Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-21
THE mANAGING WIFE.

Ezra Newton had been looking
over his yearly account. ttWell, 3
asked his wife, looking up, show
do you come out ?''
81 find," said her husband, "that
my yearly expenses have been
thirty-seven cents over a thousand
dollars"
"And your income has been a
thousand dollars ?'
eyes; managed pretty well,
didn't I?"
"Do you think it's managing well
to exceed your income ?" said his
wife. whats this thirty-seven
cents ?" asked Mr.. Newton, light
ly.
mot much, to be sure, but still
something. 1t seems to me we
ought to have saved, instead of fall
ing behind"
"But now how can we save on
this salary, Elizabeth ?" We have
not lived extravagantly. Still it
seems to have taken it ALL"
Perhaps there is something in
which we might retrench. Sup
pose you mention some of the
items"
"The most important is house
rent, $3.50, and articles of food, $500.
"Just half"
eyes; and you'll admit that we
can't retrench there. / like to live
well. ] had enough of poor board
before / married. Now / mean to
live as well as / can."
GEGkSn xr,n fA e,<,D,0
thing against rainy day, Ezra"
''That would be like carrying an
umbrella when the sun Shines"
Still, it is well to have an UNI
brella in the house"
81 can't controvert your logic,
Elizabeth, but pm 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 for articles of
food. Are you willing to allow me
that sum for that purpose ?''
"You guarantee to pay all bills
out of it ?''
"Yes."
"Then I will shift the responsible
ity upon you with pleasure. But ]
can tell you beforehand you won't
be able to save much out of it,"
The different characters of the
husband and wife may be judged
from the conversation which has
been recorded. Mr.. Newton had
little prudence or foresight. He
lived chiefly for the present, and
seemed to fancy that whatever con-
tingencies might arise in the future,
he would somehow be provided tor.
Now, to trust to 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
themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on. the contrary,
had been brought up in family
which was compelled to be econom-
zeal, and though she was not dis
posed to deny herself comforts, yet
she felt that it was desirable to pro-
cure them at a fair rate.
The time at which this cOnVersa-
tion took place was at the COM
mencement of the second year of
their married life.
. The first step Mrs. Newton took
on accepting the charge of the
household expenses was to institute
the practice of paying cash for all
articles that came under her depart
ment. She accordingly called on
the butcher and inquired:
'How often have you been in the
habit of presenting your bills, Mr..
Williams"
"Once in six MONTHS" was the
reply.
have bad bills ?"
"Yes, one-third my profits, on the
average, are swept off by Them"
"And you could afford to sell
cheaper, l suppose, for ready
money!
"Yes; and / would be glad if all
my customers would give me
chance to do So"
81 will set them an example,
them" said Mrs. Newton. "Here-
after, what ever articles shall be
purchased of you shall be paid for
on the spot, and / shall expect you
to sell them as reasonably as you
can"
This arrangement was also made
with the others, who, it is scarcely
needless to say, were glad to enter
into the arrangement. Ready
money is great supporter of trade,
and cash customer is worth two
who purchase on credit.
Fortunately, Mrs. Newton had
small supply of money by her,
which lasted till the first monthly
installment from her husband be-
came due. Thus she was enabled
to carry out her cash plan from the
beginning.
Another plan which occurred to
her as likely to save expenses was
to purchase articles in large quanti-
ties. She had soon saved enough
from the money allowed to do this.
For example, instead of buying
few pounds of sugar at a time, she
purchased barrel, and so succeeded
in saving a cent or more on a
pound. This, perhaps, amounted
to but a trifle in the course of a year
but the same system carried out in
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