The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-29
THE FAMILY FINANCES
How Mr.. and Mrs Abel Gut Down
ExpensAs


ExpcnsAs-
''Jud. | thought we had decided no.
70 spend any moaey fooliShly this
year. This list Is positively aiscourag.
ing" Mir Absl stirred restlcssly III
his crealSy rattan rocker. turned his
paper and became still further alb
sorbed in its contents. His wife threw
her account book on the table. with a
bang well, II we two can't pull To-
gether there's no use trying To sareyf
Keeping his finger on the line he was
quietly reading, Mr.. Abel turned and
boldly faced his persistent helpmeetN
Pull togethcrt' he echoed. you
can't charge W. with any unnecessary
expenses Where can you find man
Of my salary who dresses 50 plainly,
hires SO few liveries, spends SO little
on kniekknacks, neither smokes,
chews, drinks nor CANDLES, does his
own shaving even, and seldom uses
the street cars, in spite Of the two.
mile walk to- the factory r. He re-
sumed his reading. having TO his mind.
disposed Of the unjust imputation.
LET me read few Items Mrs
Abel opened her book "Microseopc.
one dollar
ooh, OF course, that microscope II
bought 1T at Cole 4 Merriman's, Chica-
go Thought it would be a valuable
article TO have in the house, with a SUI
pcrior air
But how did you happen to feel the
need OF nicroscope2" queried his
wife. You care nothing for botany
nor zoology"
well, you see, slowly. the vender
had shown the horrible animalcula
crawling on prune, and you are so
fond Of them, and try SO hard TO
make -
THAT Is sufficient" laughed his wife
II must remind you you've seen moth
ing through the glass yet, and SO am
still nnconvinced as to the worthless
ness OF the fruit
Two ickets to the engineers ball
and you knew You wouldn't attend
two dollars" (ssYour friend, Mrs.
Barr, came to my Office, explained Mr..
Abel in a foot note National 1870,
one year, one dollar; good for nothing
but waste paper"
That's SO, Celia, but the agent was
an old friend from away back in Bed.
ford, and couldn't refuse him." Mr..
Abel ended with sigh Of reminis.
cence.
His wife mercilessly continued: Tag
for umbrella marked j. IL A., fifty
cents
J. II. Abel threw his paper on ths
loor and stood up Where is that?'
he demanded, resignedly.
1T needs two tiny tacIxs to make /,
of use. believe it is on the clock
shelf
Money to Hugh Harris. five dol
lars.
"Pshawl that impostori 1t puts me
out OF all patience" He walked the
floor with deepening frowns, then be
gan vigorous poking at the fire
'sYou see" he continued apologetically
Harris mother died, then his wife
and baby were sick a long time-they
live with the old folds land he got be
hind with his bills. Then the OLE
grandmother was taken TO the asylum,
his father lost his place, and, Il
crown ALL Hugh cut his finger. O
rather he lost ono finger on oul
planer. So he came up to the factory
with his woefnl story, and the boy,
made up purse Of thirty-five dollars
And the worst of it Is, Harris and hi
wife left ut once for visit to rela
tives in Albany They were seei
later by Jocelyn, in Rochester at
theater, and taking long drives abou
the city, and say, ! forgot TO tell you,
lost silver dollar. Put II in your list
because you forgot to mend that hol,
In my vest pocket
It was Mrs. Abel's turn to look sur
prised what hole2 You didn't tel
me Of any rent to mend"
mo. but isn't it wiie's duty to lool
over her husbands clothes every nigh
and see to repairs?"
''If need load Of wood do you fnt
it out first, or do remind you man,
times in every case?" @
Silence for little, then: ITO tramp
fifty cents; meal for another, twenty
Ave."
There is only one more item. Sever
dollars for twenty-eight copies Of tn,
Morning Star. You remember the mag
azine contained an article supposed I,
advertise your business When TIN
essay appeared it fell far short Of ex
pectations, and you have the twenty
eight copies, not worth the postage I.
send to distant friends. =
Her husband ignored the comment
What is the sum total2''
Seventeen dollars and twenty-tiv
cents !"
You may as we'll add five dollar
for the Business Mems association"
''But thought that was necessary?
mo, ] could do as well without l
that is ALL" he went on, Frightening
''read me your list"
Mrs Abel turned over the leaf am
read: Cream balm, Of an agent, TWEEN
ty-five cents Couldn't bear the smell
SO threw the bottle away
solder for tinware, fifty cents
tUscless.")
sen for marking linen mot needed
fifty cents.
Sewing machine rattle, two tickets
fifty cents, helping an indolent, worth
less woman,
False bangs (not match, one dol
lar and half
"The handglass gave baby while
received caller, one dollar
"a ~ \ =. \