Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-08-30
FARMER eoRDoN's ECONOMY.

ne was always talking economy. I'VE
must economic" in this or that or the
other was always his theme. His
family consisted of wife and three
boys and an uncle OF his, an old man
Of more than seventy years.
One morning he entered the kitch-
en- where his wife had just been work.
ing over butter, and had the great
balls ready for market.
MY Hannah What butter It
makes fellows mouth water to look
at it, and I've got forty cents pound
all winter it's so much better'n most
folks butter, they are willing to pay
a good price fort. How much have
you made this month ?"
"This makes forty pounds this
month"
"Well, that amt bad this time of
the year"
No, but It's hard to work over so
much butter by hand this cool wealth
er. If l only had butter worker it
would be so much easier; it makes
me so tired every time l work over
ten or fifteen pounds. Idon't get over
it in two or three days, my arms and
back are so lame. Cant l have a
butter-worker, Stephen ?'
Nonsense, wife l suppose you
want me to pay five dollars for but
ter-worker, don't you? Why, my
mother had a large dairy, and she
never wanted a butter-worker-she
preferred to do it with her hands and
save the money, rather than spend it
on every new thing that came along,
"WelI, your father had more grass
to NOW than you ever had, and he
never had a moving machine or
raking machine, and you have both.
We'll, don't you see how much
time and labor they save ? Why, l
should have to hire twice the men I
do now, if it wasn't for them"
"And don't you suppose it would
save me time and strength, too2"
"WeIl, perhaps you can have one
some time, but I've got so many things
to buy this spring; I've got to have a
new horse and wagon, and several
new fences, and don't know what. l
tell you, wife, we must economize all
we can, said Stephen, as he left the
room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything; perhaps she
might have it sometime, but now she
must economize. This her husband
said five years ago, and she was using
the old cracked stove yet. 1t was
Just so about everything in the house.
Her nome was bare and comfortless
Didn't she economic in everything?
Wasn't her own wardrobe threadbare,
and also that of her boys? Didn't she
patch their clothes until it was time
wasted to patch them more? Didn't
she economize in everything but her
table? Oh yes,-and the little wom-
an ratified her dishes in a way that
surprised Uncle Moses in the corner.
She would economize so as to make
Mr.. Gordon feel it
Hannah, you shall have butter
worker if you want it, said Uncle
Moses.
"No, Uncle; I will have one, but
you shan't give it to me. Stephen can
afford it, or would not have asked
him. I have taken too much from
you already, but now I'm going to
economize so that can have all |
need. Husband is always talking
economy to his family, but I can't see
any way that he practices it himself;
but he is going to-
The next day at dinner Mr.. Cor
don said, a guess you forgot to put
cream on this boiled ham, Hannah" "
"No, I didn't forget, but I'm saving
my cream for butter. | must make
all l can, for We must economize.
And little later:
I'm ready for pie now, wife. Per-
haps you have one Of those nice pud-
dings that are just what l like.
No, Stephen, I have neither. 1t
costs great deal to make pastry and
puddings, and it takes time, too. We
must economic, you know"
Papa, can't I have sled? You
said last winter perhaps l might this
winter, said little Willie, the six-year-
old.
"And can't I have pair Of skates ?"
said Fred, boy of ten. at is such
good skating, please buy them for me,
papa.
mo, indeed, boys, We must econo-