Year: 1860

Can you make me an appropriation Ior
nay boys new clothing next week?"


81 am afraid not, my dear. You know
l have overdrawn already to pay my in
terest money"


"Well, but you have sold your sweet
potatoes. You had ten dollars extra last
week, and the money from our boarder,
which think you might give me, as had
all the trouble with her."


II should love dearly to give it to you,
but we must have it to live on; and, be-
sides, I must pay for the red cow next
month"


20 DEAR" said the wife, impatiently
"there is never any money for me and my
children. don't see how the boys are
goin tgo get on much longer. There was
not a single pair of pants left over last
winter, land Harry's overcoat has been
worn three winters, and is getting very
shabby"


"Well, l don't know what you can do.
Perhaps next month can give you the
money"


Next month";" said the wife, despairing
ly, to herself, some hours afterwards; 81
don't see how can wait that long"


SO she went to the closet in the little
boys room, to examine the old coats and
pantaloons, and see what wa, to be
| done.


at is a shame" said she, "that l should
be required to mend up any of these old
| things. This coat is entirely worn out in
the sleeves, and SO faded and shabby; this
oness has been worn by them both ! GER
tainly shall not men this old sack. L have
no pieces for these pantaloons; they are toe
short, anyway All the old things put TO-
gether are not worth half day of my
time, and will not last week after they
| are done"


But then came better thoughts. at is
vacation. Perhaps by school time l car
have the money. Oughtn't l to try tc
make some of these things do little long
er? My husband is in unusual difficulty
it is hard to get money, and, after all, it i:
not so much matter what these little fel
lows wear. Perhaps new patch is al
much to their mothers credit as new gar
ment. There are plenty of pieces like thii
brown coat. Let me see whan can bt
DONE


So she sat down, ripped the back of eacl
sleeve, pieced them down from above the
elbow, and re-faced them, then faced the
back anew, put on the missing buttons
and held it up.


"Really, did not think it would look
so well. 1t will last another month a
least, and the pieces will soon wear the
same color"
Then she took a second one, which had
a good plain lining, turned it completely
put the buttons on the other side, bount
the neck and sleeves, and made it look al
good as new. An hour in the evening
spent in making over the old caps, and the
boys were well enough clothed for all the
weeks before winter


Now, was all this of any advantage tt
herself2 Had she not gained victory
Yes indeed-a victory over her discomfort
her impatience, her love of display, ant
her love of ease. Necessity is the moth
er of invention" and "contrivance is better
than work" are two good proverbs, worthy
to be in every house-keeperS vocabulary.
Here was q woman unaccustomed to be
ing denied what seemed to her necessary
for her wants, making little do what {
great deal would barely have supplied
just by an untoward exertion on her par
an exertion good for herself and excel
lent example for her children.


Are there not many wives and husband
who can thus Tighten their husbands hearts
and keep their purses heavy2 Look twice
before you throw it aside. Don't put those
old pantaloons into the carpet rags or tht
mop until you have patched them once
more. Let the tuck down in the little girl
dress; make the old ribbon trim the littl
bonnet again; get the boots mended; buy
a little trimming for that old sack, and
will look as well as new. Contrive ant
economize, and you will be happier; disci
pline yourself better, do more good, ant
set better example than if you had plen
ty of money and lived carelessly.-Mr,
M L. B. IN Ohio Farmer.