Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-11-07

| AsAoi III puio ColllleCClOIi lila
he was cashier of q bank, and as his
duties occupied him only few hours
daily, he was more likely, from the
leisure which he enjoyed, to indulge
i'll small expenses.
'My wife is an enthusiast" thought
he, as he was walking down town.
However, her hobby won't cost
much, so ! might as we'll indulge her
in it,
He stepped into a store and OBJ
tanned his daily allowance of cigars.
Meanwhile Mrs. Stetsons proceed
ed to the shop of cabinet maker.
81 want you to make me a ma
hogany box, twelve inches long,
the other dimensions being four
inches each. In the centre of the
top is to be slit large enough to ad-
nit the largest silver COIN"
ga money box" said the man.
"Yes."
''Pretty large for that, isn't 1t ?"
''Rather," said Mrs. Stetson, smil-
ing. "but better too large than too
small"
John Stetson fell in with COM
panion in the afternoon with whom
he had social chat. AS they were
walking leisurely along, they passed
an oyster saloon.
John Stetsol. was particularly fond
of the bivalves, and he proposed that
they should go in and take some.
TO this his friend did not demur,
and they accordingly entered. Two
plates Of oysters came up to twenty
five cents. Besides this, they took d
glass of ale each, which made twelve
cents more. This brought the bill
up to thirty-seven cents, which Stet-
son paid. Accordingly adding to
this twelve cents for cigars, he de-
posted forty-nlne cents in his wife's
box that evening.
81 might as we'll make it fi'ty," he
said, smiling.
"No, said she, 'not cent over. |
want the saving to represent exactly
what you spend on these little
luxuries, and no more.'
The next evening he had nothing
to deposit except the usual amount
for cigars.
at won't count up very fast at that
rate, said he, triumphantly.
"Never mind" said his wife, |
don't want you to increase your ex-
penditures on my account. | am
inclined to think they will not often
be as small as this
She was right.
The next day being Wednesday,
John Stetson brought home u couple
of tickets for the theatre. 1t was a
benefit night, and he was anxious
that his wife should go.
"Certalnly, I'll be glad to go; but
you remember our compact ?"
"What?"
GLOW much did you pay for the
tickets ~
"Fifty cents apiece"
"That will make a dollar. Please
hand me that amount for our fund
"Was the theater included ?" said
John, little reluctantly.
"Certainly. That was expressly
mentioned"
ooh, we'll then, so let it be. Here
is u silver dollar"
The dollar was at once dropped in
to the box. The next day, in passing
shop window, Stetson noticed some
oranges.
"Just what Mary and the children
would like. l will 60 in and inquire
the price"
They were four cents apiece. He
bought half dozen at a cost of
quarter, which, with his cigar money,
left HIM thirty seven cents to deposit.
The succeeding day he spent
nothing except for cigars. On Sat
urday he stepped Into confectionery
establishment with Il friend and had
Il lunch. This brought that days
account up to forty cents.
When his wife added up the daily
sums she found, to her own surprise
even, that she had received from her
husband two dollars and sixty-two
cents.
He would have been astonished to
hear it, but she thought ii best not to
say anything about 1t. He would
have alleged that it was special
case, as they did not 60 to the theater