Rutland Herald

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES.

'My dear, I want some money for a shopping tour' —'My love, I cannot afford it.'-'I do not call often,'Only six times a week.' That is but once a day at any rate --but if I cannot have it I cannot. I suppose I can fudge through the Summer with the Spring fashions."

The discussion had become somewhat in earnest -and half a pout gently curled the young wife's under lip. The husband was fond but not foolish— though some will have it the terms are synonymous. He proposed the terms of a compromise, to which the wife, glad of a new employment, acceded.-He told her what he could appropriate for the household expenses, rent excluded, and putting the week's allowance in her hands installed her chancellor of the exchequer, and keeper of the purse.

'Now,' said he, 'it you can manage to feed us all comfortably, and still do your private shopping- try it. Here is precisely the sum I have used weekly for housekeeping alone, and it is as much as I can spare.'

The little wife soon discovered that the price of beef was abominable, and provided a cheaper substitute. Sir loin was no longer deemed essential three times in a week, and some very worthy compeers, Messrs. Mutton, Lamb and Veal, were raised to the peerage. The wife's Mother's Goose's lore was put in requisition, and the table was graced occasionally with very clever riafacimentos of the fragments of yesterday's dinner. All the mysteries of padding, pie, and domestic confectionary and fancy bread filled up the corners, and used up the unconsidered trifles which are apt to be forgotten in a family actually starving.

And how did they live! Most comfortably. —The husband declared that he never fared so well in his life-but asked no questions. The wife wanted nothing but time to go a shopping in. Women are always better sub-treasurers than men: and the money she managed to abstract, and still leave no apparent hiatus in the daily fare, Would have astonished any one of the greatest departed servants of our friend Uncle Sam

Bargaining in one department taught the lady to bargain in others. Having no occasion to go shopping for amusement, she went just twice in the week for actual purchases, and those she made at a fair price. The mere say-so of a fashionable milliner, or dry goods clerk, did not seduce her to believe an article worth an hundred per cent, more than its value She pinned them down to their facts and figures, and made her purchases as if she wished to save money, rather than spend what she had and could not but laugh! for more So shaped the

was the happiest one for both parties to the matrimonial compact they had ever known He attended to his proper business down town-she had employed about the house which relieved of ennui, and cured her of all her inclination to extravagance.

At the week's end there was something over which she tendered to her husband. ·But you want a new hat, my dear. Oh no, not at present. This can be re-tired, and will answer till the summer style is settled.'You told me last week you must have some new frocks.' I know I thought so-and have made some purchases this week-but my wardrobe is on the whole quite respectable, and I am sure I can manage,' 'So you have learned to manage. have you--but I don't want this money.·What shall I do with it then.Oh, there is the rent. fuel, clothing for the children, servants'wages and other matters, all coming due in season. You must put this to the next week's share-and meet all your expenses, as they fall.'Then I am to be permanently in office I'

Certainly, until you Swartwout-aid with no other bond than this.'.

'Why, father I think you are childish'-said the little girl, as she burst into the room. Children will intrude sometimes To make too long a story short our friend finds this an excellent domestic arrangement. Women, to be prudent in money or in secret require only to be trusted , and many a lady gads expensively for mere lack of employment.-Try them, husbands.