The National tribune., 1884-01-03

dcal Of money Ellens"
And twenty i've cents for the jelly, Sir"
added the Ielenuess Ellen.
Mr.. Datcr reluctantly counted out the
money. Be as economical as you can, Ell
lon.n
Ellen went out. tossing her head and NUT
tering under her breath certain undeniable
trgisms respecting henhussiesi"
" The newspaper bill, SIR" said Mary, the
ehanber-maid. entering on tip-toe, with mar
ror slip Of pa2er between her fingers.
What IS -
Thirty cents. Sir
Nr Dater again unclasped his porte-monnaie
and handed out the requisite sum. 1t was
hardly more than moment before Mary again
came in.
If you please, Sir, the wood you ordered
has come hQme, and Patrick Daily wants a dol
lar for splitting it up"
a dollar iretted our housekeeper; that
is too much"
ne worked half day at it, Sin, and it's
what he has always asked 2 said Mary, respect
fully.
..Taze it, them" sharply responded Mr..
Dater. / must see If ! can t get some one to
worS for nae little cheaper. ! don't believe
in paying the highest prices for the least posi-
be amount Of work.
This was u bomb-shell thrown belligerently
into Mrs Dateg5s camp, but that lady wrote
serencly on. 1t was not her cue TO notice any
sach indirect method of warfare.
The bis kittle, Sir. home from the tin
man 5, pnt in Mary, once more. Its fifty
cents. Sir, if yoa please"
Fifty cents. Fifty cents FOR mending a
tin kettle." cried Cur hero.
Ees, Sir; it's soldered IN two places, and"
There IS the grccer's boy coming up the
street, said Mrs. Dateg, glancing ont Of the
window And, sure enough, Ellen entered
presently, with sleeves rolled up and white bid
apron tied under her chin.
The bin from the grocer's, Mr.. Dater, all
( ready Teeeipted.
Mr.. DateI took the bin and looked hurriedly
over It's list Of contents.
Raisins spices soap prepared four-eggs
CLOTHES -ilirs-caraet-ta tacks-lemOns- hum
,n-m-fonr dollars and seyentE-1iye cents
& koar dollars ami seventy cents for q grocers
bin of two days standing! Ny dearI my dear !
IhisyshDald be looked into There must be
I some screw loose in cur housekeeping
4ou complained that fiie Padding-sauce
was nos rich enough Yesterday. Edward said
Airs. Dater- Deliberately folding the little note
she had just written; land last week you
said that cake, without sniiciency of raisins
and spices. was merely galvanized bread"
a man don't want ali his chance speeches
eteTnaliy breReht up against him. muttered
Ar. Dater, looking rather confused, while his
wife dated another gilt-edged sheet Of paper,
ard be-aa second letter
Well what ROW. " demanded Mr. Dater, in
despairing accent, as Mary came in once
more, stepping softly.
is tie shoena5er's bin. Sir; aud would re
be pleased-to pay il now, for his rent comes
due tomorrow, he says
How much is it2
Seven dollars, Sir" Mary banded him the
bill
Seven dol-larsi For two pairs Of chlldren's
shoes, Asy dear Maria, ISM that rather IN
necessarily exfravagantg"
If yon remember. Edward, you reproved
3 me, cisly yesterday, for allowing Bennie to 60
oat walking ii slch sllabby shoes
Wei. there's n use III saying anything. ]
suppose the bill has got to be paid, as the shoes
are bought
suppose so, TOO said his wife dryly.
Bnt 10 more remarks were made until Ben
NE and Tommy. two apple-cheeked boys Of
seven and nine. came bounding in from school
- noon, rosy aud bOisterous.
Mamma. mamma! l want fifty cents for
my new geography. and Tommy wants quar-
ter for his STATE. Tonmy's going into the ci-
piieriIig class, MAMMA
60 70 your father my DEAR said Mrs Da-
ter: and the pafesJamitGs slowly disbnrsed the
requisite funds, silently pursiDg up his mouth
into waistiing pose as he did 50.
Papa papa n stoTaned little Tommy. clat-
tering up stairs minute or two afterward
wllh all the combined energy OF eopper-toes
and iron-nailed heels. Ellen wants a bottle
81 oive-oil 10 make dressing for the celery sal
I'd. Can / 60 10 the gToeefy after IT. Can I
papa Gire US a doliar..H
Ar. Datcr looked al the dollar and thought
Of the cool, delicious celery salad-his greatest
gastronomic temptation. The latter eonsidera
1ion proved 100 strong for economy.
Run along then, my son. and make haste
Can ] have ten cents for some oranges
: papa pleaded the child.
Yes Go alongip
Alter dinner, during which he did ample Jus
tice to the celery salad Mr. Dater lay down OF
the lounge for his usual siesEa. No sooner
, however, did the drowsy influences Of Nor
plleus begin 10 steal over his eyelids than Ben
nlc's voice interrupted the dreamy lapses Of for
getfulness.
Pspa.@ cried tie boy, Mary said I was t
give you this bill
Bills more bills" calculated poor Nj
DateT, sitting up with suddenness That mad
Bonnie start. Is life one tremendous bill?-
one endless siege Of your poeketgp
I sometimes think So said Mrs Datei
who was singing her baby to sleep by the fire
. side. in the soft low cadences that mother
, learn ~ instinct.
six dollars, Is it possible that we. mod
eIatelF- F-sized family, bara six dollars wort
: Of Gas in a moath?" he exclaimed, reproach
: fully
. A---Af y hi4Ait aE3uf - HIt5flDtAsZc al IL
gas Inward said his wife, but you scoide
nee iov making the house as gloomy as cav
e-ass
Without another word Mr Dater paid tn
Z obnoxious bill, and lay back upon the Ioung
3 with a sigh that might haze come from Tia
Gaze of the Winds.p
! For just one hour be lay there, silent an
! lngtionless but not asleep. At the end Of tha
time lie spoke ont.
Mrs Dat2rip
Yes"
4 Here are your keys"
2 Thank you. Have you given housekeeE
2 ing a sufficiently long trial ~
c DO y0u always have so many bills 10 pay i
q single day."
:, Not always. The gas-bill is a special ez
pense, and the boys don't have new shoes eyer
: day. Bat there are other incidental expense
: and, altogether, to-day is a pretty fair spec
I men of the various demands levied upon IN
purse
a DO YOU know how much money hay
! spent to-day2"
y Yes. Twenty dollars and fifteen cent
Is it not?'
Y "Yesp
/ There ~as dead silence of a few moment
e Siy dear said Nh. Dater, at length, g
e have been wrong"
ii - thought men were never wrongv n
) marked Mrs. Dater, satiTieally.
Herhusband coHghed behind his hand, wisel
is contDving moi TO hear the speech
: And he went on, in measured accent
q think Shaf1 fFn~nacn VAR