The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-04-11
FARMER GORDON's ECONOMY.

| Steven Gordon was a rich farme
with broad acres of fertile land ant
money at interest, but with all thi
was always talking economy. eve
must economize," was always hi.
theme. His family consisted of a 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, aud had the great ball:
ready for market. "My! Hannah
What butter It makes a fellow s
mouth water to look at it, and I've
got forty cents pound all winter. It's
much bettern most folks butter they
are willing to pay 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 real hard to work
over so much butter by hand this cold
weather. If l only had a butter
worker, It would be so much easier
it makes me tired when I work over
ten or fifteen pounds. Can't have
butter worker, Steven?"
'Ncnsense, wife Pay FIVE dollars
for a butter worker? w Why, my
mother had large dairy, and she
never had butter worker; she pre-
ferred to do with her hands and save
the money, rather than spend it on
every new thing that came along"
"Well, your father had more grass
to NOW than you ever had, and he
never had a moving machine or a
raking machine, and you have both. "
well, don't you see how much
time and labor they saved? Why, l
should have to hire twice as many
men if it wasn't for them.
"And don't you suppose it would
save me the same time and strength,
too 7"
well, perhaps you can have one
some time, but I have got so many
things to buy this spring l have got
to have a new horse and wagon, and
several new fences, and l don't know
what l tell you, wife, we must
economic all we can" said Steven,
as he left the room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything ; perhaps she
might have it some time, but now she
must economize. This her husband
said FIVE years ago, when she wanted
a new stove, and she was using the
old cracked stove yet. 1t was just
so about everything in the house.
Her houe was bare and comfortless.
Didn't she economize in everything
Wasn't her wardrobe threadbare, and
also that of her boys? Didn't she
economize in everything but her ta-
bic? Oh, yes, and she ratified her
Moses in the corner. She would
economize in such way that Mr..
Gordon would feel it.
Hannah, you shall have butter
worker if you want it," said Uncle
Moses.
mo, Uncle; l shall have one, but
you shan't give it to me. Steven can
afford it, or I would not have asked
him. I have taken too mnch from
you already, and now I am going TO
economic so / can have all l need.
Husband is always talking economy
to his family. but l can see any way
that he practices it himself-but he is
going to-"
The next day at dinner Mr.. Gordon
said: "Iguess you forgot to put cream
in the coffee, Hannah
mo, didn't forget, but I'm saw
ing my cream for butter. I must
make all can, for we must econo-
mize.' And a little later: "I'm
ready for pie now, wife, or perhaps
you'v one of those nice puddings 7"
mo, Steven, it costs great deal
to make pastry and puddings and il
takes time, too. We must economize
you know"
Papa, can't I have sled? You
said last winter perhaps might this
winter, "saidli Willy, the six-year'
old.
"And can't have pair of skates"
said Fred, boy of ten. 1t is good
skating; please buy them for me. y
mo, indeed, boys, we must econ
omize. / never had a sled or skate:
and Iguess you can do without them.
"You must have had lots of fun
then. I'm real sorry for you," sale
Willie with tears in his eyes. 81
shan't let my boys go without them
when I'm man."
A week passed by. In that time
the Gordon family had no pastry
cakes or puddings. Now Mr.. Gordor
/ liked all kinds of sweetmeats, and i
was hard to do without them. HI
craved them so much that when b.
/ went to the store he bought half ;
/ pound of block sugar and filled hi
pocket. He hadnever economical
on his likings, and he prided himsel
on good table. On going home on
night he found the minister and hi:
wife making a call. He was glad t.
see them of course; and now, b
thought to himself, Hannah will
have a decent supper once more
But what was his CONSERVATION t
to see, as he seated himself at the ia
Bile, nothing but bread and butter
Geld boiled ham and apple sauce.
| "Well," said Mr.. Gordon to hi
wife, IT am afraid the pastor vii
think your supper scanty one."
"I'm sorry, Steven, but the fac
| is, we have been economizing lately
and they came so late had no tim
to prepare anything different.
"This delicious bread and butte
needs no apology, to say nothing {
the other good things, said theclergy
| man