St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-09-18
The Family Purse.

We admit that it is an imaginary
thing. The name, even, is Utopian,
and the reality belongs undoubtedly to
some higher civilization than this.
Glimpses there are indeed, in some
rare households where it is known to
exist /; but in the majority of families,
even where two are as one in other
things, there is usually the divided
pocket. Are some then to be stewards
of gifts and some of grace God for
bid Let the plethOric wallet eX-
change with the thin, slender purse,
and both divisions may learn some
new lessons in stewardship.
That there is an ideal i'll this matter
capable of Il living, energizing, har
monizing reality, no one will deny.
That the failure to attain it lies ut the
root of vast amount of domestic dis
cOntent-that it is the cause of many
heart-burnings and of great misery
even in Christian homes-will be as
readily admitted. That it occasions
often great deal of unrighteOus
Judgment is equally true. 1t is so true
as to be almost trite that many Il
woman in fine clothes and brilliant
Jewels is scarcely steward of that
Good men make this fatal error some
times. 1t gratties affection perhaps,
but more II kind of personal vanity :;
and handsomely dressed women are
often humiliated by the wide discrep-
ancies between their dress and their
gifts.
My brethren, these things ought not
so to be. The solemn obligations of
partnership in Christian homes can not
be fulfilled where such divisions and
discrepancies exist.
Ought not the wife to have as clear
an understanding as the husband, in a
general way ut least, of the business
relations by which their home is sus-
tanned And understanding these,
and the proportion for benevolence,
ought she not to be able to give ade-
quately to her station in life ? Ought
she not to be able 10 use that discre-
ton which is very apt to be her pecul-
lar gift, and which will be wonderfully
fOstered by exercise
One method practiced is this: every
week or month, the husband puts into
Il certain drawer all such profits as he
is justified in spending, and this
drawer is as free of access to his wife
as to himself.
, Alas so many women have nothing
to give, absolutely nothing, unless it is
begged for; and it has happened that
so far as this point is concerned, many
a woman has thought it more desir-
able to be mans servant than his
, wife.
f There are homes, Christian homes
where the mother and children art
never stewards of money. All that il
+ purchased for the home and for then
as individuals, is paid for by the hus
; band and father when the bills come
f in ut the end of the month. Fhinl
r what false principle is engendered
: Such buyers seldom even ask the price
of goods they spend recklessly with
e out any sense of stewardship.
= There is scarcely n woman living
who would not live more economically
c and give ten-fold more for the LOrd't
Y work were she entrusted with money
' for so doing. There is not child wh'
1 should not he trained in the value anC
D use and accountability of this gift
q Try it, husbands and fathers. LIE
p each member of the family be enable,
q to exercise the blessed privilege o
$ giving. Let each one have the none
r in hand-an allowance, if that is TIN
f thing and so prepare each one no
V only to meet the exigencies of life, bu
q to learn early and always TO discharg
: the solemn responsibility of steward
+ of the gifts of Cod.