Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-24
THE FAMILY FINANCES.
How MT. and Mrs. Abel Gut Dowr
 Expenses.

his crealty rattan rocker, turned his paper and became still further ab-
 sorbed in it's contents. His wife threw
 her account book on the table, with n
 bang Well, if we two can't pull to- l gether there's no use trying to Sdre." Keeping his finger on the line he was | quietly reading, MT. Abel turned and
 boldly faced his persistent hclpmcct. Pull togethcr!" he echoed. You can't charge mo with any unnecessary expenses! Where can you find n man | of my salary who dresses so plainly,
 hires so few liveries, spends so little on knickknacEs, neither smokes, | chcws, drinks nor gamblcs, does his own shaving even, and seldom uses the street cars, in spite of the two. mile walk to the factory?" He re- stunned his reading, having. to his mind, disposed of the unjust imputation. Let me read few items" Mrs. Abel opened her book. "Microscope, one dollar"
 "Oh, of course, that microscope-l bought 1t at Cole .& Mcrriman's, Chica- go thought it would be valuable | article to have in the house," with q su- perior air
 "But how did you happen to feel the need of microscopr?" queried his wife. You care nothing for botany nor zoology"
 Well, you sec, slowly, ''thc vendor had shown the horrible animalculie crawling on a rrunc, and you arc so fond of them, and try so hard to make -"
 That is sufficient" laughed his wife, ''l must remind you you've seen noth- ing through the glass yet, and so am still uncOnvinced as to the worthless ness of the fruit" Two .clIets to the engineers ball and you knew you wouldn't attend two dollars" ("Your friend, Mrs Barr, came to my office, "cXplainod Mir. Abel in n foot notc,) National -, one year, on, dollar; gool for nothing but waste paper"
 That's sQ, Celia, but the agent was an old friend from away back in Bed ford, and couldn't refuse him." Mr. Abel ended with q sigh of reminis- cencc.
 His wife mcrcilcssly continued: ""Ta- for umbrella marked 'J. II. A. fifty cents"
 J. II. Abel threw his paper on the floor and stood up "Where is that?" he demanded, resigncdly. Tt needs two tiny tacl1s to make it of use. I believe it is on the clock shelf"
 Money to Hugh Harris, five dol lars"
 "Pshaw! that impostor It puts me out of all patience" He walked the floor with deepening frowns, then be- gan n vigorous polling at the fire. You sec," he continued apologetically, Io, Nt h1r f,I and baby were sick long tims-thcy live with the old folds-and he got be- hind with his bills. Then the old grandmother was tlllcn to the asylum, his father lost his placH, and, to| crown atl, Hugh cut his finger, or rather he lost one finger on our plancr. So he came up to the factory with his woeful story, and tho boys made up purse of thirty-tivc dollars Anl the worst of it is, Harris and his wife left at onco for q visit to rcla. tives in Albrny. They were seen later by Jocclyn, in Rochester at a thcatcr, and taking long drives ab out the city, aul say, forgot to tell you, lost a silver dollar Put it in your list, because you forgot to mend that hole in my vest ppcltct' 1t was Mrs AbrrS turn to look sur prised. "What holO? You didn't tell me of any rent to mend" No, but isn't it a wifc's duty to look over her husbands clothes every night and see to repai"s?"
 If need load of wood do you find it out first, or do remind you many times in every casc?" Silence for little, then: "I'o tramp, fifty cents; meal for another, twenty five"
 "Thcre is only one more item. Seven dollars for twcnty-cight copies of the Morning Star. You remember the mag aZinc contained an article supposed to advertise your business. When the | essay appeared it fell far short of cx- pectations, and you have the twenty | eight copies, not worth the postage to | send to distant friends" Her husband ignored the comment. | What is the sum total?" "Scvcnteen dollars and twenty-five | cents"
 You may as well add five dollars | for the Business Mems association"
 But thought that was necessary"
 No, l could do as well without If that is all," he went on, brightening.
 tread mo yOur list" |
 read: "Cream balm, of an agent, twen-
 ty"five cents Couldn't bear tine smell,
 so threw tho bottle away'O
 ''Solder for tinware, fifty cents. | (Useless.~
 ''Set for marking linen (not nccdcd),
 fifty ccnts."
 Sewing machine rafIlc, two tickets,
 fifty cents, helping an indolent, worth
 less woman"
 False bangs (not match), one dol
 lar and half"
 "Thc hand-glass l gave baby while
 received caller, one dollar"
 "Hattie's Century, torn by same dur
 ing another call, thirty-fivc ccnts."
 "Powder and perforated tins, one
 dollar and a half. Now let me add
 up"
 "What does that last item mean?"
 I kaeV you'd ask that" demurely. | IIT e.1 ,,ayoI I oOu1Jpsf al rrn,,