The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-06-13
COLUMN.

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Making Both Ends Meet-Closer Economies
How shall we make both ends meet?
is a serious question in many farmers
homes. 1t is easy to say, by economy,
but it is not so easy to work it out. Our
forefathers kept but one fire, and around
! its cheerful blaze the family gathered.
The back log in the ample fireplace
warmed the room, which served for
kitchen, sitting-room, pantry, and with
recess in one corner, for a bedroom for
! the old folks. Now two or more fires
are considered necessity. The kitchen
stove must be kept going, and then in
most farmers families there is ''living
room," a sort of combined dining and
sitting room, which must be warmed.
Stoves are required for both, and perhaps
coal must be purchased. Often where
there is n wood lot, the kitchen fire is
made from wood. 1t takes a hundred
fold more capital to warm a farmers
dwelling now than formerly. Well,
what of it? We are trying to make beth
ends meet. The cost and repair of the
stoves is a considerable item where there
is short income. Carefulness must be
practiced to save expense. Make the
stoves last as long as possible. Then
we must cut our own wood and burn it
where we can. In more than three
fourths of the State of New York the
farmer can buy his coal for less money
than he could hire his wood cut and
drawn to his house and made ready for
the stove. To save money, he must do
the work without hiring, and if possible,
sell wood enough to pay for the COAL
which has become such necessity and
luxury. Our forefathers lighted their
dwellings with tallow dips, and later on
the candle moulds were invented, and a
set did for the neighborhood, the thrifty
housewives taking turns in making up
the candles, after the farrow COW was
killed and the tallow had been tried out.
In very economical families, or where
poverty haunted the fireside, the chimney
blaze lighted the room, or better light
was had from pine knots. One of the
ablest statesmen New York ever pro-
duced, Col Samuel Young, educated
himself by the aid of such light. The
brass candle-sticks were the ornaments
Of the parlor mental when not in use,
and on public occasions they We'd with
the whale oil lamps as evidences OF
luxurious comfort. Our lighting, thanks
to the bountiful earth and its kerosene,
is the least of expenses, so we cannot
cut down much on this, except we buy
our oil by the barrel-then there may
be a saving of eight or ten cents on q
gallon, If we purchas; the better kinds
and we should never get any others
The best are the safest. There will be
some loss when we buy a barrel by
evaporation and leakage, but it is a tri6C
and not equal to the bother and time
spent in getting it by the little. Candle,
should not be entirely discarded, as they
are best to carry about. Glass chimney
break easily, and where there is careles,
use, are quite an item of expense. I'll,
maple trees used to furnish the most o
the sweets, but now money has to do it
except with few praiseworthy farmers
who are wrestling with the problem o
sorghum at nonpaying odds, so far a
an income is concerned. Our les
nervous ancestors enjoyed a drink o
hot pea or barley coffee, and suffered
less than we do with sleepless night
and poor digestion. There was a saving
as well as health in their drinks, ant
the boughten tea was laid by for visitors
How true it is, that comfort and happi
ness are wonderfully of the Imagination
If |, as farmer, could only think SO
when my hunger is appeased with plail
and wholesome food, and have warn
fire to sit by and the AgricultuiSt T.
read, and a comfortable bed to sleep in
| am just as well off, and should be a
happy as VIM. II. Vanderbilt or an
other money king. Why not? If
ina CINE that Wilton carpet is necessar
for my happiness, and lot of gaud
stuff all around me, which / canno
have, then l can be so far unhappy an
fool. Many are so, no doubt; but tn
vast majority, of farmers do enjoy thei
simpler and less bothering surrounding
We should be the happiest people in til
world When we make our wants les
we will have less trouble. An old Ne,
York merchant said to me not longago
''How nice it must be to pick a rip
apple from your own tree. l wish
could" Contrast this longing wit
the thousand sunshine and green fel
; pleasures we have, more than city folk,
and let us be content and happy,-F. L
CURTIS in Am. 1gricultTiSt.
! ! An Editors Tribute.
, Theron p. Keator, an Editor of Fl
Wayne, Ind, "Gdzette,' writes: $50
tla 1,ost Gua ,rnoVs baN-a a ol,t.aN-e neal n /,