The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-15
THE FAMILY FINANCES.
How Mr., ana Mrs. Abel Cut Down
Expenses.

"Jud, thought we had decided NOT
" spend any money foolishly this
year, This list Is positively discourag.
ings" Mr.. Abel stirred rcstlossiy IN
his crcal<y rattan rocker, turned his
paper and became still further alb.
sorhcd In It's contents. His wife threw
her account book on tho table. with u
bang. We'll, II we two can't pull to.
gethcr there's no use trying 70 Sara
Keeping his finger on the line he was
quietly reading, Mr.. Abcl turned and
boldly faced his persistent heipmect
Pull togctherI. he echoed "You
can't charge me with any unnecessary
expensesl Where can You iind man
81 my salary who dresses SO plainly.
hires 50 few liveries. spends 80 little
on lSnickknaelss, neither smokes,
chews, drinks nor CANDLES, does his
own shaving even, and seldom uses
the street cars, In spite Of the two.
mile walk 20 the factnry7n Hare
sumcd his reading, having, TO his mind.
disposed Of the unjust imputation.
let me read few Items Mrs
Abel opened her book. Microscopes,
ono dollar"S
''Oh. al course, that microscope l
bought II ut Colo 4 Merriman's, Chica-
60 | thought II would be valuable
article to have In the house, " with d SUI
perior air,
But how did you happen TO feel the
need OF microscopes" qucried his
wife. "You caro- nothing for botany
nor zoology.
Well. you see, " slowly, s.the vendor
had shown tho horrible animalculas
crawling on q prunc, aud you arc so
fond OF them, and try SO hard 10
make -
THAT Is sufficient, : laughed his wife.
II must remind yon you've seen moth
ing through the glass yet, and so / am
still uncopvinced as to the worthless
ness Of the fruit
1.-TWO tickets To the engineers ball
and you knew you wouldn't attend 9
two dollars" ts'Your friend, Mrs
Barr, came 10 my Office, rexplnined Mr..
Abel In a foot note. National --,
ono year, one dollar; good for nothing
but waste paper
That's 50, Celia, but the agent was
an old friond from away, back In Bod
ford, and couldn't refuse him. Mr..
Abel ended with sigh Of reminis-
cence.
His wife mercilcssly continued. Tag
for umbrella marked y. II A., fifty
cents"
J, II. Abel threw his paper on the
floor and stood up. Where Is that?''
he demanded, resignedly
ut needs two tiny tacits TO make II
q rse. halieve Il Il on the clock
SHELF
Money 70 Hugh Harris. Ave dol
lars
''Pshawi that impostori It puts me
out OF all patience" He walked tho
floor with deepening frowns. then be-
gan vigorous polting at tho fire.
'sYou sec" he continued apologc tically,
Harris mother died, then his wife
and baby were siclx.a long time they
live with tho old folds land he got boz
hind with his bills. Then the old
grandmother was taken to the asylum,
his father lost his place, aud, 10
crown NIL, Hugh cut his finger, or
rather he lost ono finger on our
planer So he came up 10 the factory
with his woeful story, and the boys
made up purse Of thirty.flve dollara.
And the worst Of 1t is, Harris and his
wife left ut once for a visit to rela-
tives In Albany. They were seen
later by Jocelyn, In Rochester at a
theater, and taking long drives alb out
the city, and say, forgot to tell You,
lost silver dollar. Put II in your list,
because yon forgot to mend that hole
In my vest pocket
II was Mrs. Abefs turn to look sur
prised. What hole? You didn't tell
me Of any rent to m end"
mo, but isn't il wite's duty to look
over her husbands clothes every night
and see TO repairs2"
ST ! need load OF wood do you find
II out first, or do | remind you many
times in every case7"
Silence for q little, then: "To tramp,
fifty cents; meal for another, twenty
Ave"
There Is only one more item. Seven
dollars for twenty-eight copies Of the
Morning Star. You remember tho mag
azine contained an article supposed to
advertise your business When the
essay appeared it fell far short Of ex-
pcctations, and you have the twenty
eight copies not worth the postage to
send 10 distant friends"
Her husband ignored the comment
what is the sum total2''
Seventeen dollars and twenty-five
cents =
"You may as we'll add five dollars
for the business Mems association"
'Bnt ! thought that was necessary
"No, Icould do as well without. If
that Is ALL" he went on, Frightening,
read me your list"
Mrs. Abel turned over the leaf and
read: Cream balm, Of an agent, twenN
ty-fve centa Couldn't bear the smell,
20 threw the, bottle away
Solder for tinware, fifty cents.
useless.
set for marking linen (not needed,
fifty cents"
Sewing machine rattle, two tickets.
fifty cents, helping an indolent, worth
less woman"
False bangs (not a match), one dol
lar and half 4"
HThe hand-glass / gave baby while
received caller, one dollar"
"Hattie's Century. torn by same dur
ing another cali, thirty-five cents. :
Powder and perforated tins, one
dollar and a half. Now let me add
up"
What does that last item mean2"
II kHeW yo1'd ask that demurely.
II was so vexed couldn't tell you. a.
gentleInanIy agent rang the bell on a