Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-26
COST OF REARING 4 FAMILY.
Here Are some Extracts from the Diary
of a Father Who spent $4,000.

Here Are some Extracts from the Diary
of Father Who spent $4,000.
What DOES il cost 70 bring up a family,
A gentleman whose experience will be
recognized A. having points in common
with other householder has preserved an
account Of the expense 70 which he has
been in rearing family Of four children.
He entered the following statement in his
diary II might be a valuable statistical
fact for the census takers:
To-day ! close my diary Twenty-six
year. ago today undertook TO keep an &C
curate statement Of all my earnings and
expenses, 50 that | might know actually
how much it costs 10 live In the married
state. Then all was anticipation and
my young wife counted our resources and
our expectations / received SIS a week
with promise of more | owned house
comfortable enough for frugal young peo-
pie 70 begin life in We were spared house
rent, therefore, and our expenses have
never included this item. Retrospectively
/ sec that we have brought up four chill
dren in comparatively easy circumstances
MY health has been good and my earn
ings have been constantly received | now
receive 81 a week. and we still own the
homestead without any great additions to
Its wealth, except in an increased amount
of furniture. ! have little more money
than had when first married. Perhaps,
all told. | have 81, so now Of assets: then
had perhaps s.. 5O We have never want
ell for bread. Sometimes we have felt in
need OF more money. Three OF the chill
dren are now making their own way. The
fourth graduates at the high school, hav-
ing received the same schooling that the
Others have had. and will begin 10 look out
for himself
Il shall not necessarily be at any more
expense on account Of my children, and
the diary propesy ends now Would be
willing 20 20 through the same experience
again Of rearing a family I asked my
companion, who bad borne the greater
part, this question, and / know that she
spoke with a heart full Of love, but was
compelled % SAY. Not for all that money
could buy would 90 through again what
has been Necessary % rear "a family
Expressed iud1llars the totals arr these.
In tweuty-six year, we have received from
my wages and Incidental moneys that
came through my wife and the children
Si1tap-or say Iptl-beside- the amount
Of increase IN the permanent assets. Given
plant OF abal; SOU and two employees.
a man and wife, IL has taken. therefore.
about slu.el) to each man produced This
Of course includes az empllve.' expenses.
The plant j. slightly enhanced IN value.
but the emplIye- have seen their best DAYS
The quality of The good, j. yet . be dem
uusrrated Prospects happily point 20
cessation ~ labor and an Increase q re-
ceipt-, uut there IS no certainty about this.
The employs are proud 81 their work. hut
don't want another Job.
some ~ the items Of expense have been
these. DoctIr- bills .twea-y-,evcn years..
S2.lu and al paid. probably the only in
stance ou record, groceries, average per
week first five years, e, next three, g. re-
mainder % the twenty-six years. sl3
week. For ten years il has taken on an
average Of one pair Of shoes per week for
the family, including myself and wife.
The most annoying thing ! have ever
known j. the rapidity with which children
wear out shoes Only one thing ap-
prOaches 1.-THE high price Of childrenis
shoes. / never could understand how.
with all the civilization Of the age, and
the demand for cheaper results, children's
shoes have not been reduced in price The
human shoe Is failure. No man not rich
can afford 10 buy shoes for family, and IL
had il % do ! would 90 TO Timbuctoo,
where neither horses, mules, camels nor
men are shod Indianapolis News