Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-05
THE PRUDENT WIFE.

cA ptilsSo uuiiuB thO iaSt taA navy WV
thirty.sevsn cents over thousand dol
lars"
"And your income has been a thous
and dollars?"
YES; I managed pretty well, didn't
IT
"Do you think it managing well tC
exceed your income" said the wife.
whats thirty-seven cents?" asked
Mr.. Newton, lightly.
Not so much, to be sure, but still
something. 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 it seems to have taken il
all"
Perhaps there is something in which
we might retrench. Suppose you men
ton some Of your items"
THE most important is house rent
one hundred and fifty dol .ars, and arti-
cles of food, five hundred dollars"
"Just hall"
"Yes, and you'll admit that We can't
retrench there. like to live well. !
had enough poor board before l mar.
ried. Now | mean to live as well as !
can"
"Still we ought to save something
against rainy day, Ezra"
THAT would be like carrying an UNI.
brella when the sun shines"
"Still it is well to have an umbrella
in the house.
II can't controvert your logic, Eliza
beth, 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 expend.
cd on articles Of food. Are you willing
to allow me that sum for the purpose ~
"You guarantee to pay all bills out
of itr I shouldn't relish having any
bills to pay. As / AIN paid
every month, | will, at the end Of each
month, hand you half the money"
The different characters Of the hus-
band and wife may be judged from the
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. he
would somehow be provided for. Now,
TO trust Providence is very proper
way, but there is good deal of truth
IN the old adage that God will help
hose who help themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had
been brought up in family which was
to be economical, and though
'he would not deny herself comforts,
yet she felt that it was desirable to pro-
.urc them at a fair rate. The time at
which this conversation took place was
1t the commencement of the second
year of their married life.
The first step Mrs. Newton took on
the charge of the household
expenses was to institute the practice of
paying cash for all articles that came
lnder her department. She according
y called on the butcher and inquired
How often have you been in the habit
# presenting your bills, Mr.. Williams"
"Once in six months" was the reply.
"And you could afford to sell cheap
n, ! suppose, for ready money"
Eyes, and | would be glad if all my
customers would give me a chance to do
o."
81 will set them an example," said
hrs. Newton. thereafter what arti-
les shall be purchased of you will be
aid for on the spot, and shall expect
ou to sell them as reasonable as YOU
an" This arrangement was also made
With the others, who, it is scarcely
eedful to say, were glad to enter into
he arrangement. Ready money is the
reat supporter Of trade, and cash
ustomer is worth two who purchase on
redit.
Fortunately, Mrs. Newton had
mall supply Of money by her which
asted till the first monthly installment
rom her husband became due. Thus
he was enabled to carry out her cash
Ian from the beginning. Another
Ian which occurred to her as likely to
ave expenses, was to purchase articles
, large quantities. She had soon saw.
enough from the money allowed to
o this. For example, instead Of buy
~ sugar few pounds at a time, she
urchased n barrel, and so succeeded
, saving cent or more on pound.
his, perhaps, amounted to but triAe
J the course VI year, but the same