Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-09-08
MISTAKEN ECONOMY.


"We really must economist some
where J" said Obadiah, Juggling wildly at
his whiskers.
Eyes, indeed" said l., wringing my
hands; I'VE must !" But Pm sure, Oby
dear, we are neither Of us extravagant.
We must eat, we must drink and we must
live - III |%#$##
And Obadiah and sat and looked at
each other in sort of mild despair.
We had only been married six months,
Obadiah and I. We were very young
both of US. and perhaps had begun the
world too early. Our relatives told US he
hadn't any business to marry. but as their
gratultous opinions were all they had Civ
en- us, we had not paid much attention to
their apparently idle utteraDces.
We had taken little one-story cottage
just on the high road, which was to let
cheap, because there we're only two rooms
and kitchen to it. But what did Obadl-
ah and | want with more than two rooms
and a kitchen? had the furniture which
grandmother Newcomb had given me, and
a rag carpet which my poor mother had
woven the winter before she died. To be
sure our accommodations we're not exten
sive, but we did not expect to hold fash
ionable receptions or give large dinner
parties.
Obadiah had plenty of work IN the wool
| n al hxt ha I
out my little tin sign. ''Dressmaking and
Millinery and hoped that some one
would see it, and come in and give an or
der. But DO one came. I had plenty OF
time after my Housekeeping duties were
over in the morning, and couldn't be al
ways beeswaxng the furniture, arranging
The china cupboard, or polishing the win
dows.
II wish l could get some dressmaking
to dol said |, wistfully; for Obadiah :
Earnings were small. and did so long for
Il dollar or two of my own.
"Why don't you advertise in the village
paper?' said Mr.. Meggs.
Obadiah burst ont laughing.
I "Advertise!' said he. 'Why, what do
you take us for. Mr.. Meggs? 1t costs a
deal of money to ADVERTISE
1T costs something, certainly" said
Mr. Meggs. thoughtfully, stroking his
chin; 'but, then, it calls attention to the
particular sort of iron you've got in the
fire."
IA. little local paper like that!' said
Obadiah. rather contemptuously.
Its local custom that your wife wants
isn't it?" said Mr.. Meggs.
IL never did think much of newspa.
pers," SAID Obadiah.
So that settled the question, and after
ward, when the foreman of the wooden
factory cut down the wages 20 per cent.
and coal went up and the winter set in
ard and cold, and we began to consider
the question of how and where we could
economic, the local paper was almost the
first thing upon which Obadiah settled.
THAT, at least, is an unnecessary ex-
travagance. said he.
WINGED little. The Boggsville "Her-
aid" had been my companion for more
|
Its only $500 a year, Obadiah" said
I, land really it a very interesting little
paper"
"Just $500 year too much" said my
husband, CURLY. 1.-The subscription is
just out. I'll tell 'em we won't renew it.
can very easily borrow Mrs. Meggs' pa
per- .-ft.
was silent; never could make Obadi-
eli understand that deep-rOoted aversion
to borrowing of any crearure whatever,
that had Inherited from my dear good
mother.
So We cut down our weekly paper. left
off using butter. and burned candles pen
ny pound cheaper. and l sponged and
bound, and cleaned and rebound and new
buttoned Obadiah's overcoat instead of
buying a new one, and left off going to
church because my old cloak was so shah
by and couldn't afford anything better.
And, OIL how did miss the Boggsville
"Herald."
"If could only get little dressmaking
to do" said [ to myself, II would sub
scribe again myself. But I cannot bear
to ask Obadiah for a cent of his hard earn
ed money"
was sitting, very sad and lonely, one
freezing February day by the window.
trying to mend one of Obadiah g old waist
coats, so that it should last few days
longer, when travelling peddler with a
large basket of china ornaments on one
arm and bnndle on his shoulder, knock
ed at the door. He nodded in an lnslnu-
ating manner at me as l answered the
summons.
''Could l sell you anything this morn
ing. MANI" said he. with liberal display
of set of white teeth. Anything in
the way of elegant mantel vases, statuetts,
decorated china, match boxes"
| Ut hov coi1 mi III