The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-05-17
HOW THEY MANAGED.

bAAEAAb WV ShA VI - 4 WOlA U OO put
upon as ma1nma is?9
Where, my dear?" asked Mrs. Ches-
ney with little start.
"Into the country" said the family
autocrat. "Pm tired of this city bust
ness. It costs 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 childrens educationy'
There's very good district school in
! the neighborhood, not more than mile
distant" explained her husband, .'and
exercise will do them good
'And what are we to do for society,"
"Pshawia said Chesney, 81 would not
give a rap for people who can't be soci-
ETY. for themselves. There'll be the house
work to do, You know-nobody keeps q
! girl in the country plenty of chores
about the place for Will and Spencer. /
shall keep horse if can get one cheap,
for the station is half mile from the
place, and I've bargained for couple of
cows and some pigs"
Meanwhile Mr.. Chesney explained to
his wife the various advantages which
were to accrue from tho promised move.
"It's unfortunate" said he, ''that Elma
and Rosie aren't boys. Such lot of
women folks are 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 conveniences
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 hundred yards
for every drop of water IwantY' said she.
"And large rainwater hogshead I'M
der the caves of the house, added Mr..
Chesney. "And I've already got bar
gain in kerosene lamps. As for candles,
/ am given to understand that good
housekeepers make 'em 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
do all the work? Give me 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..
Chesaey had bought at a bargain, and
the hollow backed horse which stalked
about the premises like some phantom
Bucephalus.
| The apple trees in the orchard were
three-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 front
gate was tied up with hemp string.
'Is this homer said Elma, with an in
describable information in her voice.
"We1l 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 cried herself to sleep that
night and awakened the next morning
with every bone instinct with shooting
pains.
"And no wonder" said Spencer;
'there's 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 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 We're
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," fiuttered Rosie, "Ive an idea.
Mary Penn, who lives on the next farm,
you know, came over to see Elma and
me yesterday. Papa is earning his living;
we'll earn something too"
81 should like to know how, muttered
Spencer. II might hire out somewhere
If it wasn't for that wretched old horse,
and the pigs. and tho wood chopping,
| and"---
''oh, but there is something that won't
| interfere with the chores, nor with
school," said cheerful little Rosie. "Just
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 mrn Mr.. Chesney laid
down his own stock of pork and sau.
sages, with the sense of being triumph.
antly economical.
The family had left off complaining
now. Apparently they were resigned to
their doom. But there were some things
that Mr.. Chesney couldnot explain ut all.
A new rug frightened up the dismal
hues of the parlor carpet; n isss had
crimson merino dress, trimmed with
black velvet bars; Elma's fall jacket
was edged with substantial black fur,
and--grand climax of extravaganza
Mrs. Chesney had new shawl in place
of the old garment which had been her
mothers before her.
He looked at the housekeeping looks
with renewed vigilance. He consulted
the stubs of his checkbook with notice
that nothing could escape.
'I-don't-know--how = they = man
age it," said he, scratching his nose with
lead pencil that he always carried II
hate mysteries, and mean to be at the
bottom of this before am an hour older.
Abigail, said he, chow is this? I've
given You no money; you've long left off
asking for money. How have you man
aged to smarter yourself and the chill
dren up SO? won't be cheated by my
own wife"
Elina sat down the pitcher which she
was wiping and came and stood before
her father with glittering eyes and cheeks
stained with crimson, like flag of battle.
Papa she said. ssyou must not sneak