Year: 1873

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needed substantial prop. Never, of
his own accord, would he commence to
save by little. He did not estimate
money in that way. Had some kind
fairy dropped into his hand fiVe-twenty
bond for five hundred dollars he would
have put it away gladly, and with such
a nest-egg in the start he might have
sought to add TO the store. But he could
see no hope in dollar bill, and much
less could he discover in the nucleus of
grand saving of fifty cent scrip.


With Alice it was different. From
her meagre earnings as a school teacher,
she had in less than five years. saved
three hundred dollars, and the first saw
ings she bad put away was silver dime.
She knew what little by little could do,
and she was determined to show it to her
husband. She must be patient and per-
severing, and these qualities she possess
ed in an eminent degree. 1t was to be
the grand undertaking of these first years
of her welded life, and to do it she would
bend every available energy. She plan
ned that, if possible, she would get hold
of the odd fifty cents every day, or if she
could not do that she would do the best
she corld.


Generous, frank and loving, Albert
was an easy prey to the wiles of wife
as loyal and loving as himself. He gave
her money when she asked for it, and
she asked for it when she thought he had
any to give.


And here let me say that Alice knew
that her husband would not run in debt.
That was an evil both had arrayed them
selves against in the outset. When AL
bert's purse was empty he bought moth
ing, and when it was full he was apt to
buy more than was needed. Alice knew
all this and governed herself according
ly.


think, said Alice one evening, that l
must fix over my old brown cashmere
this winter. | should like a new one,
but | don't suppose you can afford it.


Albert looked grieved, the idea that
he could not afford his wife new dress.


But for such one as she wanted it
would cost twenty-five or thirty dollars.


If you want it, get it said Albert,
emphatically. will let you have twen-
ty dollars from this months pay, and
the balance you shall have next month.


Alice got the thirty dollars, but she
did not get the new dress. BY the out
lay of five dollars for new trimming she
contrived to fix over the old brown cash
mere SO that it looked every bit as good
as new.


And so Alice worked. Sometimes she
asked her husband for fifty cents, some
times for ten cents, sometimes for dol
lar, and sometimes for more; and at the
end of year, carefully reckoning up,
she found that she had managed to get
hold of rather more than fifty cents
day but she had done it by denying
herself of many things, some of which
were really needful.


This result of the first years effort
inspired Alice with new life and vigor.
She had saved up one hundred and fifty
dollars and had invested it in govern
ment bonds. Through the influence of |
dear friend, who was in large bank
ing establishment, and to whom she had
confded her secret, she was enabled to
get the bonds at their face value.


1t was only little at time-some-
times very little-but even penny
dropped into strong box was so much
gained. Only little; but those Titles
grew amazingly. The husbandman who
shall set himself down by hill of corn
and wait to see the tender blade put
forth, would be wearied and dishearten-
ed but he knows that if he plants the
tiny seed and cultivates it as he ought,
the harvest of golden grain will come at
length.


Albert and Alice were married in the
year of 1865. 1t was on the evening in
August, 1870, that Albert came home
out of sorts. He had been notified that
he must leave the cottage. They must
give up the pleasant home and lose the
little garden which they had cultivated
with SO much fondness and care.


The owner wishes to sell, he explained,
and he has an offer. He asks two thou
sand dollars, and he must have FIVE hun
dred down.


Alice's eyes CLEANED with radiant
light. She had been thinking for some
time that she must let her husband into
the secret. 1t had begun to wear upon
her. And now the time had come as
though by providential interposition.
She did not make scene. She would
not add to the denouement by any by
play. She simply got up and went to
her cabinet, and when she came back
she brought little book in her hand.