Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-11-30
THE MANAGING WIFE.

Ezra Newton ldu just lIllIsHtu lOOh
ing over his yearly accounts.
Well asked his wife, looking up
how do you come up?'
Il find" said her husband, that
my expenses during the last year have
been 81 cents over thousand dollars. :
And your income has been thou
sand dollarsr'
Yes, | managed pretty well, didn't
L."
do you think it managing well TO
exceed your income?' said his wife.
Whats thirty-seven cents?' said
Mr.. Newton, lightly.
Not much, to be sure, but still it is
something. 1t seems to me that we
ought to have saved instead Of falling
behind
But how can | save on this salary,
Elizabeth? We haven't lived extrava-
gantly. Still it seems to have taken
all
Perhaps there is something in which
we might retrench. Suppose you men
ton some of the items
The most important are house rent
one hundred and fifty dollars. aud ar
ticles of food, five hundred dollars
Just half. "
Yes, and you'll admit that we can
not retrench there, Elizabeth? | like
to live well. | had enough poor board
before | married Now mean TO live
we'll"
Still we ought to be saving up some
thing against rainy day, Ezra
That would be something like car
rying all umbrella when the sun is
shining
Still it is we'll to have all umbrella
in the house
Il can't controvert your logic, Eliz-
abeth; but | am afraid we shan't be
able to save up anything this year.
When | get my salary raised it will be
time enough TO think of that.
Let me make proposition to you,
said Mrs. Newton. You say that one
half of your income has been eXpend-
ed on articles of food. Are you willing
10 allow me that sum for that pur-
pose?'
You guarantee TO pay all the bills
out of it?'
Yes.
And relieve me of all cares on that
point?'
Yes"
Then | will shift the responsibility
upon you with pleasure. But ! can
tell you beforehand that you won't be
able TO save much out Of it.
perhaps not. At any rate will en-
gage not to exceed il"
That's we'll | shouldn't relish hav-
ing any additional bills to pay As
am paid every month will at each
payment hand you half ofthe money.
The different characters of the hus-
band and wife may be judged from the
conversation which has been record
ed. Mr.. Newton had but little pru-
dence or foresight. He lived chiefly
for the present, and seemed 10 fancy
that whatever contingencies might
arise in the future he would somehow
be provided for Now trust in Provi-
dence is a very proper feeling, but
there is a good deal of truth in the old
adage that God helps those who help
themselves, and in proportion as they
are disposed to help themselves.
Mrs. Newton, on the contrary, had
been brought up in family which
was compelled to be economical, and
although she was not disposed TO de-
ny herself comforts, yet she felt that
il was desirable to procure them at a
fair price.
The time at which this conversation
took place was the commencement of
the second year of their married life.
The first step which Mrs Newton
took on accepting the charge OF the
household expenses, was TO institute
the practice of paying the cash for all
articles that came under her depart
ment She accordingly called on the
butcher and inquired:
How often have you been in the
habit of presenting your bills, Mr.. Will
liams?n
'Once in six months, was the reply
And suppose you sometimes have
bad bills?'
Yes; one-third of my profits, on an
average, are swept off by them"
And you could afford. suppose, to
sell somewhat cheaper for ready mon
ey?n
''Yes; and would be glad if all my
customers would give Inc chance to
do so"
Il will set them an example, then, "
said Mrs. Newton. Hereafter what
ever articles arepurchased of you will
be paid for on the spot, and we shall
expect you TO sell as reasonable as you