The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-08

loves lemon pie. Lemon pies are very
eXtravagant. You might therefore
| make one of cocoanut I believe we
/ have part of an old cocoanut in the
| house. If it has a mold taste to it it
won't make any difference. 1t is only
economy to use up old cocoanuts.
That is all, Mary, we will have for din
ner tonight. Oh, yes-you may put
on some of that cooking butter in
place of the print. Print butter is too
extravagant for these hard times"
| When Mr. BowSer entered the hall
at six o'clock in the evening, it had
been dark for an hour. He found the
| hall almost as dark as the outside of
the house. The flame of the gas jet
was turned down until it was no larg-
er than a buckshot and after winking
and blinking for a spell he called out:
| Mrs. BOwser. are you here?"
| Yes" came her answer.
Then why in thunder and blazes
don't you have this hall lighted as it
should be-"
| She came forward and without turn
ing up the light, she said:
| Il knew l could save three cents
worth of gas by keeping it low down
between five and six. Three cents is
three cents these hard times and we
are going to save it."
| Mr.. BoWser reached up and turned
on a full light and walked down into
the basement without even a humph!
1t was after he got seated at the ia
BILE that he looked around and said:
You must have expected three or
four tramps to dinner this EVENING""
II have put economy into practice"
was Mrs. Bowser's reply.
1T strikes me that you have been
making fool of it, he grunted; but
realizing that he had been caught in
his own trap, he resolved to make the
best of 1t. He tried in vain for five
minutes to carve the roast He might
as we'll have tried to carve an old boot
leg He held up a potato on a fork
and looked at It for about fifteen
seconds before he returned it to the
dish. He did not fancy that kind
The bread was stale and the butter
was floury and one mouthful satisfied
him. He swallowed a gulp of coffee
| and made such face over it that Mrs
| Bowser almost laughed aloud. The
cocoanut Ipie remained to be tasted
and it fairly lifted Mr.. Bowser out of
| his chair He had a part to play
however, and he remained at the table
until Mrs. Bowser had finished. Sew
era1 times during the meal she spoke
| of the tender roast and fragrant cof-
fee, and how they had saved at least
two dollars on that dinner and had a
| plenty that was good and palatable.
She likewise thanked Mr.. Bowser that
he had put her in the way of prac-
ticing economy.
When they had reached the sitting
room she struck match and lighted
one gas jet and explained:
You always want plenty of light
here but we must be careful to keep
the gas bills down. We will therefore
do hereafter with one jet. 1 have been
talking with Mary this afternoon and
she says as long as we are hard up
for money she will work for two dol
lars week less than before. She has
thrown several pals of water into the
coal-bin to make the coal burn long
er, and that is why the room is so
chilly. I am going to try and save
half ton of coal next week. Did you
bring home a box of five cent cigars,
Mr. Bowser? 1 want to tell you that
1 saw a junk man this afternoon and
he said he would give me twenty five
cents pair for Your old shoes. He