The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-05-17
THE FRTY.DoLLAR BILL.

THE FIFTY-DOLLAR BILL.
Mrs. Dean sat alone in her little
kitchen. She never used her parlor.
There was the extravagance of an extra
fire to be considered-the fact that the
best rag carpet, woven by her own skill
full hands, must not be worn out too
recklessly, the dread possibility of sun
shine fading out these chair covers.
Mrs. Dean was an economist She be-
lieved in making everything last as
long as it possibly could. And SO she
made the kitchen her headquarters,
and sat there knitting, with her feet
comfortably balanced on the stone
hearth, the saucepan of apples bubbling
softly away st the back. and the sound
of her husbands ak ringing from the
back shed as he cut and split the kind
ling wood, piled up there in we'll
seasoned logs.
She was q little, wrinkled-faced wom-
an of fifty, with stiff ribbon bows to her
cap, hair that seemed dried up instead
of silvered, and keen blue eyes that
twinkled as If they had discovered the
secret of perpetual motion. To save
money was her chief end and aim in
life. The very mittens she was knitting
were to be sold at the village store in
exchange for tea, sugar, spices and all
such necessary groceries. "A penny
saved is as good as a penny earned. !"
was the golden rule by which she shaped
her life.
I'm glad took that money out of
the savings bank yesterday" said Mrs.
Dean to herself, as the bright needles
clicked merrily away. '' People say it
isn't quite safe. And one can't be too
careful. But then, again, there's the
danger of burglars-though, to be sure,
no burglar" she added with compla-
cent, inward chuckle, would ever
think of looking in the folds of the old
-CiinkerUitle Clarion newspaper in the
wall pocket on the wall. It's the bu-
reau drawers, and the trunks, and the
locked-up chests that they aim for. A
fifty-dollar bill clean, crisp, r,eto fifty
dollar bill! And all savings, too, out
of the house money"
Just then there sounded a knock at
the door, and in came 'old DIR. Bridg-
man, rubicund with the touch of the
March wind, and muff1ed up in the
furs of the wild animals which, from
time to time he himself had shot.
"Good day, Miss Dean, good dayr'
said he. mo, thank you; 1 can't sii
down. I'm a deal too busy for that.
But 1 heard yesterday that you took
fifty dollars out of the savings bankp'
Yes" said Mrs. Dean. her face in.
Voluntarily hardening, I" 1 didr'
1--WE are taking up subscription to
get little lame Dick Bodley cart and
donkey, so that he can go around ped.
ding tinware," said the doctor. "Ifs
pretty hard for any one afflicted as he
Is to get along. and if you can help us g
"But L can't" interposed Mrs. Dean,
breathlessly. "The money was an in
vestment. don't propose to cut it uI
into little bits.''
Its deed of charity, Mrs. Dean,'
said the good old man, to help lame
Dick Bodley."
al dare say" said Mrs. Dean. q little
irritably. "But I never pretended te
be charitable character.
The old doctor went away, and the
next visitor was Helen Hurst, rosy
girl Of eighteen. ~ .,.f
Excuse me for interrupting you,
Mrs. Dean" said she, s'b but Larry
johnson was at the bank yesterday, and
he tells me that you drew out your
moneyP,
'ncHS wv. all creation therea, thouoh,
Mrs. Dean.
But she said nothing. only knit away
until her needles seemed to glance and
al am trying to oct a boarding place
at Mrs. Swiues. - added Helen. color.
ing, $50 as to be near the distriet
school. where am to teach this spring
But Mrs. Swipes reouires payment II
Advance by the month. and uufortu
natelv we have used mn ALI our sIends
means in proyidinc INV outfit. A teach
ar Won know mnsf he dressed decentI,
tc command the resnect of her nunils
But If YOU would kindly lend me ten
dollarsp
II never lend.n said Mrs. Dean
ourtlv.
al will be sure to nav it nm when j
receive NV first quarter s salary - plead
ed Helen. :" And I don't know of any
one else to go to-"
Its altogether against my princi
ples," said Mrs. Dean, with her face q.
hard as if it had been carved out o.
hickory.
Helen Hurst crent eut. feeling humil
lated and disanpointed beyond ali ex
preston.
Mrs. Dean chuckled at her own
shrewdness; but she hardly had time te
stir up the apples in the saucepan be-
L =. 49,, = ~wwe&l l. II.