The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-06-24
ny MARGARET p. sANGsrER


some thought should be taken Ior tne
future when there may be need ana
feebleness and inability for effort.
This is so obvious truth that no ar
cument is called for to sustain It, In
theory we all accept 1t, and reflect win
more or less severity on the needless
people who go dancing through the days,
taking no steps to secure the coming
nights from disaster and sorrow. Inc
parable of the foolish virgins who TOOK
no oil in their vessels for their lamps
has more than one modern application.
In practice. vast number Of busy
Americans throw prudence to the winds
and scorn the homely and commonplace
virtue of mere thrift. They habitualiy
live I'D to their income. perhaps never
going beyond its limit, but saving MOTH
ing. BY and by they mean to save, but
saving implies self-denial, makes nee
essary a good deal of sacrifice, and alto
gether is a thing that is rather out OF
fashion and not in the least agreeable.
Frugality wears stern face. 1t
speaks in an uncompromising voice. 1t
frowns on indulgence to the flesh, and
| on the pomps and vanities. We will save
| Tomorrow. cry the easy-gOing, light
| hearted crowd who always see to-mor-
row through roseate mists, and to-day
we will have a good time and enjoy our
selves.
A man died the other day, as some
| times men do, without an instant's pre-
| monition. He had been carrying large
interests; he had made from years end
| to years end a very generous sum,
which had slipped like water through
the sieve of an extravagant family to
whom nothing that he could give had
ever been denied An Immediate and
sweeping reduction of expenses followed
his death. Possibly the same wise re-
| trenchment twelve month sooner
would have saved his life.
The whole aspect of the home outlook
was changed literally in the twinkling
of an eye for a wide circle of kin folk
who looked to the head of the clan for
help that was forthcoming at hint or a
suggestion of need, while for some young
children the future assumed different
phase. Life is uncertain for everyone.
Nobody knows definitely the appointed
time he shall stay on the earth. For
the sake of ones dear ones, there should
be a looking beyond the moment and
looking onward to the possibilities of
ten, twenty or more years yet to be.
Where shall economy begin?
Granting that the man of the house
sees with clear eyes what he ought to dc
in the case. should he not have the CO.
operation. the hearty assistance, and
the discreet counsel of his wife and
daughters? Cut down superfuities first
| Decide what the superfluities are. Com
forts are essential, but luxuries may
often be foregone, to the benefit Of
health and self-respect. Plain living
and high thinking befit us as citizens Of
a great republic.
Il A common temptation with us is tt
, emulate in our ordinary expenditure
| the style of some one who is better of
| than ourselves. Men come to grief be
I cause they have not the firmness to sa.
. no to those they love.
e IN little rural township a man wa
} financially in desperate straits, but as hi
name was synonym for integrity, an,
e his honor was unQuestioned, acquaint
Q ances who had means were prepared t
e accommodate him with timely loans
q His beautiful young daughter Jessi
. was the pride of his heart, and she, a
], it happened, had set her heart on nev
y furnishings for her room. and costl
: summer outfit, at the very instant of hi
a greatest stringency. Unfortunately, i
/ common with too many men, this fathe
S did not tell his family the exact state Q
s the situation Every family ought
: know when disaster menaces it, or whe
s there is anxiety to meet pressing oil
d legations, and to do women justic'
t. they would seldom plead for persons
e indulgence if they realized the cost.
h Jessie supposed her father able
h give her whatever she wanted, an
10 merely thought it was papa's way to
wet blanket when she had somethin
= surprising to propose. When he refuse
- her requests she still pleaded, and b
could not resist her tears. He told he
to go on. do what she liked. and send til
- bills to him, trusting to good luck to pa
:, them later on.
= Jessie - can get anything in I'll
:, world she wants." said Jessie's deare
~ chum. a day or two after this inciden
= "Her father thinks nothing of lettir
~ her have $50 or 800 whenever she asl
for it, My room is horrid. Jessie
having hers done over beautifully.
will be a perfect dream"
u, AS fate would have it, this girls faith
ig was president of a bank, and had BET
n about to extend a helping hand to Il
II struggling man. He decided, influence
nc by his daughters chatter, to withho
al the aid he had meant to give. and Jessie
father went under. After middle age
TO is hard to retrieve lost position, al
he bitter poverty was the final portion
lis that household.
ed Never to expend on externals tn
is which cannot be afforded without
be strain. is a rule that should have
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