The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-05-13
Selert Story.
Farmer Gordon's Economy.

Stepnen G0rQ0n was q rIcQ farmer
With broad acres Of fertile land and mon.
ey at interest, but with all this was alwaye
talking economy. 1--WE must economize,
was always his theme. His family con.
sisted of q 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 vile had just been working
over butter, and had the great balls ready
for market. "My, Hannahl What but
ter! 1t makes fellows mouth water to
look at it, aud I've got forty cents q
pound all winter: it's so much better'n
most folks butter they are willing TO pay
q good price fort. How much have you
made this month 2"
.This makes forty pounds this month
s'Well, 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. II I only had butter worker
it would be 80 much easier; it makes me
tired when / work over ten or fifteen
pounds Can't I have butter-worker,
Stephen p
"Nonsense, wife! PAY Ave dollars for
a butter. workeri Why, my mother had
q large dairy and che never wanted but
ter-worker; she preferred 10 do it with
her hands aud save the moaey, 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 q moving machine or raking ma
chine. and you have BOTH"
"Well, don't you see how much time
and labor they saver Why, | should
have TO hire twice the men do II II
wasn't for them"
Sand don't you suppose it would save
me the same time and strength, too :"
SWELL, perhaps you can have one come
time, but / have got so many things to
buy this spring; I've got to have new
horse and wagon and several new fences,
and don't know what! tell you. wife,
We must economize all We can," said Ste
pheu as be left the room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything; perhaps she might
have it sometime, hut now she must
economize. This her husband said five
years ago, when she wanted new stove,
and she was using the old cracked stove
yet. 1t was just 80 about everything 10
the house. Her home was bare and CON-
fortress Didn't she econowize in every
thing2 Wasn't her wardrobe thread
bare, and also that of her boys? Didn'i
she economize in nlsverything but her to-
BILE? Oh, yes!-and she ratified her
dishes In way that surprised Uncle Mo.
ses in the corner. She would economic:
in . way that Mr.. Gordon would feel it,
"Hannah, you shall have butter.
worker II you want it," said Uncle Mo-
ses.
"No. U 1cle; shall have one, but you
shan't give it to me. Stephen Can afford
it or I should not have asked him.
have taken too much from you already
and now am going TO economizs so l
can have all need. Husband is always
talking economy to his family, but can,
see any way that he practices it himself
but he is going to-"
The next day at dinner Mr.. Gordon
said: II guess you forgot to Put cream
in the coffee, Hannah"
"No, I didn't forget, but ] am saving
my cream for butter. / must make oil
can, for We must economic I" And a
little later; "rm ready for pie now,
wife, or perhaps you've one OF those nice
puddingsf
"No, Stephen. it costs great deal to
make pastry and puddings. and it takes
time, too. We must economics, you
know"
"Paps, can't have sledi You said
last winter perhaps might this winter,
said little Willie, the six year old
"And caa't have pair OF skates p
said Fred. boy OF ten. at, IS good
skating; please buy them for me"
"No, indeed, boys,we must economics.
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. 81 shan't let my boys
90 without them when I'm q man."
A week passed by. In that time the
Gordon family had no pastry, cake ol
pudding. Now Mr.. Gordon liked al
kinds OF sweetmeats, and 1t was hard fol