Economy The Road To Wealth

A lady down on Smith street reai somewhere that eoonomy vaa the sur road to wealth, and hearing that the ga bill was enormous, folt the gas might b economized by turning it off at the mete every morning, so that it would no waste through the brackets. This sh did, intendiug to regúlate it in the even ing. She went to see her mother, how ever, and Biggins having returned abou eight o'clock p. m., turned up the jet an( 8truok a match. Nursing it carefull; with hi 'hand he placed it to the brackei pshaw ! it went out ; another, and still it would not light. He thought the infernal thing must be broken, and going into the next room, feil over a ohair and smashed his face. He tried it until his matches were all gone, and then feeling on the inantle for more, turned over his wife's oil perfume bottle, and knew it was running on his coat. He swore and started down stairs, and just in the hall met Maria returning with the ohildren. " Biggins, why is there no light in the house ? " He endeavored to explain ; but of no use. He was foolish. The gas would light if he had only tried ; and she marched into the parlor, her dress catohing in her cabinet of Chinese curiosities, and it falling with a orash. She tried, and in vain, for besides spoiling her best silk dress ghe trod on the child with boils, and mashod her best bonnet, when, lo ! she remembered what was the matter. She would sooner have stepped into ïer coffin than to that meter, and she ;ried to do it quietly, but Biggins saw ïer ; and from that day to this, when she alks economy he quietly sniggers : "Save 'rom the gas bill." Her silk dress, her best bonnet and her ühinese relies were nothing, she whisered to her bosom friend ; but to have Hggins once know he was right, it " is ;oo much," and she always bursts into ears. - New Orleans Picayune.