The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-14

Long ago Jlnny had picked pay day for that event; for one thing it was frankly, the most important day of the week: also, she liked to show how well she had budgeted during the whole week, to have enough money left over for gala feast. That would relieve John ny's mind on that score. Mainly, however, she needed that bit of courage, which she derived from the knowledge of new money com ing to the house, to spend above the usual daily ratio.
 This was the second year of holy
 matrimony for them, but Jimmy was still head over heels and sim ply limp with love and moreover, she didn't care q hoot who knew It.
 She could hear the water sDurt from both taps in the bathroom; Johnny would clean up for the din- ner first. He always did things in an, orderly manner. Afterward, she knew, he would sit down and fix the envelopes for next week. She had placed the box containing them on the little table in the bed- room, as usual. Before she could call "soup's on," Johnny would be ready with these weekly rites. Jinny smiled contentcdly: 1t was hard going of late, but at least she could depend on Johnny to keep the straining budget from break ing the halter.
 INSIDE. JOHNNY
 WAS NERVOUS
 Inside, Johnny was nervous and restless, the happy grin gone from his eager, young face. How in the world could he tell Jimmy that an other ten bucks were to be shaved off next week and thereafter from his already much depleted weekly stipend? He sat down, drowning at the box, that held the vital en- vcIopes. Which one would permit d deduction without dire effects upon their already boned down existence?
 The first envelope bore the ln- scription, "I,cnt." Nothing doing, there. Johnny placed the cash al- lotted for it only It's empty paunch. They had moved way up Bronx only short while ago, just so as to reduce thIs item to a new and quite emphatic low.
 The second envelope was in. scribed, "Food." On this they had cut down every time Johnny's pay was reduced in the past year. Three cuts altogether so far--the fourth on tho way. But the firm was taking cruel losses and Johnny was thankful they had used pressure rather than tho ax. No one was fired and If humanly possible, mo- body would be.
 But Jimmy was still too skinny from her great illness and would need special food to build up her strength. For himself Johnny didn't mind the economy-menus, which Jinny had evolved 50 care- fully, with Il watchful eye on every penny spent for food. Jinny was a swell cook, but even so man Is bound to get awfully hungry after q days hard work.
 To deduct from that item would mean to forgo the payday ex- travagance. Johnny would never consider that. It was the only really satisfactory meal for both of them and to cancel 1t, would mean the saving of only one dollar.
 He passed on to the next envel- opc. That one had q triple func- tion. one for every successive month. one month took care of the quarterly insurance dues. Those insurance payments must go on, thought Johnny fercely. With all their savings gone and with not q chance to lay by even penny these days, he was more deter mined than ever to hang on to that single measure of safety for his beloved little girl-wife, Jinny.
 When he took out that policy q few months after their marriage 1t was with proud forcthought of the little stranger they were ex- pccting so eagerly. Alas. the blessed event turned into Il terrible devastating misfortune, which nearly cost Jimmy her life. Jimmy wouldn't have minded the suffering if only the baby had lived. Nor would Jimmy have minded the trc- mendous expenditures, now that his horrible fright of losing Jinny and his helpless compassion for her suffering was over. had there been any tangible reason for 1t all. Their carefully saved money was gone and m additional debt of over $400 had to bccleared up in short order SO that Il new savings ac- count could be launched as speed fly as possible.
 The quarterly payment for the