The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-18
TALKS ON THRIFT
Two Stories of Thrift

''We must adopt new standards of liv- ing Instead of How much do you, spend year?' We must learn to ask, How much do you save each year?' and our admira- ton must go to him who has set the pace of saving. Senator George E. German.
 Perkins was a bookkeeper and he was in love. There is nothing unusual about that, as bookkeepers, being human and susceptible, frequently have been known to fall in love. But this man of figures was enamored of high school teacher whose salary was almost, if not quite equal to lis own.
 The sensible young woman in the case while by no means disdaining her suitor, was well aware of the fact that two could no. live as cheaply as one. Nor did she propose to continue teaching after mar riagc.
 Why don't you become a certified pub- lie accountant:" she asked Perkins one evening when the high cost of matrimony was the topic under discussion. "They are well paid. At least the correspondence school advertisements say they are. And you have splendid bass voice. If you WOuid OHiy idNc IL U diHCus I III SuIt yOu could make some money from your sing ing. Then we could get along all right.
 But" replied Perkins, 'to improve my self in both higher accountancy and music would cost lot of money and time."
 Even so.' said his f1ancee. ''The re- suits certainly would repay you, and when you are earning money enough we can live happily ever after "
 To make long story short. Perkins. with the aid of the future Mrs. Perkins, became more economical of both his time and his money. The musical training he laid out for himself soon resulted in his getting good choir position, and in due time he became a "C. F. A." His earnings increased accordingly. The habits of thrift he acquired in this way did not desert him, so that now all the money matters of MT. and Mrs Perkins are handled through a checking bank account, and in their joint savings account there is constantly growing fund to be used in building home for MT. and Mrs. Perkins and all the little Perkinses.
 In a. western city there is builder by the name of Larson who is bound to get ahead because he keeps his eyes open for opportunities and has accumulated little capital with which to work.
 Last summer an old church building was torn down to make way for a new depart IHcul StOIc l<dIoOH WdS dDle 10 ODtaln some of the old timbers. brick and stone for a mere song as compared with the cost of new material In the meantime he had obtained a couple of building lots at a low price because, while well located, they were on slope, and a retaining wall and considerable filling in were necessary to make them suitable for building After putting aside the top soil for garden and lawn, the builder leveled up the lots with earth and broken stone from the big store excavation. and then built the foun- dstions, chimneys and practically the en- tire framework of two houses from the old material.
 On account of the convenient location and the attractive appearance of the houses, Larson had no difficulty whatever in selling these houses at just as good price as he could have obtained had they been built entirely of new material and on higher-priced lots.
 There are similar opportunities in every calling. Those who profit by them are the thrifty and forehanded, and nine times out f~10 they are savings bank depos- itors. T. D. MACGREGOR.