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Show THE LIME-KILN CLUB. "A leetle money will buy wood an' taters an' bacon an' shoes an' cloze," said the old man as the meeting opened. "Lots of money will buy silks an' satin an' jewelry an' white bosses. De man wid a leetle money seems to believe dat de man wid lots of it am taking all de comfort. I used to hab dat ideah, but Ize got ober it. It am my solum belief dat de man who sets down befo' his own fire, wid his wife on de right an' his chillen on de left, an' de ole cat an' a panful o' apples in de middle, am in a posishion to take jist as much comfort as if he lived in a house wid golden stairs. Take de world frein an' you'll fin' dat de humblest homes am de happiest. De man who has steady work, a savin' wife, an' healthy children wouldn't be a bit happier if he was to draw $50,000 in a lottery. If he doan' take comfort it's his own fault. It's her fault if his wife isn't happy. Sometimes my ole woman gift de blues an' blows aroun' kase she sees odder folks ride out in their kerridges an' dress up in deir satins, but I build up a good fire, git out de apples, cider, an' pop-corn, draw up de big rockin' cheer, an' she can't stan' it moah den ten minits. De blues begin to fly away, an' she pats de bald spot on my head an' says: "We has a cabin of our own, plenty to eat, a leetle money in de bank, an' I ‘spect we kin set down an' take as solid comfort as if you war guv'ner an' I had ten silk dresses." It's who makes de most of what he's got an fittin' hieself to enjoy better. No situashion but what could be made worse. Ebery dollar made by honest work ought to bring two dollars' worf of solid comfort. Wid dose few remarks, called forth by overhearin' Samuel Shin growlin' aroun' bekase he couldn't have mashed taters at every meal, we will now eradicate the usual order of business." |