Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-01-05
SrTa DLKIN's "FIGGERIyr. ,,
After all His Work the Balance Remained In
Heaven.
Detroit FREQ prass


his youth up he had been "hguerin'.n a
he pronounced it, = form of expre,.io
common to most business men, and som
women, not Bostonisn in elegance. bu
very popular with "the masses.n
lie did some hggerin' when he mad
up MS mind 30 marry sweet, pretty Nell
NARROW, who taught in the primary de
pertment of the public school, and ha,
known him since she was a wee tsddler
and he was gawky, freckled face schoo
boy.
I've been fggerin," he said to hi
landlady, rs he sat oue night with pencil
and paper before him. She had looked
IN TO collect his board bill, week before
1t was due, to protect herself.
I've figured 1T out that liza as chear
tor Two TO live as one. | mean that ii
won t cost me any more TO get married
ana take care of wife than il does "a
i've single. Nop see, I've figured il all
ont. The same fire will do for both, and
won't have TO pay out for mending, and
there's a lot of ways young man spends
money with his friends that he can save
II he has some one to look after him.
I've got 1t all down here and added an,
and there is balance in favor of my
plan on the credit side"
He's fggerin on the rule that what
amt enough for one is plenty and 20
spare for two thought his landlady,
twont work, but it's none of nv
affairs"
Seth Dakin married tho little school
mistress, and for brief year they
boarded with his former landlady in such
a plnched and subdued style that they
were comfortably wretchod most of tho
time, and had IL not been for the canu.
Inc love that existed between them,
could never have survived their domestic
hardships. At the end OF the year Seth
did some more "hggerin'."
This time he figured himself into A
house and lot, on some installment plan.
and IT looked so feasible that Nellie
clapped her hands with enthusiasm-yo
thin white hands they were too.
Are you sure IL can be done,p she ask.
ed anxiously, - she reckoned up the long
column of items. "Can we ever pay for
themYn
Easiest thing in the world, dear" Seth
answered gently. He was very fond OF
Nellie. If she had no cloak iit TO wear
neither did he have any overcoat, but
went out on the coolest day buttoned up
and trim.
You've forgotten your overcoat, Mr.
Dakin," said polite friend TO him one
day, "arn't you coldg"
IN n-n-ever w-weae o-o-ne,n stammerod
the poor fellow, shivering like hungry
dog over bone, 81 s-s.-hould d-despise
to r-r-roll up Hike an 90 old W woman"
You see he was only n clerk on beg
carly stipend in a time and place that de.
msnded Injuries; carpets instead of bare
floors; meat and pie instead os brown
loayes or cabbage and beans; he could IA
we'll have turned cannibal "a 10 have tried
to do without the kind of food they had
been reared upon.
Figures don't lie" he said cheerfully
Nellie, wen have home"
The house was built for them and they
moved in. For another year they pinch
cd and saved, and pared down TO the bone.
Then Seth began to "hgger" again.
This time it was tho baby.
He was as cheerful and light-hearted-
not the baby but Seth-as IL the debt on
the house was not staring him in the
face He whisiled and sung, and one |
night he sat down by Neeie and showed |
her two long columns of credit and debit
"l'ye been figgerin,n he said gaily,
and that little shaver over there isn't |
going 20 cost us cent. I've put every
hing down that he can possibly need for
a year, and il only adds up $50. Why
san make that by writing up books in
The evenings this winter"
Nellie smiled, but il was cad wan
amile. She began TO see how Seth's Gig
erin came out--awaysa deficit instead
Of balance, but she hadn't the heart TO
discourage him.
The baby grew and thriyed, His
mother was his nurse, She was also
ohief cook and seamstress, as well az
mistress aud housekeeper.
I've been iiggerin', - began Seth one
evening, that the baby is the best econ
)mist in the family. He keeps us from
going anywhere, so we can't spend any
money for outside pleasures If VIC try.
Ind we're ever so much happier togeth
" amt we little mapmaY"
The little mamma looked very tired
,ut she assented with her whole heart to
what Seth said. Here was her world
These two were her treasures
They had barely been able to pay the
interest on their home with all of Seths
when tho baby was taken very |
Il and doctor was called in.
Then followed dreadful siege OF sick !
Tess. The doctor came three and four {
ines q day The father and mother
we're watchers and nurses themselves but
{ last the little fellow was saved and fhe y
ong and dreadful anxiety was over. d,
Then Seth brought out that well known
sncil and paper
eve been fggerin'," he said, but this )
Ime more gravely than was his wont,
and it seems 20 me now, il nuthing hap q
ems, that wen have the house and lot 4
aid for inside Of five years-thRt ANT I
ing, Nellie, is itY" :
Nellie dd not answer She was looking a
the thin hsnd-Oh, so much thinner !,
ian hers had ever been-that held the /,
ltal pencil in such jaunty way. Her i
fsa we're full of tears. :,
"Youre worn out, be said kindly, "but n
)u needn't worry, dear; the baby's all .
ght now, and I've been fggerin'." n
"I've been figuring, too" said Nellie, /,
md after this am going to be account a
y Of tbs firm. You've loss your place, n
eth, at The store, bat I've taken il. / am 4
ad I-learned book keeping and | need Il
~ Az. a. 4