Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-04-04

k0Il0Uol FI000C0s
Belinda, three years married, Pru-
dence, just after celebrating her wooden
wedding, were naturally-by example
and precept-eminently qualified TO
throw light upon the problem OF Doris
three months Of matrimony.
"Why, certainly you'll have to set mp
an account book; do" explained
Prudence. II put down every cent get
and every cent spend, and what for;
and every week, once month aud twice
. year, l balance my accounts and see
just where stand" .
"Well, I don't; for what's the user"
exclaimed Belinda. "Dick knows get
1t, I know what spend It for, No both
know when It's gone. Don't you addle
your head and ink your fingers with
receipts and expenditures Doris
dear; just you listen to me and don't"
Happy-go- lucky Belinda made Doris
laugh-nO ono ever takes Belinda Sc
riously-but Prudence's easy familiarity
with accounts and balances filed her
gentle unarithmetica soul with an awe.
some admiration. "And, Prudence"
she faltered, "they always come out
even? Your accounts are straight, dear
Prudence, alwaysP"
"Why of course" affirmed Prudence,
with great pride, "and why shouldn't
they be? And besides, whenever I am
seventeen or eighteen cents-and some
times it's more-short, | put 1t down
against 'Sundries' and make 1t balance;
why, what's the matter, Belindap"
Amid Belinda's derisive laughter and
Prudence's protestations Doris silently
resolved to keep on with her own simple
scheme for successfully meeting the de-
mands upon the modest amount Barry
could afford to give her every week for
her housekeeping. She has carried out
that resolution for seven years OF happy
wedlock with excellent results; and now,
az then, every Friday evening witnesses
the following little performances:
As soon az the small son and wee
daughter have subsidized, Harry takes
from his pocket roll of bills, which he
proceeds to count, while Doris goes to
her top bureau drawer and from 1t takes
four more or less age-wOrn and very
shabby pocketbooks, with which she 70
turns and to each one Of which she
assigns part Of her share of the family
budget.
Into one purse she folds certain sum
for the house rent-alwsys a quarter OF
the entire amount-and securely snaps
the catch; for that is her money no
longer. It rightfully belongs to Mr..
Mulligan.
Into the second pocketbook 60 the
different amounts due on Saturday or
Monday to the baker, iceman, milkman,
washerwoman, gas man, and paper boy.
Methodical Doris knows just how many
loaves, pounds, quarts, pieces, feet,
newspapers, and bananas she has used
during the past week, and consequently
how to divide and apportion quarters
and dimes. And these small sums also,
according to Doris simple reasoning,
are hers no longer, but as good as gone.
The third pocketbook holds what
Doris has been able to save from weeks
end to weeks end; 1t 10 not just exactly
bursting with coin, as saving is slow and
uphill work when done by dimes and
quarters and rare half dollars. But
though small the fund does grow and
Baby Nell's Christmas doll, Frankie's
birthday spread and her own matinee
tickets are assuming less shadowy and
remote possibilities. Into this purse
Doris slips what she has left-and quite
fifty-seven cents, too. In the fourth and
last pocketbOok she stuffs the greatly
shunken roll of bills left after all this
dividing and asserting has been going
on. This purse holds what goes for TO-
morrow's marketing and for next weeks
current housekeeping expenses. The
money now being all disposed OF, Doris
carries off her four pocketbooks and Is
ready to sit down with Harry to enjoy
the evening.
When Doris frat produced her four
purses Harry laughed at her 80 i'm.
moderately that they almost had their
first quarrel; since, however, he has dis
covered that Doris always manages with
what she has, never asks for more, never
seems to be in "straits" and never, by
any chance, ruhs into debt, he has be-
come alphabetically interested and cor
respondingly respectful.
When friends or relatives make men.
ton of Percy Montmorenci's financial
muddle or tell of poor Richards in
effectual struggles with an insufficient
income, he will say with jolly laugh,
Don't you want to let him in on your
financial deals, Doris? l think he'd be
the better for it," and turning to the
others will conclude, "you may not be
aware of the fact, but in Doris you see Q
real financial genius."-EI.