The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-02-13
the FRUGAL PAST
A Pair of Trousers Went a Long
Way In the Good Old Days.
Wall OF A MAN IN A CROUCH.
His Wife's Reckless Gift to a Tramp Of
One Of His Battered castoff Gar
ments Moved Him to a Touching Dis
course on the Vice Of Extravaganza.

"A poor man came TO Tue uOOr CulS
afternoon and asked if l had any old
clothes l could spare said Mrs. James
worthy. II gave him those gray trou-
of yours. as they were too badly
worn mi for you to use them again.
They were all faded and full of holes.''
The next time you undertake to dis
tribute my raiment among the prole.
tariat. Mrs. Jamesworthy." returned
her grouchy husband. you might at
least consult me. You are assuming
altogether too much when you take it
for granted that l am done with a
pair. of trousers. AS things are going
now in the business world l find it ex-
pedient to wear such garments sc long
as there is any way to fasten my sus-
penders to them.
'Times IRE growing worse and
worse. and the financial stringency is
breaking all records. and the man who
strives to support his family has
troubles enough without coming home
to find that the wife Of his bosom has
given his purple and fine linen to some
body's wandering boy.
Il had expected to get two seasons
wear out of those trousers. and l had
a sentimental fondness for them. Is l
wore those trousers on that red letter
day when. three years ago. stood in
the White House and proudly shook
hands with the illustrious president of
this great and glorious republic. |
hoped to hand them down to my chill
dren's children. SO that when l am
cold in my grave they might contem-
plate those historic trousers with
streaming eyes and recall the glorious
occasion l have referred to. Now l no
longer have a souvenir Of my meeting
with the president. and posterity is
robbed of a great privilege by reason
of your needless course.
I'D never think, of giving away
anything of yours without your ap-
prevail. Mrs. Jamesworthy. Time and
again ! have been tempted to call in
some poor but respectable widow with
a, large family to support and give her
your false hair. which has become an
eyesore to me. as l find it lying around
wherever l go. but l felt it would be
doing you IN injustice and refrained.
Yet when an unknown hobo comes to
our door asking for refreshments you
hand him my cherished trousers, which
are more to me than pride Of ancestry
or pomp of power.
Your action Is a fair sample Of the
extravaganza which keeps men for
ever walking in the shadow of the
poorhouse. have no doubt that my
sainted mother would roll over In her
grave If she could know of such doings.
Under her wise and skillful manage
ment my father had a chance to &C.
cumuiate a few piasters for his old
age. He wore his trousers until they
were full Of holes; then my mother
took them and half soled them and
made them as good as new. and he
wore them for another term Of years
until It was impossible to tell what
their, original color might have been.
when they were too far gone for
further use mother made them over
% the older son could wear them. and
when be had used them I've or six
years there still vas enough sound ma
tef1ai In them to make a pair for the
youngest son. ! was that youngest
cen. and III Through my boyhood and
4ves ip early manhood ]. was, wearing
s~xparkated editions Of my fathers
trousers.
"You may make rs many faces as
yoa please. Mrs. Jamesworthy. and
point tue finger Of scorn until the cows
cone. home. but that doesn't change
the fact that It wal economy Of this
sort that kept our parents IN ignorance
Of such things AZ the bankruptcy court
and the associated charities. When I
had worn those historic trousers for q
few summers and winters. until they
would answer the purpose no longer.
my mother cut them up into strips and
made rug carpets Of them and those
rag. carpets were more sensible and
more serviceabie than the tailor made
taRairs you have strewn over these
hoozs.
after this. piease. you viii call me
into executive session before giving
away any Of my habiliments. Mrs..
Jamesworthy."-Wait Mason In Chi
caso News.