Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-10-18
BALANCING ACCOUNTS.

Fred, cant you lei me nave u util luoley
this morning ?"
Frederick Wharton, pulling on his
boots to thes store. after breakfast, paused,
one boot in his hand, the other on his
foot, and looking at his wife as-well as
men do look now and then, when their
better halves ask for money.
Ladies know the expression very well.
"Money why, Nell, what have you
done with all gave you last quarter
day ?"
used it, Fred. Not extravagantly
either"
And there was bit of sparkle
coming into Mrs. Ellen's bright eyes.
ssWell, 1 don't-know," quoth Mr.
Fred slowly-"I gave You one hundred
asst quarter, and the next isn't up for
week vet. Seems to me that one hun
dred. for a small family like ours, ought
to go a good way.
Mrs. Ellen marched to a drawer, tool
ont a little morocco expense-book, anC
opened il under her lord and master
nose.
Look for yourself, she said. Ever!
cent Is down mere. Butcher. baker
groceries, coal, washerwoman's bill, pa.
nav for mendng the wardrobe, for
boiler added to the kitchen stove-an'
everything else. Any extravaganza
there, Fred 2
"Wen, no, / don't see that there Is
But it seems to me, out of twenty pounds
YOU ought to save something.
Mr.. Fred's eyes fell on the velve
shippers he had just dropped of, his las
birthday present from Ellen, and III
face Enlightened
Here are these slippers now. To-
told me that you gave three dollars 10
them. Wouldn't a cheaper PAIR nav
done Just as well 2
He look up, as much as tosay (;
"Hev. Mrs. Ellen, I've got you there
But Ellen was ready for him
Her pretty face flushed, for she didn
like her gilt found fault with.
"Do YOU think L gave you eresen
paid for with your own money SD
retorted. II tell you women don't hk
TO do that. / made that money braid
ing cloak for Mrs. Hammond,
"Oh, did you p
Mr.. Frederick look little FOOLISH
"Yes. L did. I'm willing to sccoui
for all my expenses, but won't be caile
extravagant," says the little woman
with some spirit. ''Now, Mr.. Fred, 1t
your turn. You gave me one hunure
and kept two hundred and ffty l(
yourself. I've paid all our living e.
penses except the house rent. Now
YOU expected me to do that and say
some thing, why of course, ont Oh
much more, you have saved pret'
good sum. How much is it 2
1t was Fred's turn to crimson und'
Ellen's bright eyes.
.I-oh, well, that's another thin'
you see, Nelly. have pad 'he ren
You know.
Fifteen dollars month for thr'
months. Apretty good balance lett ye'
promptly answered Mrs. Ellen.
ooh. well, men have good mai
expenses, you know" said Fred unea'
ly. -,
I've heard SO, observed Ellen drll
"Such as cigars, glass OF wine or bee
and a few other small items"
"Oh, L spent little on those things
promptly returned Fred. Ano, y
see 1 didn't say L had spent 1t all.
haven't much about me, but 1 nave
little IN the safe at the store. WIN
10 if I bring You some at noon 2
"Yes, very well, - answered Ellen.
And then Mr.. Ned. with mas
goodbye to her, hurried of, Just
time to catch an omnibus.
When he got to the store he eAainin
the little balance he had put IN the So
for security, and found there but '"en
dollars.
"Wen, well have to be pretty SAW
that's fact ~ says Fred. oinepo
mns. be a little extravagant, or
wouldn't be SO short. Let's see no"
it's me- !,
Fred kept no account, as Ellen q
but he drew on his mind for the iten
"Cigars-well, 1 smoke ABOUT Nv
aay-let's try now"
He made some rapid calculations W
his pen. - 5o,,.
"Wb lis it possible ?-ten doii'
and twenty-five cents mon'n-no'' @
as much in a quarter as our house II, re
never could have believed 1t. IL IL
LIDO take a glass of wine no" ano ~
or a dish of oysters. and ask a fr'eno
two to Join mel dare say l spena .
much more for those two iteM'' !, =
then I ride out with some OF tne U
now and then. and very often pay
bill myself. To be sure, 'AAe -o 90
sometimes, but guess ten OF 80 W.