Page:Peterson's Magazine 1862.pdf/451

PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.

Vol. XLI. "STRIVE

AND THRIVE."

BY MRS. N. M'CONAUGHY.

"You do not really say that your husband is going to buy a house these hard times, Laura ?”

"I do not say he is going to buy one, cousin, but that he has bought the dearest little home, just a nice distance from the city, and that we are going to take possession before May- day,so we can begin to improve it bright and early next spring. There is half an acre of ground attached, and a nice grass- plot, where the children can tumble about to their hearts' content, without being disturbed by any notice ' to keep off the grass.'

"But how did you manage to buy it these dreadful times? Your income is no larger than ours, and we think it all we can do to live. And, to tell you the truth, Laura, " her voice sank to a confidential whisper, " we are several hundred dollars in debt. How it is ever to be paid is more than I can see. It worries me daily. " -

ours

us,

Laura ; but not the ' ways and means. ' Has any one left your husband a legacy ? I know we have no rich relations to expect anything from, the more of a pity, too!"

"I am not sure that would have been so great a benefit to us, Lida. What we gain by our own exertions is really worth a great deal more to because it develops our own powers. Dr. Adams says, ' There is an invisible wealth in possessions acquired by personal industry and economy, which cannot be computed by the "' numeration table. ' You ask how we got the

money, and I will tell you, cousin. When we first commenced housekeeping, we ' set up, ' at my suggestion, a savings-box, in a corner of the bureau, and resolved to save something, if only a half- dime, out of all our earnings, toward buying a home some day. My husband rather { laughed over the project, and had no great faith No wonder the visitor's countenance assumed in the results ; but I persevered, and the first i a troubled expression, for what burden can com- year's success encouraged us to continue it. pare to that which a weight of hopeless debt Year after year we kept on, until the snow-ball imposes ? One who can be at ease in the enjoy- assumed quite a respectable size. We have inment of home comforts, when he feels they are dulged ourselves in few expensive luxuries ; but not paid for, must have feelings peculiar to him- I believe we have enjoyed our many simple ones self and not at all to be envied. The discomfort more than those who expend thousands every of self-denial in luxuries, or even in comforts, year on mere amusements. The children have cannot compare with the feeling of distress frequent rides by cars or steamboat, and every which the consciousness of debt produces. few weeks a half-day in the country. By study "We thought it the best time to buy, as the and forethought I have learned to prepare many property was much lower than last year. We excellent dishes for our table at a trifling exhave been saving the money for it these eight pense . I always prepare a new dish myself, years, and now have enough and a little over. and do not trust Ann with it until I am sure she The sooner we move into it the better for all of knows how. We live a great deal better and us, especially the children . Just think what a much cheaper than we did the first year of change it will be from this dusty, close street, housekeeping, though there are three children to a country home with pure air all about us, to feed now. A cook left without oversight will and a real out- doors to our house, ' as Georgie squander nearly as much as a family consumes. " says. The doctor says it is the only medicine our Gracie needs ; and I mean they shall all

three enjoy it to the full next summer. " "I can see the desirableness of it very well,

"I wonder you always dressed yourself and children so well, Laura, when you were so bent on economizing. "

"That was part of my economy, Lida. I find

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