The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-11-22
LIVING ON A SMALL SALARY.


LIVING ON A SMALL SALARY.
Thrift and Comfort Of q Brooklyn Clerk
ana HIS wife-A Cozy Home In Flat
Saving $500 ON Salary Of $1,000
Figures for the Frugal.
A smiling little woman opened the
door of plainly furnished sitting-rOom
at the top of the second flight of stairs
and ushered two men into the apart
ment with the regal courtesy of house.
keeper conscious of her own merits.
1t was about six O'Clock p. m, and
through doorway leading into the
dining-room could be seen a white
ROBBED table temptingly set for dinner.
81 thought heard you coming" the
little woman said, placing one hand
affectionately upon the arm OF the
tallest of the two gentlemen, while she
pleasantly acknowledged an introduce
ton to the other.
"My wife always listens for me at
dinner time," said the tall man in an
explanatory tone to his male compan-
ion.
Eyes, and 1 can always tell your
STEP" was the little lady's reply.
A few other remarks of a domestic
character were interchanged. and the
young couple, with their guest, sat
down to dinner feeling cheerful as well
as hungry. The husband was the clerk
whom the wealthy merchant, MIR. s..
described as "a man who supports HIM
self, wife, and child on less than 1000
year." and the guest was the writer
who gave the reader of the Times a few
weeks ago on account of how man
with family can live in New York on
$4,000 year,
'sYou OBSERVE" said the husband. as
he struck his carving knife on the steel
preparatory to attacking modest roast
of beef which his wife placed before
him, .sthat although we have but little
beyond the-bare necessities of life, we
manage to live comfortably and hap
ply"
Eyes, indeed, we are happy" inter-
jected the wife, removing her kitchen
apron and taking her seat behind a
steaming coffee-pot. "We have good
health, all we want to eat. drink, and
wear, and our baby is the prettiest and
cutest baby in the world. / don't see
what more anybody can want to make
them happy. Do you take milk in your
coffee?"
'.If you please" said the newspaper
man.
ssJust look around you and you will
see what good wife can accomplish,
remarked the husband, as he passed 10
his guest plate containing nice cut
of beef, a couple of boiled potatoes, and
liberal portion of green peas. 'All
of the decorations of this room, in
GLIDING the rug, the window curtains
and even that expensive-looking buffet
in the corner are the handiwork of Mrs.
r. When you get an insight into heI
genius for improvising household arti
cles you will not think it strange thai
we manage to lay by 5000 or $500 eact
year out Of my salary of 1000. Will
a few bits of cambria and pine boarC
she can fill a room full of stylish ant
useful furniture. She can make dol
lar go farther"
Now, Edward, interrupted the wife
with pretty affectation of reproof
'.the gentleman did not come here t,
listen to your praise of myself. He de
sires, as I understand it, the plain fact
of how we manage to live within on
small income. can tell him in a YER,
few words just how it is"
"Very well; go ahead" replied tn,
subdued husband. helping himself Il
another potato.
sMy husband, as you know, gets
salary of $1,000 per year." said tn
little lady, turning with animation
toward the newspaper man. HE get
his pay once q month, and he bring
home $S3 and few cents. When W
were married we made up our mind
so to live as TO be able to put some
thing in the bank each month, and W
have not yet failed to do so. We fig
ured that our $1,000 year gave II
about 1918 day, and we based all
our estimates OF expenses on that
Both of us have lived in Brooklyn mos
of our lives, and we concluded to sta
here. OF course, this fiat is a grea
way from the bridge and the ferries
about two and half miles, isn't il
Edwardp--but the neighborhood
quiet, respectable and healthful. w
paw $50 month for this lat, and W
rent out the front parlor for % . month
which brings our rent down to S12
month, or about forty cents day
The landlord pays the water bill 70
the whole building. and as we do nc
burn gas we have no gas bills. Tn
oil that We burn costs US thirty cents
month in the winter, and, Of course
much less than that in the summer.
90 NV own housework, aud therefor