McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-04-03
FARMER GORDON'S ECONOMY.

Stephen Gordon was a rich farmer
with broad acres of fertile land and
money at interest but with all this, was
always talking economy. awe must
economize," was always his theme.
His family consisted of wife and three
boys, and an uncle of his, an old man
OF more than seventy years.
One morning he entered the kitchen
where his wife had just been working
over butter, and had the great balls
all ready for market. "My! Hannah!
What butter! 1t makes a fellows
mouth water to look at it, aud I've got
forty cents pound all winter; it's so
much better'n most folks butter they
are willing to pay good price fort.
How much have you made this monthp'
"This makes forty pounds this
month";
"Well, that amt bad this time of the
year."
sNo, but it's real hard work to work
over SO much butter by hand this cold
weather. If 1 only had butter
worker, it would be so much easier; it
makes me very tired when 1 work over
ten or fifteen pounds. Can't have a
worker, Stephen?''
"Nonsense, wife! Pay five dollars
for butter-worker? Why, my mother
had large dairy, and she never wanted
butter-worker; she preferred to do it
with her hands and save the money
rather than spend it on every new thing
that came along"
"Well, your father had more grass to
NOW than you ever had, and he never
had moving machine or raking ma.
chine, 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 and strength,
too?
swell, perhaps you can have one
some time, but have got so many
things to buy this spring; I've got to
have new horse and wagon, and sew
eral new fences, and don It know what.
/ tell you wife, we must economic all
we cam" said Stephen, as he left the
room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything; perhaps she
might have 1t some time, but now she
must economize. This her husband
said five years ago, when she wanted a
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 comfortless. Didn't she
economic in everything? Wasn't her
wardrobe threadbare, and also that of
her boys? Didn't she economize in
everything but her table? Oh yes?-
and she ratified her dishes in a way that
surprised Uncle Moses in the corner.
She would economic in way that Mr..
Gordon would feel it.
"Hannah, you shall have butter
worker if you want it," said Uncle
Moses.
ssNo, uncle; 1 will have one, but you
shan't give it to me. Stephen can af-
ford it, or would not have asked him.
I have taken too much from you al
ready, but now I am going to econo-
mize so can have all need. Husband
is always talking economy to his fam
lily but can't see any way that he
practices it himself but he Is going
to-"
The next day at dinner Mr.. Gordon
said: 81 guess you forgot to put cream
in the coffee, Hannah
ssNo, didn't forget, but am saving
nv cream for butter. must make all
I can, for we must economize." And
a little later: "I'm ready for a pie
now, wife, or perhaps you've one of
those nice puddings?''
"No, Stephen, it costs great deal
to make pastry and buildings, and it
takes time, too. We must economic,
you know"
"Papa, can't I have q sled? You
said last winter perhaps I might this
WINTER" said little Willie the six-year-
old.
"And can't have pair of skatesP"
said Fred, a boy of ten. ''It is such
good skating, please buy them for me-"
ssNo indeed, boys, we must econo-
mize. I never had sled or skates,
and I guess you can do without them.'
"You must have lost lots of fun,
then. I'm real sorry for you," said
Willie, WILL tedIS III ILLS eyes. L
shan't let my boys go without when
I'm a man."
A week passed by. In that time the
Gordon family had no pastry, cakes or
buildings. Now Mr.. Gordon liked all
kinds Of sweetmeats, and it was hard
for him to do without them. He craved
them so much that when he went to
the store he bought half q pound of
block sugar and filled his pockets. He
had never "economized" on his likings,
and he prided himself on good table.
On going home one night he found the
minister and his wife making call.
He was glad to see them, Of course;