Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-08-30

! Jne GOTdOn family udu HO Hds'4 ,
cakes or puddings. Now, Mr.. Cor
don liked all kinds of sweetmeats and
it was hard for him to do without
them. He craved them so much that
when he went to the store he bought
half pound of block sugar and filed
his pockets. He had never "ecOnO-
mice" on his living, and he prided
himself on as good table as any one
in town.
On going home one night he found
the minister and his wife making
call. He was glad to see them, of
course, and now, he thought to him
self, Hannah Will have a decent sup
per once more. But what was his
CONSERVATION to see, as he seated HIM
self at the table, nothing but bread
and butter, cold boiled ham and apple
sauce.
"Well, said Mr.. Gordon to his wife,
I'm afraid the pastor will think your
supper a scant one.
I'm sorry, Stephen, but the fact is
we have been economizing lately, and
they came so late that l had no time
to prepare anything different"
This delicious bread and butter
needs no apology, to say nothing Of
the other good things, said the cler-
gyman.
Poor Stephen his pride was deeply
hurt as he contrasted this table with
others that had been spread in honor
of the pastors visit.
"Have you met with losses recently p
sked the pastors wife, with concern.
"Oh, no, ;" said Mrs. Gordon, "but
in the spring on farm there are a
great many things wanted, and we are
economizing in order to meet expens-
es.
The next morning Mr.. Gordon called
on neighbor, Mr.. Jones, to pay him
for a pair of young cattle.
"Here is the money for the steers,
said Mr.. Gordon, handing him a roll
of bills.
Mrs. Jones was working over her
butter IN the kitchen. She had but
ter worker, and it was astonishing
how fast she made the butter into
cakes and stamped them, draining out
every drop of butter-milk with hard
ly any exertion, while Mr.. Gordon
watched her. "Got butter worker
I see. ="
Eyes, and I don't know how l lived
without one. 1t is so easy working
butter now compared with what it
used to be. Why, it used to make me
so tired to work over so much butter,
that I wasn't good for anything for
two days afterwards" D."
Here, wife, is twenty dollars you
wanted for a clock. Give Mr.. Cor
don a receipt for fifty dollars.
Mr.. Gordon stared.
Twenty dollars for clock When
had he given his wife that sum for
anything? He looked around the
kitchen. Here was a model range, a
sink and everything convenient and
handy with which the farmers wife
could do her work. What contrast
to Hannah's kitchen He well knew
he was better able to afford such an
outfit than his neighbor was.
On returning Mr.. Gordon first
stopped at the barn. Here everything
was in order aud everything was con-
venient to work with. Was it posi-
bic he had made Hannah do all the
economizing?
In one corner Of the shed was some
thing that looked like a sled. His
little boy had been trying to make
one, and the words of the child rang
in his ears, Il shan let my boys 60
without them when l am man.
He went into the house.
"Where is Hannah ?" he inquired
Of Uncle Moses.
"She has gone over to see Stiles
sick child"
The farmer sat down and took his
paper, but his thoughts were too busy
to read. He had never looked so
mean in his own eyes before. He was
still angry with his wife for humbling
him SO the night before, by giving the
minister and his wife such supper.
Yet now, as he thought it over, he
wondered how he could have blamed
her.
Uncle Moses, how much do you
think it would cost to clothe woman
for year,"
at never costs much to clOthe
your n, said he, his black eyes snap
ping. 81 never thought you could