed to fancy that whatever con
tingencies might arise in the future, h
would somehow be provided for.
Now to trust in Providence is yer.
proper way, but there is a good deal G
truth in the old adage that God will hel
those who help themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had bee
brought up in family which was CON
PEELED to be economical, and though sh
was not disposed TO deny herself comfort
yet she felt that it was desirable to pre-
cure them at fair rate.
The time at which this cOnversatio
took place was at the commencement
the second year of their married life.
The first step Mrs. Newton took on a
cepting the charge of the household e,
penses was to institute the practice
paying cash for all articles that can
under her department. She according
called on the butcher and inquired:
, "How often have you been in the hal
Of presenting your bills, Mr.. Williams
"Once in six months" was the reply.
"And 1 suppose yoH haye sometim
= had bad bills?"
eyes, one-third of my profits, ON Il
average, are swept off by them"
= "And you could afford to sell cheaper
suppose, for ready money!"
ayes and / would be glad If all of n
customers would give me chance to
So"
"I will set them an example then" sa
Mrs. Newton. Hereafter, whatever al
cles purchase of you will be paid for
the spot, and / shall expect you to 5
them as reasonable as you can."
is This arrangement was also made wi
the others, who, it is scarcely needful
= say, were glad to enter into the arranl
- ment. Ready money is the great supp
ter of trade and cash customer is wol
two who purchase on trade.
ty Fortunately Mrs. Newton had a SIN
supply of money about her which last
till the first monthly installment from
- husband became due. Thus she was
abled to carry out her cash plan from
beginning.
D. Another plan which occurred to
as likely TO save expenses, was to purch
articles in large quantities. She had sc
saved enough from the money allowed
be to do this. For example, instead fbuy
-- sugar few pounds at time, she purch
:. ed barrel, and so succeeded in saving
= cent or more on every pound. This, r