St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-05-08
FarIner GOrdon's Economy.
BY LIZZIE WILLIS HASTINGS.


stephen Gordon was a rich farmer
| Broad acres, fertile lands, and money
| at interest, We're his, but with all this
he was always talking economy. 1--WE
must econOmize' in this or that or the
other, was always his theme. His fam
lily consisted of wife and thr boys
and an uncle of his, an old man ot
more than seventy years.
One morning he entered the kitchen
where his wife had Just been working
over butter, and had the great balls
already for market.
"My : Hannah What butter II
makes fellows month water to look
ut it, and I've got forty cents pound
all winter; it's so much better'n most
folks butter, they are willing to pay
a good price fort. How much have
you made this month 2"
his makes forty pounds this
month"
"Well, that amt bad this time of the
year"
"NO, but it's real hard to work over
so much butter by hand this cold
weather. If only had Il butter worker,
1t would be so much easier; it makes
me so tired every time ! work over ten
or fifteen pounds. don't get over it
in two OF three days, my arms and
back are so lame. Can't | have but
ter worker, Stephen ?"
"NOnsense, wifei | suppose you
want me to pay five dollars for but
ter-worker, don't you? Why, my
mother had IL large dairy, and she
never wanted il butter worker, she
preferred TO do it with her hands and
save the money than spend it on every
new thing that came along"
"Well, your father had more grass
to NOW than ever you had, and he
never had Il moving machine or u rak
ing machine, and You have both"
''Nell don't you see how much time
and labor they save? Why, | should
have to hire twice the men | do now,
if it wasn't for them"
And don't you suppose it would
save me time and strength too ?"
"Well, perhaps you can have one
sometime, but | have got so many
things to buy this spring; I've got to
have II new horse and wagon, and sew
cral new fences, and dOn't know
what. | tell YOU, wife, we must econ
omize all we can" said stephen, as he
left the room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything; perhaps she
might have it some time, but now she
must ec0nomize. This her husband
said five years ago, when she wanted
il new stove, and she was using the old
cracked stove yet. 1t was just so
about everything in the house. Her
home was bare and comfOrtlcss. Didn't
she economic i'll every thing Wasn't
her own wardrobe threadbare, and also
that of the boysP Didn't she patch
their clothes until it was time wasted
to patch them more Didn't she econ
omize in everything hnt her table Oh
yes and the little woman ratified her
dishes i'll IA way that surprised Uncle
Moses in the corner. She would econ
omize so as to make Mr.. Gordon feel
fit
Hannah, You shall have Il butter
worker if you want it," said Uncle
Moses.
"No, uncle | will have one, but you
Shan't give it to me. stephen can af-
ford it, or | would not have asked
him. have taken too much from you
already, but now am going to econo-
mize so | can have all | need. Husband
is always taking economy to his family
but | can't see any way that he prac-
tices it himself but he is going to-"
The next day at dinner Mr.. Gordon
said, IL guess you forgot to put cream
on this boiled ham, Hannah
"NO, | didn't forget, but am saving
my cream for butter. | must make all
| can, for we must economize."
And little later:
"I'm ready for the pie now, wife
Perhaps you've got one of those nice
puddings that are just what like"
"NO, Stephen, | have neither. Ii
costs Il good deal to make pastry anC
puddings, and it takes time, too. w,
must economic you know"
"Papa, can't have sled ? You sait
last winter perhaps | might this win
ter" said little Willie, the six-year- old
"And can't have ii pair OF of skates9'
said Fred boy of ten, at is such goot
skating, please buy them for me, papa.
"No, indeed, boys, we must ecOno
mize. never had sled or skates
and / guess you can do without them.
| Ou Hluol nav Z lOSl lOlS Ol luD IltD
I'm real sorry for you" said Willie
with tears in his eyes. 81 shan't lie
my boys go without when Pm man.
A week passed by. In that time tn
Gordon family had no pastry cakes O
puddings. Now Mr.. Gordon liked al
kinds Of sweetmeats, and it was har,
for him to do without them. He crave,
them so much that when lie went T.
the store he bought half-a- pound q
block sugar and filled his pockets. H
had never ''eeonomized" on his living
and he prided himself on setting a
good a table as any one in town.
On going home one night he foun
the minister and his wife making
call. He was glad to see them, q
course, and now, he thought TO him
. self Hannah will have decent suppe
once more. But what was his cOnsteI
nation to see, as he seated himself d
the table, nothing bat bread and bu,
ter, cold boiled BAN and apple sauce
'Well," said Mr.. Gordon to his wifi,
''fm afraid the pastor will think you
supper scanty one
] ''l'm sorry, Stephen, but the fact il
we have been econOmizing lately, an
they came so late that had no tim
to prepare anything different.
I "This delicious bread and butte