The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-02

''And no WONDER SAID spencer
there's foot Of water il the cellar.
owe must have it drained" " said Mr..
Chesncy, with an uneasy look; ''lut
here's plenty Of things to DO first.
Aud now began q reign Of the stFictest
economy. Ms. CLesncy himself paid for
everything with checks, al i not an ar
ticle came into the house or went out Of
it, without his cognizance, New dresses
were frowned upon; spring bonnets were
strictly interdicted; orders were issued
that Old carpets should be reversed, and
broken dishes repaired with cement aad
quickimo,
Save, save, save. That is the chiei
thing" he kept repeating briskly.
'Womcn folks can't earn; they should
try their best to save"
"Boys," futtcred Rosie, I've an idoa
Mary Penn, who lives on the next farm,
you know, came over to see lima and
me yesterday. Papa is earning his Iiy-
ing; we'll earn something, too.'
i should like to know how" NUT
tered Spencer might hire out some
where if it wasn't for that wrctchcd old
horse and the pigs and the wool chop
ping and"--
ooh, but there is something that
won't interfere with the chores, nor
with school, " said cheerful little Rosie.
Gust Hstcn-au I ask of you IS to lis
ten"
And the weeks grew into months, and
the red leaves cddjcd down into little
swirIs from the maple trees, and pig
killing time came, and, with the aid Of
a lame, one-cyed man, Mr. Chesney laid
down his own stock of pork and saus-
ages, with the sense Of being triumph
antIy economical.
The family had left off complaining
now, Apparently, they were resigned
TO their doom. But there were some
things that Mr.. Chesncy could not cx-
plain at all.
y new rug frightened up the dismal
hucs Of the parIor carpet; Rosio had a
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars E.mIs fall jacket
was edged with substantial back fur;
and-crand climax of cxtravagancc-
Mrs. Chesney had a new shawl in place
of the old garment which had been her
mothers before her.
lie looked at the housekeeping books
with renewed vigilance; he consulted
the stubs of his check book with
glance that nothing could escape.
I-don't-know-ho how-thcy man
age It," said he, scratching his nose
with a lead pencil that he always car
riel. q hate mysteries, and I mean
to be at the bottom Of this before i am
an hour older"
'.AbigaiI," said he, Chow is this:
I've given you 10 money, You We long
left off asking for money. How have
you managed d to smarter yourself and
the children up SO? l won't be cheated
by my own wife"
E,ma set down the pitcher which
she was wiping, and me and stood be-
fore her father with gIittering eyes and
checks stained with crimson, like flag
of battle
"Papa," she said, 'you must not
speak to mamma so. Mmma would
not cheat you nor anybody else. It's
money we've earned ourselves.
Mr.. Chesney stared at the girl with
increduIous eyes
''Anl if you don't believe it, come
and see how" sail Elmer, finging
down her towel. 'Mpry Penn showed
us, She told us everything, and gave
is the first swarm of bees. There are
fourteen swarm3 down under the south
wall. Spencer sold the honey for us.
Aud we planted all the nice flowers that
grow down in the meadow, that YOU
said was too sto0cy and barren even for
the sheep to pasture upon, and viii
dug and hocd around them after the
/ chores were all done. and we sent boxes
and bouquets of lilies aud vc~benas to
the city every day by NJ Pcnn'5
wagon, And wo gathered wild straw
berries before the sun was up, and got
/ cherries out Of the old lane. A1d the
money is all ours-overy cent of it,"
'IIoney, eh2' said NJ. Cho52ey, star
ing at the row Of hives, for E1ma had
/ dragged him out into the November
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