New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-21
family, and it cost more than that for
L.......-s.. hor. old homo 80

groceries IN QeT Olu lOlIlc.
When Paulina went down the first
time to the general grocery and mark
ct house to do her trading, the propri-
etor, learning she was Mrs. Mack Holt,
offered her q little blue pass-book, re-
marking 1.you could settle your &C
count every month just as we'll. In
an evil hour she accepted it, and there
by came all her woe. Mack Holt had
the reputation of being quite we'll off;
the patronage of his family would be
desirable acquisition to the trade.
Oh! the tricks and the manners OF
that little blue book. ltwould lie and
steal with the most brazen face. It
would allure and fascinate the house
wife with its bewitching airs. It would
assume the demeanor of saint and
preach a sermon on necessity. It had
all the guiles and wiles OF little satan
ic elf, whose special mission was to
lead confding young married people
astrav. But she took the book and
went home with sense OF domestic
power quite new and agreeable. All
she had to do was to pass in her little
book and have her purchases recorded,
and the business was done What a
fine thing it was to do ones own mar
keting without having that impudent
Smith take down your ordersl
GA bird in the hand is worth two in
the BUSH" 1t is a good business rule
not to spend what you have not got.
You may fancy the two birds are yours,
but until they are it is wise to be mod
est in manner OF life. 1t is, after all, a
humiliating experience to discount the
future. Now, Paulina desired to be
economical; she thought she was, but
she had been accustomed to an abund-
ent larder, and the little blue book had
wrought the mischief. The innocent
blue siren had no sympathy with S25
q month.
When Mack took the book at the
end OF the month, with $40 in his
pocket, and went to the book-keeper
OF the grocery house to settle, that
polite gentleman had his bill all made
out, and it was fifty dollars. Mack
said there must be a mistake, but the
items were compared and he was
obliged to confess that the figures were
against him. He went home feeling
sore and troubled. When tea was
over, he handed the book to Paulina
with it's added amount, without a
a word. She looked at it in amazement.
She declared Haxman & Co., were a
fraud, they had charged her with some
one else's bill; she knew she had not
had all those goods. Mack must go
back at once and refuse to settle until
the matter was adjusted.
They came the nearest to having a
downright quarrel they ever did. If
Mack had not been cool there would
have been a scene, for Paulina's red
hair hid a fiery little brain, and she
went off like a rocket. He quietly re-
marked the two accounts agreed, and
then began to question as to details.
Flour, butter, eggs, meat, etc, and
those fancy groceries, they were costly
enough. Was she ready to declare up
on oath that Haxman & Co. were I'M
mitigated rascals? They were repu-
table firm of long standing. Was it
quite the thing to charge them with
dishonesty, conducting a large bust
ness with the best families?
She was obliged to confess at last
those awful figures must be true. It
was a troubled night for her. She
dreamed OF a gigantic blue book walk
ing about and pointing its long arms
at the figures upon it's breast. She
tried to drive it away, but it fell upon
her, and she awoke with a terrible cry.
The next morning Mack took her four
dollars, and they began the new month
with six dollars in debt.
She made the most solemn promise
to herself and Mack that she would be
careful-they would dispense with the
fancy groceries. They would live
plainly. What should they do if they
could not live within the limit deter
mined? and she cried bitterly when
she thought of it. The days went on;
she took pride in her housekeeping.
She delighted in her dainty table
fresh, tasteful and inviting. She made
Mack's home a real rest ana refresh
ment for him, but she kept that miser-
able book, and the curse was still upon
her home. Her wcman's tact and wit
was not equal to the Requirement OF
that arch deceiver, and bitter was
mingled in the cup of life.
That dreaded second month came
around and their bill amounted to
$35; they owed six on last month, SO
that they were only about So ahead.
Nothing for incidentals, not a dollar
to apply to the mortgage, and not
half enough saved for the interest.
1t was not an encouraging outlook
They both felt depressed end discour.
aged. They loved their home, they
grew more attached to it every day,
but that mortgage would be burden
upon their hearts until it was paid
Every room had taken on an individ.
| uality, dhd Paulina's homemade
adornmeats were in exquisite taste
but they klung to the little blue book
1t is Hardly necessary to dwell
upon the months of that first year
| One NORTH the expenses reached $50
and nethey were reduced to $50
but at it's close they had Sill for the
interest Pf $40, and nothing saved for
the mortgage.
The holder OF the mortgage made
Mack food deal Of trouble, threat
ened to ioreclose, as prompt payment
l IS L 4