The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-10-07
HOW THEY MADE MONEY

HOW THEY MADE MONEY.
Pack up your things as soon as you
please, my dear" said Mr.. Chesney.
Were going to move on Saturday"
Mr.. and Mrs. Chesney were a matri-
monial firm. there was no question about
that; but Mrs. Chesney had always been
q silent partner.
("h ever get married." said Elma.
bright-eyed girl of seventeen, Il won't
be put upon as mamma isr' Papa is
9 regular despot-that's what papa isr'
decided Will, 8 tall STRIPPING of fifteen.)
where. my dear?" asked Mrs. Ches-
ney, with a little start.
Into the country" said the family
autocrat "Pm tired of this city busi-
ness; it costs great deal more than it
comes to. I'm told you can live at half
the expense in the country"
But" gasped Mrs. Chesney, "what
is to become of the children's educa-
tion?"
There's a very good district school
in the neighborhood, not more than q
mile distant" explained her husband,
land the exercise will do them good"
"And what are we to do for society"
"Pshawr' said Chesney, II wouldn't
give rap for people who can't be So
ciety for themselves. There'li be the
housework to do. you know-nobody
keeps girl in the country-and plenty
of jobs about the place for Will and
Spencer. shall keep a horse, if can
get one cheap, for the station is half a
mile from the place, and I've bargained
for q couple of COWS aud some pigs"
Will and Spencer looked askance at
each other.
It'll do us good to walk a mile to
school," muttered the elder; "but father
must have horse to carry him half
mile to the station"
That's fathers logic all over" OBJ
served Spencer"
While Mr.. Chesney explained to bis
wife the various advantages which were
to accrue from the promised move.
Its unfortunate" said he, "that FL
ma and Rosie aren't boys. Such lot
of women-folks are enough to swamp
any family. Men, now, can always
earn their bread. But we must try to
make every body useful in some way or
other. It's so healthy, you know"
added he. '.And the rent won't be half
of what we pay here
Are there any modern conveniences
about the place?" timidly inquired Mrs.
Chesney.
There's spring of excellent water
about hundred yards from the house"
said her husband.
Have got to walk hundred yards
for ever drop of water l want?' said
she.
'And a large rain-water hogshead
under the caves of the house" added
Mr.. Chesney. ''And I've already got a
bargain in kerosene lamps. As for
candles, l am given to understand that
the good housekeepers thereabouts make
'em themselves i'll tin molds. There's
nothing like economy. Now l do beg
to know, Abigail, he added, irritably,
''what are you looking so lackadaisical
aboutP Do you expect to sit still and
fold your hands. while / do all the
worka Give me a woman for sheer
natural lazinessm
II am not lazy, George" said the
poor wife, with bewildered air; .'but
all this is so new and strange at first.
But I'll try to get accustomed to it'll
try my very best"
Nevertheless, Rosie and Elma and
their mother shed many salt tear into
the trunks and packing-boxes, on top of
the woollen blankets and rugs and piles
of domestic linen.
| II hate the country! said Elma.
I'D as soon 60 to prison and done with
It"
"Oh, Ellie, don't talk so," said Rose.
There are wild roses and robins there.
just rs one sees on the painted plaques
in the shop windows And perhaps we
can have a hower-bed. and some dear
little downy chickens"
But the first sight of Mulleinstalk
Farm was dispiriting in the extreme.
Between rock and swamp. there was
scarcely pasture for the two lean cows
that MIR. Chesney had bought as "a bar
gain" and the hollow-backed horse,
which stalked about the premises like
some phantom Bucephalus.
The apple trees in the orchard were
three-quarters dead. and leaned sor-
rowfully away from the last winds.
until their boughs touched the very
ground; the fences were all gone to
ruin. and the front gate was tied up
with q string
..Is this konc9" said Elma, with an
indescribable intonation in her voice.
"We'n get things all Strengthened up,
after awhile" said Mr.. Chesney. bust
ling to drive away the pigs, who had
broken out of their pen and were squeal-
ing dismally under the window.
Mrs. Chesney cried herself to sleep
that night, and wakened the next morn.
lug with every bone instinct with shoot.
ing pains. S,.
.'There's foot of water in the cellar y
I'VE must have il drained" said Mr..
Chesney, with an uneasy look; 'bul
there's plenty of things to do first.
And now began a reign OF the strict
est economy. Mr. Chesney himself paid
for everything with checks. and not an
article came into the house or went ou
of it without his cognizance. New
dresses were frowned upon; spring bon
nets were strictly interdicted; order:
were issued that old carpets should bt
reserved, and broken dishes repaired
with cement and quicklime.
Save, save, save! That is the chic
thing" he kept repeating, briskly
..Women-folks can't earn; they shoulc
try their best to save"
Its all very we'll for papa" growlec
Will. "He goes to the city every da.
and sees something besides the pigs ant
the dead apple trees. He orders new
suit when he needs it. Look at mann
mas patched gown and Rosie's dyet
bonnet-strings! Why, they can't ever
go to church, they are such objects
He gets his lunch at a restaurant, ant
zoe eat cold beans. and drink dandelioI
coffee and sage tea.
Boys" futtered Rosie. i've an idea
Mary Penn. who lives on the next farm
you know, came TO see Elmn and m
yesterday. Papa is earning his living
we'll earn something, too"
IL should like to know how, NUT
tered Spencer. Il might 60 out some
where as farmland, if it wasn'tfo tha
wretched old horse. and the pigs, ant
the woodchopping, and"
.'Oh, but there is something tina
won't interfere with the work, nor wit
Nsss e-.1 T.,