The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-03-13

GoRDON'S ECONOMY

Stephen Gordon was a rich farmer
with broad acres of fertile land and
money at interest, but with all this
was always talking economy. 1--WE
must economize,'' 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! 1t makes a fellows
mouth water to look at it, and I've
got forty cents pound all winter; it's
much better'n 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"
mo, but it's real hard to work over
so much butter by hand this cold
weather. If I only had butter work
er, it would be so much easier; it
makes me tired when I work over ten
OF Cdu nave d Jul
ter worker, Stephen
Nonsense, wife! Pay five dollars
for butter-worker? Why, my moth
er had a large dairy, and she never
had a butter-w worker; she preferred
to do it with her hands and save the
money, rather than spend it on every
new thing that came along"
well, your father had more grass
b hol l,o
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, should
have to hire twice the men l do if
it wasn't for them"
And don't you suppose it would
save me the same time and strength,
too?"
well, perhaps you can have one
some time, but l have got so many
things to buy this spring; l have got
to have a new horse and wagon, and
several new fences, and don't know
what! l tell you, wife, we must econo-
miZe all we can," said Stephen, as he
left the room.
Yes, that was always the way when
she wanted anything; perhaps she
ulISllI nave IL SOllS IllllC, Jul III" ouC
must economic. 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
home was bare and comfortless.
Didn't she cconomize in everything?
Wasn't her wardrobe threadbare, and
also that of her boys? Didn't she
economic in everything but her table?
Oh yes, and she ratified her dishes
in a way that surprised Uncle Moses
in the corner. She would economic
in such a way that Mr.. Gordon would
feel it.
Hannah, you shall have a butter
worker if you want it," said Uncle
Moses.
mo, Uncle; l shall have one, but
you shan't give it to me. Stephen
can afford it, or l would not have ask
ed him. l have taken too much from
you already, and now l am going to
economic so I can have all l need.
Husband it always talking economy to
his family, but can see any way that
band is always talking economy to his
family, but l can't see any way that
he practices it himself-but he is go
ing to-"
The nxet day at dinner Mr.. Gordon
said: Il guess you forgot to put cream
in the coffee, Hannah"
mo, l didn't forget, but I'm saving
my cream for butter. l must make
all | can, for we must economic" And
a little later: I'm ready for pie
now, wife, or perhaps you've one of
those nice puddings?"
mo, Stephen, it costs a great deal
to make pastry and buildings, and it
takes time, too. We must economic,
you know.
Papa, can't I have a sled? You
said last winter perhaps l might this
winter" said little Willie, the six-year-
old.
"And can't have pair of skates? ?"
said Fred, a boy of ten. ut is good
skating; please buy them for me-"
mo, indeed, boys, we must economic.
/ never had a sled or skates and l
guess you can do without them"
"You must have had lots of fun,
then. I'm real sorry for YOU said
Willie, with tears in his eyes. Il
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
buildings. Now Mr.. Gordon liked all
kinds of sweetmeats, and it was hard
to do without them. He craved them
so much that when he went to the
store he bought half a pound of block
sugar and filled his pocket. He had
never "economized" on his likings, and
he prided himself on good table. On
going home one night he found the
minister and his wife making a call.
He was glad to see them of course;
and now, he thought to himself, Han
nah will have a decent supper noce
more But what was his consterna-
ton to see, as he seated himself at
the table, nothing but bread and but
ter, cold boiled ham and apple sauce.
We'll" said Mr.. Gordon to his wife,
II am afraid the pastor will think
your supper scanty one"
I'm sorry, Stephen, but the fact Is,
we have been economiZing lately, and
they came so late 1 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 clergyman.
Poor Stephen! His pride was deeply
hurt as he contrasted his table with
others that had been spread.
Have you met with losses lately?"
asked the pastors wife with concern.
ooh, no." said Mrs. Gordon; but
in the spring, on a farm, there are a
great many things wanted, and we are
economizing, in order to meet ex-
penses."
The next morning Mr.. Gordon call
ed on a neighbor, Mr.. Jones, to pay
him for pair of young cattle. Here
is the money for the steers" said Mr..
Gordon, handing him 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 the buttermilk without
hardly any eXertion, while Mr.. Gordon
watched her.
"Got butter-worker, / see."
Eyes; and don't know how ever
lived without one. 1t Is so easy work
ing butter now compared to what it
used to be.
Here, wife, Is twenty dollars you
wanted for cloak. Give Mr.. Gordon
a receipt for fifty dollars"
Mr.. Gordon stared. Twenty dollars
for cloak! When had he given his