News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-30

ana your III
come has been thousand dollars ?''
Yes, managed pretty well, didn't
'tDo you think it managing well to ex-
ceed your incomel" said his wife.
whats thirty-seven cents? 2" said Mr..
Newton, lightly.
ttNot much to be sure. but still some
thing. 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 retreneh. Suppose you men
tion some OF the items.
''The most important are house rent,
one hundred and fifty dollars, and articles
of food, five hundred dollars
"Just half
retrench there, EEzabethi / like to
live well. 1 had enough poor board be-
fore l married. Now / mean to live
we'll"
''Stil we ought to be saving up some
thing against rainy day, Ezra"
''That would be something like carry
ing an umbrella when the sun shines.'
"Still it is well to have an umbrella
in the house.
ST can't controvert your logic, Eliza
beth; but I am afraid we shan't be able
to save up anything this year. When L
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 expended
on articles of food. Are you willing to
allow me that sum for the purpose ?''
''You guarantee to pay all bills out
it?"
"Yes."
"And relieve me of all cares on that
point ?"
eyes"
s'Then I 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 it"
s'That's we'll I shouldn't relish hav-
ing any additional bills to pay. AS am
paid every month I will at each payment
hand you half the money!
The differing characters of the hus-
band and wife may be judged from the
conversation which has been recorded.
Mr.. Newton had but little prudence or
foresight. He lived chiefly for the pres
ent, and seemed to fancy that whatever
contingencies might arise in the future
he would somehow be provided for. Now
trust in Providence is a very proper
feeling, but there is q 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 al
though she was not disposed to deny
herself comforts, yet she felt that it was
desirable to procure them at fair price. |
The time at which this conversation
took place was at 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 cash for all articles
that came under her department. She
accordingly called on the butcher and
inquired:
"Haw often have you been in the
habit of presenting your bills, Mr..
Williamsl"
Once in six months, was the reply. |
''And / suppose you sometimes have |
bad bills"
'Yes; 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?"
eyes; and L would be glad if all my
customers would give me a chance to do
so.''
81 viii set them an example, then,'
said Mrs. Newton. Hereafter what
ever articles are purchased of you
will be paid for on the spot, and we
shall expect you to sell as reasonably as
you can"
This arrangement was also made with
others, who, it is scarcely needful to say,
were very glad to enter into the arrange
ment. Ready money is the great sup
port of trade, and cash customer is
worth two who purchase on credit.
Fortunately Mrs. Newton had small
supply of money by her, which lasted
till the first monthly instalment from
her husband became due Thus she
was enabled to carry out her cash plan
from the beginning.
There were other ways in which O
careful housekeeper is able to limit ex-
pense which Mrs. Newton did not over
look. With an object in view she was
always on the lookout TO prevent waste,
and to get the full value of whatever
was expended.
The result was beyond her anticiDa-
tions At the close of the year on ex-
amining her bank book, for she had reg