Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-07
LOVE m A FLAT.
oxxrHo UsAsD DOLLARS A YEAR

eaved--The Lafe o. FrucaI aud HAPPY
Family.
A smiling little woman opened the door
81 Z plaluiy-furnished sitting-room at the
top IL The second light Of stairs, aud
ushsred two men into The apartment with
the regal courtesy OF q housekeeper con-
scious Of her own merits, says the New
York Times. II was about Q O'Clock =.
NJ. and through o doorway leading
into the d.ning-room could be seen white.
robed table temptingly set for dinner.
II thought I heard you coming" the
little woman said, placing one hand afec-
sionately upon the arm OF the taller Of the
two gentlemen, while she pleasantly &C.
knowledged an introduction to the other.
any wife always listens for me at din
ner-time," said the tall man in an explana-
tory tone 10 h,s male companion.
.sIes, and can always tell your STEP
was the little lady's reply.
A few other remarks OF domestic
character were intsrchanged, aud the
young couple, with their guest, sat down
to dinner feeling cheerful As well as hun
CRY. The husband was the clerk whom
the wealthy merchant, Mr.. s.. described as
"a man who supports himself, vile, ana
child on less than $1,000 year." and the
Of the Times q few weeks ago an account
Of how q man with a family can live In
New York on S25,e00 year.
"You observe" said the husband. as he
struck bis csrving-knife on the steel pre-.
raratory TO attacking q modest roast OF
beef which his wife placed before him,
.sthat slthough We have but little beyond
the hare necessities OF life. we manage TO
live comfortably and happily"
..Yes, indeed. we are happy" inter- ected
The wife. removing her kitchen apron and
taking Der seat behind steaming coffee
rot. 1--WE have good health, all we want
10 cat, drink. and wear. and our baby Is
The preiiiesi and cutest baby liz the world.
i don't sec
WHAT WORE ANYBODY CAN WANT
10 make then happy. Do you take milk In
Your coieef"
III you please" said the newspaper
man.
"Just look around you and you will see
what good wife can accomplish" re-
marked the husband as he passed TO his
guest O plate containing rice cut OF beef,
n couple al boiled potatoes. and liberal
portion o. green peas. GAN OF the decOra-
lions OF this room, including the rug, the
wipdow-curtaIns and even that expensive.
looking buffet in the corner, are the handi-
work Of Mrs. X. When you get an insigh.
into her genius for improvising household
articles you will not think 1t strange that
We manage 10 lay by 300 10 $500 each year
out Of NY salary Of $1,000. With few
bits Of canbrIc and pine-board she can oil
O room full OF stylish aud useful furniture.
She can make dollar go farther"
Snow, Edward" Interrupted the wife,
H.. - th.
gentleman did not come here TO listen 10
your praise OF myself. He desires. as I'M
uers.and II, the plain facts 0i how we man
age TO live within our small income. can
tell him in very few words just how IL IS"
avery well, 90 ahead" replied the SUBJ
dued husband, helping himself TO another
potato.
"My husband, as you know. gets n sal
NV Of 81. 900 a year" said the little lady,
turning with animation toward me news
paper-maD. 'Ilc gets his pay once
month, aud he brings home esq and few
cents. When we were married we made
I'D our minds 70 so live as TO he able to
put something in the bank each month, and
we have not vet failed TO do so. We fig
ured that our $1,000 year gave us about
S2.73 a day. and we based all OF our esti-
mates Of expenses on that. Both OF Us
had lived In Brooklyn most OF our lives,
and we concluded to stay here. OF course
this Ga. il great way from the bridge aud
the ferries-about two and bali miles
isn't IL, Edward !-but the neighborhoOd
Is quiet, respectable, and healthful. We
Pay $50 month for this fiat, and we rent
out tie front parlor for Is month, which
brings our rent down TO Sl2 a month, or
about 40 cents day. The landlord pays
the water-bill for the whole building, aud,
as we do not burn gas, we have no gas
bills. The oil that we burn costs us 80
cents month in the winter, and, OF course,
much less iban that ia the summer. j do
my own housework, and therefore We save
the servants wages and what the servant
would waste.
AS FOE PUgI-
we use ten tons Of coal year. the average
cost VI which last year was about $3.50 a
ton. brought into the building. That makes
II or Is cents day."
.Tell him about the provisions" said
the husband with Il chuckle.
IL am coming 10 that part OF the story"
said the little woman, with threatening
glance at her husband. Then, addressing
herself TO the silent guest, she said "Ei-
ward makes great deal OF fun about my
buying the provisions for our table because
will never let the cost OF what we eat 90
above certain amount each week. IL we
have an extTa-gOod dinner one day. we
practice little self-denial for the rest OF
the week. Some days we do not eat any
butter, other days we 20 without milk, and
in warm weather we only have meat once
in four or five days. How much do you
think ii costs me week TO supply our Ia
bley Please give n rough guess"
"Ob, about Sl2 or ga" promptly an
swered the newspaper-man. making what
he thought was a low estimate.
a spend 81 week and no more for
provisions replied Mrs. H., with an en-
phalic toss Of the head. "Thls dinner to-
day il extra, because we have company.
but shall not allow it TO increase the ag-
eTegaie cost Of our food for the week"
"Thai's so. she won't" groaned Edward.
"To.morrow there win be nothing but
herriDgs, soda craSk ers, and cold water on
The table"
II resent that lmputation," said the
young wife. laughiDgly. Edward knows
that we always have plenty Of good, whole
son food. In fact, we are obliged to have
IL. for both he and | exercise great deal
each day, and then our baby is two years
old. and she has rayenou. appetite.
know that TO persons who have kept house
II will seem almost incredible that family
Of three can be we'll fed on sixty cents
worth Of food each day.
WE COULD NOT GET ALONG
on what sixty cents would buy II should
puIchssemy supplies from day to day. But
! 60 10 market, sometimes twice a week
and sometimes once week, and buy
enough TO last two or three days or week,
Us the case may be. Flour buy by the
bag, and sugar ten or twenty pounds at
n time. ] make my own bread, cake,
and pastry, and l have learned how
10 dress up fancy little dishes out OF the
simplest Kind Of isre. We have ham quite
often. One ham will last Us long while,
yet we do not get tired Of II, because there
are dozen different ways OF preparing il
for the table. Whenever I buy o roast OF
besf we have II In many different forms
eau get good roast at my butchers for
81, and that will last ~ three or four DAYS.
We wlll have from that single piece meal
o! roast beef, meal Of stewed meat, with
potatoes, a platter Of cold meat with
pickles, aud perhaps some good beef.soup.
We eat great deal OF oatmeal cracked
wheat. hominy, and rice. Such food is not
only nourishing, but IL costs but little and
can be served IN great variety OF WAYS.
Fried hominy snd syrup or ree-pudding
make very nice dessert. BY the way, /
shall ask your opinion Of some OF nav rice