The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-04-03
THE TIN SAFE.
A Little Lesson in Domestic Econ
omy.

Charles Lynford was a young me-
chanic, in good business. At the age
of twenty-slx he had taken to himself a
wife, Caroline Eustis, the daughter of a
neighbor, who had nothing to bring
him except her own personal merits,
which were many, and habits of thrift
learned in an economical household,
under the stern teaching of necessity.
1t was well, perhaps, that Charles Lyn-
ford should obtain wife of this char
acter, since he himself found it difficult
to save anything from his income.
1t was not long before Caroline be-
came acquainted with her husN"nd' S
failing. She could not feel quite easy
in tie knowledge that they were living
fully up to their income, foreseeing thai
q time would come when their family
would grow more expensive, and that
perhaps her husbands business, now
tlourshing, might become less so.
Accordingly, one day, she purchased
of a tin pedler, who came to the door,
a little tin safe, such as children fire.
ouently use as q savings hank. This
she placed conspicuously on the mantel-
piece, so that her husband m ght be
sure to see it on entering the room.
"Hallo, Carrie! what's that articleP"
he asked, curiously.
"Only tile purchase I made to-
day. said the wife.
''But what is it meant forP"
''Leu me illustrate" said the wife, in
aplayful tone. ''Have you a ten-cent
piece about your.
Charles drew dime from his pocket.
His wife, taking it from his hand,
dropped it through little slit at the
top.
so you have taken to boarding,
Carrier My little wife become a
miser?"
mo, only little prudent. But, Sc
riously, dear, that is what / want you
to do every night"
"What drop a dime into that new
tangled arrangement of yoursP"
Exactly"
every well; that will be easy enough.
A dime is no great sum. But may !
know what you are going to do with
this hoardP"
Lay it by for rainy day." laugh
ingly answered Caroline.
Charles laughed M rrily.
"And what will dime day amount
top' he inquired
''In year it will amount"
"0h, never mind--spare me the cal
culation 1t sounds too much like bust.
ness, and have enough of that during
the day"
"But you don't object to my planP"
Not in the least. have no doubt il
is very prudent and commendable; but
you know, Carrie, / never was gifted
with much prudence"
II am qui G aware of that, Charles, -
said his wife, smiling.
This ended the conversation for the
time.
The plan inaugurated by the young
wife was steadily carr ed out. She wa;
not one ofthose. OF whom there are SC
many, who enter upon q new plan zeal.
ously but soon tire of it. In the pres
ent case she was thoroughly satisfied o.
the wisdom of her purpose and resolved
to carry it through. Every night she
called on her husband for dime, which
was quietly added to the accumulat on
Frequently he had not the exact change
bat would toss her a quarter instead
She would assure him, laughingly, thai
this would answer her purpose equally
as well.
More than once Charles bantered her
on the subject of the little savings bank
but these were not the only acceSsions
the funds received. Her husband early
arranged to make her an ample allow
ance for dress. l say ample, though
dare say some of my city readers might
not consider it so. But Carrie, who was
in the habit of making her own dresses
provided herse)f with q good wardrobe
at much less expense than some not
so versed in the science of managing
could have done.
After considerable calculation, she
came to the conclusion that out of hel
allowance she would be able to make q
daily deposit equal to that she exacted
from her husband. OF this, however
she thought best on the whole not tC
inform Charles, enjoying in anticipa
ton the prospect of being able at some
time to surprise him with the unexpected
amount of her savings.
AT the close of every month the tin
box was emptied, and the entire con
tents transferred to more pretentious
savings bank, where interest would bt
allowed. When the sums deposited
there became large enough, Mrs Lyn
ford, who had considerable business ca
pacity, withdrew the money and in
vested it in bank and other stocks
which would yield large per cent OF
her Gmode of investment her husband
remained in complete ignorance. MOI
did he ever express any desire to bt
made acquainted with his wife's man
agement He was an easy, care ess fell
low. spending as he went, enjoying tn,
present, and not feeling any particular
concern about the future.
At the end of eight years, during
which time he had been unusually fay
ored by prosperity in business and un
interrupted health, his books showed
that he had not exceeded his income
but, on the other hand, had saved alb
solutely nothing. Twenty-Five cent
alone stood to his credit.
Running pretty close, isn't it
Carrier he said, laughingly. Il tax,
credit to myself for keeping on til,
right side of the line. But then | sup
pose you've saved an immense sump"
How much do you think, CharlesP
asked his wife,
oh, perhaps $780," said he, care
lessly; though it would take grea
many dimes to do that.
His wife smiled, but did not voluntee
to enlighten him as to the CORRECTNESS
of his conjecture.
So things went on, till at length cam,
the panic of 1875--a panic so recen
thGt it will be remembered by many
readers of this sketch. 1t will be re
membered how universally trade anc
business of every kind were depressed
at that period. Among others, the
trade which occupied Charles Lynforc
suffered greatly.