Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-05-24
FARMER aoRDoN's ECONOMY.

FARMER aoRDoN's ECONOMY.
Stephen Gordon was rich farmer with
broad acres of fertile land and money at
interest, but with all this was always
talking economy. "We must economic" "
was always his theme. His family con-
sisted of a wife and three boys, and an
uncle Of his, an old man of more than sew
enty years.
One morning he entered the kitchen
where his wife had just been working
over butter, and had the great balls ready
for market. MY. Hannah. What but
ter, 1t makes fellows mouth water to
look at it, and I've got forty cents 4 pound
all winter; it's much bctter'n most folks
butter, and they are willing to pay good
price fort. How much have you made
this month";"
''This makes forty pounds"
"Wcll, that amt bad this time OF the
year.
''No, but it's real hard work to work
over so much butter by hand this cold
weather. If only had a butter worker,
it would be so much easier: it makes ME
tired when / work over ten or fifteen
pounds Can't have butter-wOrker,
Stephen?"
"Nonsensc, wife. Pay five dollars for
q butter worker? Why, my mother had
a large dairy, and she never wanted q
butter-worker; she preferred to do itwith
her hands and save the money, rather
than spend it on every new thing that
came along"
"Nell, your father had more grass to
NOW than you ever had, and he never had
Il moving machine or 4 raking machine,
and you have BOTH"
"Well, don't you see how much time
and labor they save? Why, should have
to hire twice the men L DO if it wasn't for
them"
"And don't you suppose it would save
me the same time aud strength too!"
"Well, perhaps you can have one some
time, but have got so many things TO
buy this spring; I've got to have a new
horse and wagon, and several new fences,
and don't know what. / tell you, wife,
we must cconomize all we cam" said Ste
phcn, 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 ecOno-
mize. This her husband said five years
ago, when she wanted 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 comfort
less. Didn't she economic in every
thing? Wasn't her wardrobe threadbare,
ana also that of her boys? Didn't she
economic in everything but her table!
Oh, yes and she ratified her dishes in
way that surprised Uncle Moses in the
corner. She would economiZe in way
that Mr.. Gordon would feel it.
"IIannah, you shall have a butter
worker if you want it, said Uncle Moses.
"No, Uncle; l shall have one, but you
shan't give it to me. Stephen can afford
it, or | would not lave asked him. / have
taken too much from you already, and
now | am going to economic so l can
have all need. Husband is always talk
ing economy to his family, but can't see
any way that he practices it himself-but
he is going to-"
The next day ut dinner Mr.. Gordon
said: II guess you forgot to put cream in
the coffee, Hannah"
"No, didn't forget, but 1 am saving
my cream for butter. l must make all l
cpn, for we must economize."
And a little later: ~ am ready for pie
now, wife, or perhaps you've one Of those
nice puddings?"
mo, stephen, il costs a great deal to
make pastry and puddings, and it takes
time, TOO. We must economize, you
know"
"Papa, can't have a sled? You said
last winter perhaps 1 might this winter"
said little Willie, the six-year-old.
"And can't have a pair of skates:"
said Fred, boy of ten. SIT is good skat-
ing; please buy them for me-"
mo, indeed, boys, we must economic.
l never had sled or skates, and / guess
you can DO without them"
'You must have had lots Of fun, then;
I'm real sorry for you," said Willie, with
tears in his eyes. "I shan't let my boys
90 without them when I'm man."
4 week passed by. In that time the
Gordon family had no pastry, cakes or
puddings. Now, Mr.. Gordon liked all
kinds OF sweetmeats, and it was hard for
him 20 90 without He cravcd them SO
much that when he went to the store he
bought half pound OF block sugar and
filled his pockets lie had never "econo-
omized'' OH his likings, and he prided
himself on good table. On going home
one night he found the minister and his