Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-11
Thrlftless Thrift.

There are few people found to raise
voice against thrift. We brag of II in our.
selves, desire it in our children and applaud
it in our neighbors. Yet have crow to
pick with one sort of thrift. My neighbor,
Mrs. Chase is the wife of man who, though
not by any means rich, is pre- sperous, and
Mrs. Chase's whole establishment shows this
prosperity. We all wonder aloud at the
lengths to which she can make money go,
for she secures dc zens of useful and orns.
mental things, for her family and her house,
which some of us, who spend as much
money, cannot compass. at is only because
| am tbriftier than the rest of you," she
says, when we complain of her superiority.
Then she tells us that she does all her own
sewing. "But, Mrs. Chase" objects an un-
practical body, "what would the Fisher
sisters do, and poor Mrs. Gaines, and little
Jennie Cassidy and her mother, if none of
us put our sewing ?" " 1t is not my business
to support seamstresses, my DEAR" says Mrs.
Chase, convincingly. Nevertheless, that
"poor seamstress" question remains obsti-
nate. Our good manager continues al
make over things as long as the threads
hold together, and then sell them for car
pet or paper rugs; this dress have worn
two years, and my cook is going to take it
in place of next months wages. | carry out
my rule for saving pennies in every direction.
For instance, | never have to buy eggs, and
my chickens are almost entirely supported
by what is left from our meals" So this
thrifty housewife went through the details
of her domestic economy for our benefit,
showing US how carefully she consumed
her own smoke" as she said. But was it
only that-only stopping the waste Or
did she cut off many little stream which
might have fertized a neigh hbor's barren
field, while her own banks remained full
enough and to spare l carried my doubt
over to Kate Hambleton, and went up, as |
am privileged to do, to knock at her nursery
door. | found her trying TO tie down the lid
of big, over-full basket, and kept my
conundrums to myself, while the things had
to be all taken out for a renewed effort at
tighter pack. 1t was the day for sending off
the annual church box to our home mission
aries. The thirgs in Kate's basket were
neither new nor old, but were just such
things as Mrs. Chase would have used, in
one way or another, for years. Kate"
demonstrated at length, that soft gray
would dye blue or crimson, and make you a
lovely wrapper" "Yes," she said archly,
"but suppose 1t was called to wider field 2"
Then, as il rather ashamed of her left hand
finding out SO much about the doings of her
right, she began to cover up her tracks with
light talk. "This missionary box gives us
fine opportunity to crafty at once our
generosity and our love of new things
Frank will now have to buy me brand
new wrapper" "Yes," | grumbled, "a
double calico" "And whenever | want
anything for six months to come, shall
say, you know, Frank, when we packed
that box" And 30 the refractory lid was
tied down, and Betsey sent to the church
rooms with the basket. " No name, remem.
Der, Betsey just say lady of the church
sent it. And now, Jessie, don't you be CAD
ding around entertaining the neighbors
with the contents of my basket" am
promise on one condition that you answer
me six questions; No, |, DO you pay your
servants with old dresses and things 2"
No." she replied promptly. Are you 60
ing into that business I" This question
ing rule is not to work both ways. No. 2,
Why not 7" "Well, don't think it is quite
fair. promise them silver dollars, and
yet, II offer them barter, they may fear
TO decline II, because l am the party in
power. Besides need six times as many
things TO give away as can spare" "Sat-
isfactorily answered. No. 8, Why don't
you keep chickens and feed them from your
table scraps 81" al tried it," she said
frankly, "and it doesn't pay. had to buy
lots of stuff" "MIs. Chase does it," "Ob,
yes, but -" Go ON no shufllipg if you
please" "Well, you see" with confden-
tial wink, "Mrs. Chase doesn't keep day
boarders, and do" Yes, know you do"
| say, giving her a pinch; al met that
little vagabond, Jim Early, at the gate, with