River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-09-01
LETTING THE STABLE.
How I Learned That "a Penny
Saved Is Penny Got"

aO8 L Learned Indb a tenny
Saved Is a Penny Got"
LET me see. There is a nice little
stable on the place, isn't there?r said
Uncle Franklin
Really, I almost wish there was
not" ! replied, for / do not keep a
horse, and never will. Ever since |
vas run away with, two years ago,
with VIII and TrOt in the wagon beside
me, | have been afraid to touch the
reins"
Uncle Franklin spread his silk hand
kerchief over his crossed knees. after a
fashion of his own, and smiled in SUI
periOr way he hiss
IF ever a woman lad a faculty for
overlooking the opportunity of making
an honest dollar, YOU have, Fenella,"
he said. 1T behOOves young widow,
with two small children, to look out
for the main chance. II you don't use
your stable, you can let II. So much in
your pocket. 1t is very customary; and
a stable in use really makes the place
look better than one standing empty,
shut up, desOlate, as if the family were
in distressed circumstances and had
sold their animals and equipages>"
Uncle Franklin liked Ia round his
sentences with long words: and did
not even mention that the resident of a
twO-stOry cottage in the suburbs was
scarcely 10 be reckOned amongst those
likely to keep animals and eQuipages"
Besides. Uncle Franklin was a serious
man. lie had been named after the
original benjamin. and was said to look
like him; and he rather disliked Jokes.
He would have liked to wear a queue
and powder his hair. His favorite
motto was the one he now repeated as
he arose, took up his hat and his thick,
gOld-headed cane.
"a penny saved is a penny got, Fee
nella- Don't forget that, for the sake
of my poor nephew's children"
knew I was likely enough to forget
it every day. for at that time l was not
used to being economical l said to
Uncle Franklin that / would let ths
stable, and asked what he thought any
one would be likely To offer. lie was
not sure. The Aucbesters. he thought,
got fifty dollars a month for their
stables-thOCgh, to be sure, they were
much larger
Fifty dollars a MONTH I felt that
half of that would warrant me IN hav-
ing more done to the garden than had
intended And / never told Uncle
Franklin what 1 paid for those japoni-
cas- and jessamines and climbing roses
and Oleanders and forget what. with
long Latin names; but Mr.. Guifin. the
florist, assured me that my garden
would be the envy of all my neigh bors.
They certainly made great show: the
grass on the lawn was very fine, and
there were some nice fruit trees. A
suburban residence might be more
hOmeiilSe and more tasteful than any
city one, began To tell myself Ga a
weeks time: but ! was conscious of
having already spent very great deal
more upon mine than l Ought-es-
pecially as ] had not let my stable,
You ought TO advertise IL, said my
uncle. Describe il. and have tine let
tiers addressed to- the post Office
dId 81. As l was not accustomed TO
making mp advertisements. the result
was the appearance in the morning
paper of flowery little sketch of my
stable. with some of my reasons for
letting it. This. paid for at 50 much a
line, was scarcely an economical be-
ginning \ lengthy correspondence
with various persons followed One
gentleman even interviewed me, and
looking straight at the little building
of Olive-green picked out with Indian
red, asked: Where are the stables
situated2"
Nothing, however, came Of all this;
but humber method succeeded bet
ter.
Bridget. the cook. l remember, sug-
geSted: stick a bill on the back of the
stable, where the foine company CON-
ing 10 the house won't see it"
The idea seemed good 70 me. Iposted
the bill after dark, and at dawn the
bell rang wildly. Some one thumped
on the door and beloved "IlOllO,- I'M
der the window; and when / thrust my
head forth, with wild cry of Where's
the fres" voice with n German &C.
cent replied:
On de shtOve, ma'am, dat is all.
comes a little early, before somebody
else hires dot shtable. Dat is al. Dere
Is no for alarm reason"
please take a seat I said Il will
be down in n moment:" and hastily as
Stunning a morning robe and slippers, !
hurried downstairs.
a stout gentleman filed one of the
red chairs ON the porch, and nodded
graciOusly as appeared.
Good morning. ma'am." he re-
marked Sometimes. in dis world.
beOple agrees even. You wish To let dot
shtable. wish to hire it. SO. DE next
question Is, low much is de brice?-by
de mont"
settled myself in another red chair.
deliberately, before ! answered. as
though | had done nothing but let
stables all NV lie.
Well the Auchesters have fifty dol
lars a month for theirs
MY visitor uttered a low groan. and
muttered a remark in German best left
untranslated-
''Ofter dot l will like To know vot Mr..
Vanderbilt gifts for his,'' he went on.
presently. Then he got upon his feet
Il offer fife dollars a mont for dot
shtables." he said. You can ask
efferybOiy. Dot Is de regulOr egs-
bense of such small shtable. Not?'
lie was about 10 go; aud what did
know about It. after ale
IF that Is really fair rent said.
hesitatinglv.
1T Is chenerouS,~ he said. stOutly.
Very well. then" I said IL oc-
CURED TO me that Uncle BENJAMIN
Franklin would think much better Of
me for letting the stable even though
! got very little for II The penny
saved principle would be carried out
all the same.
On the instant my guest replied: $50,
All right" and jerlSed from his pocket
pair of papers
Mine son Is n lawyer. 50 that gusts
me noting" he said. I've sign for Won
year. nOt?"
ThereupOn we proceeded 20 sign,
and. suppose, TO deliver" Anyway,
! saw those words upon the paper put
nv name to. / received very stale
and dingy five-dOllar-bill. Then l sent
Bridget To the Office wilma telegram
for Uncle Benjamin Franklin, of which
IonlT remember these words: