The Washington times., 1894-03-25
ECONOMY THAT PAYS.
How Careful Housewife Can Make
Dollar Last Long Ways.

Dollar Last a Long Ways.
This lady (drs. Oliphant's mother, as she
writes us), an obscure person enough SO Ear
as the world goes but to me one of the most
great of human beings, was far from wealthy,
and could not a. any time contribute much in
money to any fund for the poor-nor did she
ever. that know of, use that obnoxious word.
Her opinion was that every family like her
own, consisting of sons and daughters, full
filed its duty best by taking charge. SO far as
was possible of another family among those
who are perennially in want of help. This
charge and overseeing was done in the most
simple ana natural way. The clothes, fCr IN
stance, of the children in the better house
made a most admirable provision, when they
were outgrown or shabby, for the children IN
the other Boots could be mended strongly
for the use of the poorer, which were not
quite smart enough for the richer Heaven
knows how far from being rich,) boy The
young lady's morning frock made best
gown for the girl going out to service. The
mothers garments which never looked less
than well. whatever their age was. equipped,
in their later DAYS. the other mother. Moth
ing could be more simple or more entirely
practicable than this arrangement. 1t is II
system that could be adopted at once in hun
dreds OF houses without disturbing any habit
or costing much trouble. even.
Then. If the poor father happened to be out
of work. which vas always possibility the
other family moved heaven and earth. so far
as that was possible. to get him something to
do When the boys and girls were ready to
go ''out, they were helped 10 find places, and
recommended or even guaranteed with such
aid in the matter of outfit as was possible. 1t
is. no doubt. an excellent thing TO send bundles
of old clothes TO an institution, but it Is far
more interesting to expend them on people
To friN yyb ish
and which Mary. and to see with your own
eyes how well they look in the change and
transformation.
Iremember distinctly the gradual change
which occurred in family under the opera
tion of my mothers system. They came nn-
der her notice in the most curious circum-
stances. The vile. young, strong, Wild,
good-hearted. undisciplined creature. had got
into some terrible scrape through an assault
upon another woman. who. she had supposed,
had taken from her her husbands affections
tho husband Il young fellow Of rowing dis
position, ex-sodier. worker at the docks;
often out OF work and generally in mischief,
but with no particular harm in him. The
husband had got few days imprisonment
for some share of his in the fray-i do not
know what-and came out rather sulien,
quite down-hearted. and ready for any devil
try. He strayed off naturally TO that heart
breaking work of the docks-one day in work,
another SaunterlnS iule. prey 10 every
temptation, it being all uncertain whether
the occasional days wages would
ever find its way to his wretched
little home. The last l can re-
member of this man was as the nest respecta-
BILE verger of n church. well-clothed, well
housed. with a family as respectable as him
self growing up in all the most excellent
ways and taking 10 virtue rs to their natural
element. Mary's fun was naturally subdued
in their admirable milieu: but she was
happy woman with her children about her,
and owing nothing to any one. l do not
believe that any money TO speak of had been
expended in bringing apout this wonderful
revolution. 1t had only been kindness,
steady individual backing up, court of
appeal in all difficulties. personal aid, encour
agement and oversight. There were many
intermediate steps. no doubt, some short
comings and fal!ings back but this was the
conclusion of all.
Now. such a system has this in its favor
that it needs no preparation. and requires very
little expenditure 1t can he begun any day
and. though TO be etiectual it must be continu
Gus, vet even little friendship is never
thrown away. and nobody need be afraid OF
an undertaking which. if it lasted no more
than season, would still have a little advaa-
.age in il