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Show THE SPENDTHRIFT WIFE George W. Perkins says that the suffering attributed to the high cost of living is duo to tho fact that houso wives do not know how to buy. Marty McCann had six kids and a wifo To keep on his carpenter's pay; They ought to have had all tho best things of life, For ho drow down throe dollars a day . Hut often ho noticed, when dinner tlmo came, That the food was surprisingly shy. Improvident Mrs. McCann wns to blame For she never would learn how to ' buy. " For after she'd paid for tho clothes ' and tho rent (Sho liked the kids tidy nnd neat) The rest of tho wages remained to bo spent To purchase tho groceries nnd moat. A dollar a day she could lay out on feed, Hut somehow rIio never Becmed nhlo To fill up her hollow and clamorous brood When they gathered around at tho table. With fairly good milk selling ten cents a quart, With cabbages llfteon a head, Chuck steak at eighteen the tough, nourishing sort And flvo cents a loaf for fresh bread, Tea fifty a canister, prunes eight cents a pound, And oggs at a nickel for one If Mrs. McCnnn hud but Just looked around, Whnt wonderful things sho'd have done. Hut busy all dny with tho family wash And dnrnlng and mending and snrli, Sho often would pay seven cents for a squash, Though knowing full well 'twas too much. And though her Intentions no doubt wero tho best, Sho squandered her plenteous pelf, And when ono sad day they were all dispossessed. Sho hod no ono to blnmo 'but herself Snn Francisco Examiner. |