Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-10-27
HOW THEY MANAGED.

"Pack your things as soon as you
please, my dear" said Mr.. Chesney.
Were going to move Saturday"
Mr.. and Mrs. Chesney were a matri-
monial ~firm--there was no question about
that. Mrs. Chesney had always been a
silent partner in the same.
IF ever ! get married" said Elma, a
bright eyed girl Of II. II won't be put
upon as mamma isY'
Where, my dearY" asked Mrs. Ches-
ney with a little start.
Into the country" said the family
%autOcrat. 'Pm tired Of this city bust
ness. It costs a great deal more than it
comes to. I'm told you can live at half
the expense in the country"
But gasped the wife, "what is to be-
come Of the children's educationY'
There's a very good district school in
the neighborhood. not more thar a mile
distant" explained her husband, land
exercise win do them good"
"And what are we to do for society"
"Pshawr' said Chesney. 81 would not
give a rap for people who can't be soci-
ETY. for themselves. There'n be the house
work to do. you k~now-nobody keeps a
girl in the c~ountry-and plenty of chores
about the place for Will and Spencer. /
shall keep a horse if | can get one cheap,
for the station is half a mile from the
place, and I'ye bargained for a 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 a lot of
women folks arc enough to swamp any
family. Men now can always earn their
bread. But we must try to make every
body 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%onveniences
about the placer timidly inquired Mrs,
Chesney.
There's a spring of excellent water
about a hundred yards from the house."
said her husband.
Mrs. Chesney grew pale.
Have ] got to walk a hundred yards
for every drop of water l WANT. said she
And a large rainwater hogshead un-
der the caves of the house" added Mr..
Chesney. And I've already got q bar
gain in kerosene lamps. AS for candles,
/ am given to understand that good
ho~usekeepers make EN- themselves in tin
mOlds. There's nothing like economy.
Now ! do beg to know, Abigail" he
added irritably, what you are looking
SO lackadaisical about Do you expect
to sit still and fold your hands while l
do all the work? Give Inc a woman for
sheer natural lazinessl"
The first sight of Mulleinstalk farm
was dispiriting in the extreme. Between
rock and swamp there was scarcely
pasture for the two lean COWS that Mr..
Chesney had bought at q bargain, and
tho hollow backed horse which stalked
about the premises like some phantom
Bucephalus.
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 very ground,
fences had all gone to ruin and the hont
gate was tied up with a hemp string.
as this homer said Elma, with an in
describable information in her voice.
"Well get things all Strengthened up
after awhile" said Mr.. Chesney, bustling
to drive away the pigs, which had broken
out of their pen and were squealing dis
mally under the window.
Mrs. Chesney criedherself TO sleep that
night and awakened the next morning
with every bone instinct with shooting
pains.
'And no wonder" said Spencer;
there's n foot of water in the cellar"
1--WE must have it drained" said Mr..
Chesney, with an uneasy look; 'but
there's plenty of things to do first"
And now began a reign Of the strictest
economy. Mr.. Chesney himself paid for
everything with checks, and not an arti-
Gle came into the house or went out Of it
without his ~cognizance. New dresses
were frowned upon; spring bonnets were
strictly interdicted; orders were issued
that old carpets should be reversed, and
broken dishes repaired with cement and
quicklime.
"save. save, savel that is the chief
thing" he kept repeating briskly. "Wom-
en- folks can't earn; they should try their
best to save"
Boys" huttered Rosie, "Hve an idea.
Mary Penn. who lives OF the next farm,
you know. came over to see Elma and
me yesterday. Papa is earning his living;
wen earn something too"
81 should like to know how, F" muttered
Spencer. 81 might hire out somewhere
II It wasn't for that wretched old horse,
and the pigs, and the wood chopping,
and
"Oh, but there is something that won't
interfere with the chores, nor with
school, said cheerful little Rosie. Gust
listen-all | ask Of you is to listen"
And the weeks grew into months, and
the red leaves eddied down into little
swirls from the maple trees, and pig
killing time" came, and with the aid Of a
lame, one eyed man Mr.. Chesney laid
down his own stock Of pork and sau-
sages. with the sense Of being triumph
antly economical.
TIE family had left of complaining
now. Apparently they were resigned q
their doom. But there wero some thing
that Mr.. Clesney could not explain at al
A nov rug bri~ltenel nm The diana.