Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-03-15
HOW THEY MANAGED.

KNNAaNa NY 4NAAs HAAM NANs OUE8uEy
Were going 10 move ON Saturday"
Dir. and Mrs. Chesney were a iaatrf.
mUnial hrm-there was no question
about that. Mrs. Chesney had always
been n silent partner in tine saline.
If ever ! get married, said Elma. a
bright eyed girl Of II. Il won't be put
upon as mamma lei"
Where. my dear?~ asked Mrs. Ches.
ney, with a little start.
Into the country" said the family
autOcrnt. I'm tired Of this city bust.
NESS. 1t costs a great deal more than il
comes to. I'm told you can live at half
the expense in the country.
But. gasped his wife, "what Is to
become Of tho children's education:"
There's IA very good district school in
the n~eighbOrhoo1. not more than a mile
distant" explained her husband, ''and
exercise will do them good"
And what are we 70 do for s~ocicty?r
"Pshawg said Chesney. II wouldn't
givea rap for people who can't be society
for themselves. Thrre'll DO the house.
work to do, you know-nobody keeps IA
girl in the co~untry-and plenty Of chores
about the place for Will and Spencer.
| shall keep a horse IL I can get n
cheap, for the station Is half a mile from
the place. and I've bargained for couple
of cows and some pigs"
Meanwhile. Mr.. Chesney explained to
his wife the various advantages which
were to accrue from the promised move.
ITS unfortunate, said he, that Elma
and Rosie aren't boys. Such q lot Of
women folks arc enough to swamp any
family. Blen, now, can always earn
their bread. But we must try 10 make
everybody 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 c~onvenicnces
about the placer" timidly inquired Mrs
Chesncy.
There's a spring of excellent water
about n hundred yards from the house.
'aid her husband.
Mrs. Chesney grew pale.
Have | got to walk a hundred yards
Tor every drop OF water / WANT said
she.
And a large rainwater hogShead
under the eaves of the house." added
Mr.. Chesney. "And I've already got a
l'argain in kerosene lamps, As for can
,.les, | am given to understand that good
lOusekeepers make 'em themselves in
tin molds. There's nothing like econ
omy. Now, / do beg to know, Abigail, =
ne added irritably. what arc you look.
ing so l~ackadaisical about? Do you ex.
poet to sit still and fold your hands
while ] do all the work. Give me q
woman for Gheer natural lazincss!'
The first sight Of Mulleinstalk farm
was dispiriting in the extreme. Between
rock and swamp there was scarcely past
ure for the two lean COWS that Mr.. Ches.
ney had bought at a bargain, and the
hollow backed horse which stalked about
the premises like some phantom Buceph-
alus.
The apple trees in the orchard were
th~ree-quarters dead. and leaned sorrow-
fully away from the east winds, until
their boughs touched the worry ground;
fences had all gone to ruin, and the front
gate wa tied up with a kemp string,
els this homer" said Elma, with an In.
describable information in her voice.
well get things all Strengthened up
after awhile" said Mr.. Chesney, busting
to drive away tho pigs, which had broken
out of their pen ant were sQuealing dis
mally under the window,
Mrs. Chesney cried herself to sleep that
night. and awakened the next morning
with every bone instinct with shooting
pains.
And no wonder" said Spencer;
there's a foot of water In the cellar"
w AAAeN AAANG ~ AAaAAAGAg p4A0 MI
Chesney, with an uneasy look; ''but
there's plenty Of things to DO first"
And now began u reign OF the s~trictest
economy. Mr.. Chesney himself paid for
everything with checks, and not an arti.
Gle came into the house or went u of
IL without his co~gnizance. New dresses
were frowned upon; spring bonnets were
strictly in%terdicted; orders were issued
that old carpets should be reversed, and
broken dishes repaired with cement and
%quickliIne.
Save, save, saveI that Is tho chief
thing" he kept repeating briskly.
"Women folks can't earn; they should
try their bestto save"
Boys" huttered Rosie, 1--WE m idea.
Mary Penn, who lives on the next farm,
you know, came over to see Elma and
me yesterday. Papa Is earning his liv.
ing; we'll earn something, too"
u should like to know how" NUT
tered Spencer. Il might hire out some
where II It wasn't for that wretched sid
horse and the pigs and the wood chop
ping and
''Oh. but there Is something that wont
interfere with the chores, nor with
school" said cheerful little Rosie. Just
hsten-all ! ask Of you is to listen"
And the weeks grew into months, and
the red leaves eddted down into little
swirls from the maple trees, and ''pig
killing time" came, and, with the aid OF
a lame. n eyed man. Mr.. Chesney laid
down his own stock of pork and sausages,
with the sense Of being triumphanty
economical.
The family had left OF complaining
now. Apparently, they were resigned
10 their doom. But there were some
thinRa that Mr.. ChesneV could not az.
plain at all.
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues Of the parIoT carpet; Rosie had a
crimson Rlerino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars; Elma's fall jacket was
edged with substantial black fur; and
grand climax Of extravaganc0 - Mm.
Chesney had a new shawl in place Of the
old garment which had been her mothers
before her.
He looked At the housekeeping books