The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-07-22

, u leIANleE young OOllNTS put OH tucT PIT
feathers, become fully hedged, anG
flock of wild geese, leaving not eve,
the smell of money behind.
"Weff, if they do, they must go tt
iroost somewhere, and I don't sec why
some of them can't settle here as wei
as elsewhere,'' said my Wife, as sh'
commcnced on fresh stocking; ant
then added, with a slight dash O
J acidity, "There's no danger of on.
riches flying away!
"No, my dear, tho wealth of loving
hearts, of unstained consciences, anG
contcnted dispositions is permanent
investment, and not at all prone to
aerial flights. These are your only
true riches. With these, you are
richertth Cre5us; without them, pool
indeed.''
"That's all very we'll, but that kind
of property don't constitute legal
tender. You can't pay the grocer with
consciences and dispositions, howcve,
pure and contented. They don't sc
half rs far as promises, for I've known
you to make those last 4 year. Blu.
speaking of the grocer reminds me
that thought 1 saw the bottom OF
the flour barrel this morning."
Now 1 knew in an instant that there
wasn't flour enough in that barrel to
make a homeopathic biscuit, for had
had a hint of its condition the day be.
fore, in the shape Of an inquiry from
my wife, "What is flour worth now ?"
expressed in tone intended to inlli-
cate that she had no more interest in
| the matter than she had in the number
Of statute miles between the earth and
the moon.
1t is pleasant little fiction of hers,
that a delicate hint, in relation to the
consumptive state of that important
ingredient in domestic economy, falls
more lightly upon tho ear of the
moneyless than the plain and simple,
though appalling statement, "The
flour barrel is empty ~ and She will
resort to all manner of cXpedients for
bringing the case to my mind rather
than state it in plain English. In fact,
1 have sometimes thought of teaching
her to say it in Spanish, and thus re-
move a little of its harshness, but as
she had no aptness for any tongue, ex-
cept her own, have abandoned the
idea.
The purchase of a barrel of flour is an
event in our household economy not to
be treated lightly. Itrequircs prepara-
tion and consideration. In the first
place, Il certain sum of money is to be
provided to meet the emergency, for
whatever latitude the grocer may al
low in minor matters, when you talk
to him of flour you must produce the
quid pro q,to, or there is no trade.
The next point to be decided is the
selection of tho "brand." This leads
to a friendly interchange of vicWs be-
tween the heads of the home depart
mcnt, which always results in my be-
sr,r-s -
highest priced article in the market,
false economy by investing in a cheap
er quality. In my younger days, I
once made a purchase of a barrel of
second quality (as the grocer called iD,
to see if my wife would know the diff
ference; and 1 believe I have had the
biscuit that were made from it thrown
! ut me ever since.
You should see my wife when she
| assists at the opening Of tho new bar
rel, and as its snowy treasures arc dis
, closed to her gratified gaze. Smiles
dimplc her rosy checks, and pleasure
Sparklcs in her eyes. How tcnderly
she lifts each dippcrful from its recep-
| taclc, examines it with an eyo of a
judge, and pronounces its quality with
| the air of an expert! And what a
glow of houscwifeIy satisfaction man
| ties her fair face, when the first baking
confirms her judgment! And then as,
day by day, she desccnds deeper and
deeper into it's rccesscs, each dippcrful,
snowy though it be, leaves Il shade
upon her brow, until at last the flour
and the smiles and dimples disappear
! together.
AS I sit reading of an evening, can
hear that wooden dipper humping at
the slaves or gently scraping the bot
tom of the barrel as it desccnds in
search of the wherewithaI for the
bread Of the coming day, and l know
that my wife is iutimating by these
means the necessity of fresh supply
As plainly as though she told me in so
many words, for she knows that Il can
hear every thump. And by-and-by
/ she comes in looking as dcmure as Il
kitten, and mono but the initiated
| would ever dream that she had an empty
flour barrel in her mind. But the
next day brings a fresh barrel, fresh
smiles and dimplcs, and a renewed de-
| Plction of the already attcnuatcd purse.
The smiles and diinples are always
cheap at any price, even if the flour is
| not
AS l mediate on the momentous
! L.,