The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-07-11
I'HEMORTG Al 3 D HON.
by Emmn Garrison Jones.

II groWS on trees, don't YOU, BaSS! It
was only last week that gave you
fifty dollars" s 3i3 .
80 you lid, John, but it is all gone,
and this is market morning NJ
"All gone, Of course! You women are
always preaching to us Of extraya-.
gance, if we happen to indulge in a
quarter drink, or ten-cent cigar, but
you can get away with fifty dollars in
weeks time, and have nothing to
show for it,
THAT'S true, especially when one
has a family like ours to provide for =
four growing children, besides oursel-
YES and the servant, and provisions
all quite high. The money slips away,
and, as you say, here's little to show
for it; but l certainly do not waste a
cent. You see, DEAR" and the little
woman counted on her fingers, Fifteen
dollars went for cloth for your suit,
to begin with: five more for the boys;
then the material for your shirts was
five more, and Ietty's wages six,
making thirty-one; and that left me
only nineteen for the table, and out
of that bought coal" "
ooh, my dear, hush! don't want
you to give an account of what you
spend--nothing Of the sort, assure
you. IT'S as much yours as mine.
Spend it as you like" T.
Mrs. BraXton smiled. T
r II always try to spend it to the best
advantage, John, and for such things
as will make my family comfortable.
Suppose for the coming week we both
take the same amount, and on Satur-
: Cay night compare notes." 4
''Oh, pshaw! what's the use?"
''To see who spends the most
"Why, you do, Bess, Of course. [
spend little or nothing on myself,
There isn't more economical man in
town" . ,:. &
Very well. let's do as I say. How
much can you let me have to-dayw
Here's fifty more, Bess."
THANK you; and how much have
you?' j.. ..a
I've thilty-fve-the sum total Of
my possessions till payday comes
around, and that's fortnight off. You
must make the money go as far as
you can, Bess. wouldn't be hard on
you for the world, but I'm afraid you
" III CAi uFoStIul, ftul tHe ClulcS die
awfully hard DO ~. 49,. rs<.
Mr.. Braxton went down to his Of
flee, and his wife went to market with
a quiet smile on her face.
The week went by, bringing the US
ual family casualties. Two OF the
children required new school-books,
one Il pair Of shoes, Neddy's boots
had to be half-soled, and baby took
the Group, and incurred DOCTORS bill,
and all these sundries were paid out
of mammals pocket. In addition, Mr..
BraXtOn had company to dine, which
involved some extra expense. All
The week ended, and Saturday night
came. At supper the fathers brow
was cloCded. He had no smile for his
wife, no pleasant word for his child
rem. E., e.. Es..... r.. I'M f.. +
What is it, dear?' his wife asked,
when the table was cleared away, and
the little. ones were in bed. ''Wha t,
troubles your J
"Oh, Bess, it's that confouKded mort
gage; it'll be the ruin Of us vet. 1t
gives ME the blues every time 1 think
of it, '~f. =s# r..
cts great pity, John, we ever in
numbered ourselves with it,"
'"Thats fact. It will leave the
children without roof to shelter them
one of these days. But how the duse
could we help it? We were compelled
to- have money" r
Eyes, after the debts were incurred
Some of them might have been avoid
ed d. IS.
Some Of them? What do you mean?
Why in thunder don't you avoid them,
then? You preach, but You don't prac-
r rs
when you're always spending it 2"
Il don't spend a cent more than is
needful, John, as you'll see presently.
Here's my weeks account, all down
in black and white, and Eve lust
twenty dollars. Now, for yours, John.'
Mr.. BraXton drew forth his pocket
book with alacrity.
Dear me! Eve spent little or moth
ing. Bess. assure you. Let's see
how much had I?'
'"Ihirty-fye dollars, John.'
80 had. Well, here's ten, fifteen,
seventeen dollars, Where's the rest?
BY George! can't have lost it,
1T isn't likely, John.' .&<s
'Well, what's become Of it, Bess?
haven't let you have it?'
mo; you have spent it, john
No, l haven't spent it. I tell YOU
I've spent nothing this week.
''Well, count up your expenses, John.
I'll put down the items. What did YOU
spend on Monday 2
+ ION Monday? Well, had-let's see
three drinks. I usually have three
drinks a day.
How much was that? Seventy-ive
cents?'' ~.
mo. Barnes and Packard were
with me in the morning.
"And you paid for all? That was one
and a quarter, then; and how much for
cigars?'
"Well, we had half a DOZEN
"Ten cents apiece?"
mo, Bess. What do you take me
for? I can't smoke common cigar
twenty cents.'' .
Very we'll; a dollar and twenty
more. Well, what else?"
Nothing of any account-only
lunch, that's seventy-fve. And, by
George! I forgot the supper at Friz-
bie's; that cost US five dollars a
head"
"Yes. and you've been to. the opera.
haven't you: Two dollars MORE
More than that, Bess. We dropped