Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-03-24

saving of wiclSs in a month-he stated the amount-was remarkable. He proposed to furnish strips for our eight lamps and two boxes of the powder for two dollars.
 'I told him decidedly l could not af- ford it 'Well,' he went on, I am nearly through with this place, am on my way to catch the eleven o'clock train to Chicago. so you may have the same for one dollar and a half and I am not making one cent l can ac- count for 1. in no other way except that was tired and not on the defen- sivc, for I handed him that amount which had reserved for the washer woman.
 "He put powder into my oil can and oil stove, and that is all I ever used The strips found a nuisance, utterly useless Had<the money been put into the stove should have been equally benefited.
 "The amount of my extrav agance is six dollars and ten cents," continued the accountant; with your seventeen twenty five it makes thirty-three dol lars and thirty-five cents. Add five dol lars for the business association and we have thirty-eight dollars and thirty five cents, which would have gone far toward filling our empty bookcase" glancing at the yawning shelves
 "There are several articles of silver. ware for the table which have tried in vain to eke out of the kitchen allow ance. There is the list of books we consider our library incomplete with out, and the portieres have needed so long. All yesterday l studied how to glcan the sum requi red for the usual monthly stipend and thus avoid touch ing our bank deposit. At first could find no room for retrenchment-nou un- necessary outlay in either house CT table expenses"
 II should say not No woman could be more careful of her wardrobe; and yet you always look we'll. And, Celia, we could not have a smaller grocery bill. We might possibly omit some table luxuries, but we are not extrava- gant, and prefer to live we'll"
 Mrs. Abel said, thoughtfully: "These items just read show the only leakage. have kept very careful accounts the last six months, and from them select ed these avoidable expenditures. You will notice that have in cluded nothing spent on worthy charities"
 But, my dear. there is no need of the economy we practiced the first three years of our married life. My present income allows a wider margin. My patent mosquito bar alone will more than cover any unexpected in- vestments."
 Every well, then. If we can squan- der thirty-eight dollars or more twice a year, on paltry trifles, want to know it, that I may use the funds in- telligently, and where it is calculated to bring the best equivalent for the money.
 People of moderate means often in- dulge in what might be called extrav- agances, but my intimacy with such families has convinced me that they are the really economical ones who save on the little needless outgoings. The newest thing in albums, nor the latest stitch in embroidery, does not tempt them; Tor do they thoughtlcssly pur. chase any of the thousand and one articles presented to the housewife. Then, when a truly desirable pleasure presents itself, they can purposely in- dulge and fully enjoy what previous self-denial makes possible without ex- travagance.
 ''How many bright days l have louged to take the children to the woods nutting, or for wild flowers, or to ride over to mother's have staid at home because I thought I could not afford it, and the money has slipped through my fingers to little or no profit in these ways"
 Taking advantage of the lesson f..N originated plan which she at once be. gan to put into practice. She must learn, first of all. to say mo-" in this magic monosyllable lay her only Sc. curity; and the use of it required the most careful surveillance on the easily loosened purse strings. Remembering to make quick decision as to the neces- sity, or otherwise, of the contemplated purchase, she still further held herself in check by opening a personal bank private household "bank" had con- to withstand the frequent onslaughts made upon it, hence the patronage ot the town savings bank.
 Every time Mrs Abel avoided a use- less article she determined to lay away the amount of the declined article, or less, if the price was too large for her allowance. On the contrary, if she permitted herself to make ducks and drakcs" of her money she drew the cost of the indulgence from the bank accumulation, which was solely and unreservedly devoted to the purchase of the needed silverware and the patronage of the livery stable in sunny weather.
 The success of his wife's reforma- tion in finances induced MT. Abel to dedicate his unspent dollars to a list of valuable books, although he still has great difficulty in refusing favors of the opposite sex. - Mona FargheI Pu rdy, in Good Housekeeping