The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-11-24

| small as the roll was. soon restored
Mrs. Greenleaf to comparatively gooo
spirits and she few about industri
ously, getting her mornings worl
done up surprisingly early as sh.
planned the economies of the day
shipping off a yard of material here
and pinching quarter off the prob
able price of something else there
Verify, her shopping promised to be
an exciting business, requiring firm
self-denial and strict calculation to
make one dollar do the work of two
1t is an easy matter for a woman,
who has particle of taste or Judgment,
to go into store filed with beautiful
and useful things, and select the cheap
goods, well knowing that the better
quality is the best economy in the end;
but there was no other way for Mrs.
Greenieaf to-day, and she carefully
weighed the balances in color and style
at the cheap cloak counter, the rem
nant counter, and bought underwear
with feeling of guilt. that being a
line OF goods where economy is no vir-
tue. Yet she came to the end of her
money before the actual necessities
were off her list, to say nothing of the
hair ribbon for which Hetty had
pleaded, and the little bottle of per-
fumery which Mary had well earned
by many dutiful acts The heart of
the mother swelled within her as she
reluctantly ordered the packages sent
home without these innocent Injuries
had e
such pinching economy she could have
submitted with the best of grace, but
there was not. Mr.. Greenleaf; while
not rich man, was amply able to sup
port his family in comfort The sac
riice of one days smoking on his part
would have paid for the trifles over
which the girls would be so disap-
pointed, she reflected, as she turned
homeward, walking the half mile be-
cause her last penny was spent, even
to street-car fare. 1t did not make her
feel any happier to see Mr.. Greenleaf
passing ont his cigar case to friend
as she turned corner, and she no.
ticed that the friend generously helped
himself to two.
Seventy cents gone for cigars to- |
day, that know of. for Ephraim new
er smokes less than five" she said to
herself bitterly as she hurried along. |
She did not wish to attract his notice |
indeed, she felt too hard just then to |
speak to him if he should give her the |
opportunity.
Come on and lunch with me-" she |
heard him say just as she passed out |
OF hearing, and her lip curied con-
temptuously. Whole-hearted, generous
fellow, prince abroad, a miser at
home; yet there are others of Mr..
Greenleaf's type.
Sewing, Ell? l don't see how you
women can contrive to be forever sew
n.y." Mr.. Greenleaf said, airily, as his
wife drew out her work basket after
he warm supper had been served.
Mary and Hetty were doing up the
fishes in the kitchen, so that mother
'ould commence work on the new
chool dresses.
Perhaps if you had the contriving
do for five you would find out" she
eplied, with more spirit than she
sually displayed. II
"oh, yes, | suppose you must get the
ew fallals. the ruffies and Fuckers in
lace" he replied, in facetious vein
He had felt really liberal and great
eartcd all day in the serene con-
'iousness of having done the square
hing by his Notwithstanding ont
commercial money-his
oney, in fact, and with an unusually
nall amount of friction, hot even
ocking the sum asked, as he often did
"Ruffies and fallals. indeed" Mrs.
reenleaf's temper was all which could
ford rufiiing in that house under "
'esent conditions, and she wondered a
'imly if he had any conception of the N
ira stitches his penuriousness en- tc
He'd upon her-the ripping and max N
over, the interminable mending
hich, if her time was worth any, d;
ing, cost more than new material.
The sewing for her family, however tf
ainly she could do it, was a serious
SIX without all this extra trouble of Ia
bbing Peter to pay Paul through an
dless variety of malSeshifts; but Mr. &C
eenieaf read his evening paper in IN
'ene Inconsistencies of her perplex- pl
es as she turned her patterns this &c
y and that, trying to get the dresses nc
from a piece of goods half-yard
)rt. Sc
'lr. Greenleaf had occasion to do
ne shopping few days later. He Ia
mt consult his wife or inquire how oo
ny patches would be required to re- DC,
his wardrobe for the winter. Oh.
that was not his style of architec-
e. With the first November blast sil
stepped into furnishing store and =,
ed for underwear. Wa
This is the best line of goods we sa
'e in the house." said the clerk. -
playing splendid value of Atwood -.
IDS, fine. warm and well made. LIZ
The best price, too, doubtless" Mr. ~
enleaf replied, playfully. ne
Oh! yes, though the best is always -. 80
chpappst wa colo,lo+o M Wv.