FRUGALITY AND ECONOMY.
Economy becoming old fashioned. The Creator's example. Frugality and
economy should be early inculcated. Spending two pence to save one, not
always wrong. Examples of disregarding economy. Wasting small things.
Good habits as well as bad ones, go by companies. This chapter
particularly necessary to the young. Frugality and economy of our
grand-mothers.
Economy is another old fashioned word, which, like the thing for which
it stands, is fast going into disrepute; and in these days, it will
require no little moral courage in him who has any thing of reputation
at stake, to commend it--and above all, to commend it to young women.
What have they to do with economy? thousands might be disposed to ask,
were the subject urged upon their attention.
"Is there not something connected with the idea of economy, which
tends, necessarily, to narrow the mind and contract the heart?" This
question, too, is often asked, even by those whom age and experience
should have taught better things.
I am pained to find the rising generation so prone to discard both
frugality and economy, and to regard them as synonymous with
narrowness, and meanness, and stinginess. There cannot possibly be a
greater mistake.
May I not ask, without incurring the charge of irreverence, if there is
any thing more obvious, in the works of the Creator, than his wonderful
frugality and good economy? Where, in his domain, is any thing wasted?
Where, indeed, is not every thing saved and appropriated to the best
possible purpose? And will any one presume to regard his operations as
narrow, or mean, or stingy?
What can be more abundant, for example, than air and water? Yet is
there one particle too much of either of them? Is there one particle
more than is just necessary to render the earth what it was designed to
be? Such a thing may be said, I acknowledge, by the ignorant, and
short-sighted, and incautious. They vent their occasional complaints,
even against the Ruler of the skies, because the windows of heaven are,
for a time, shut up, and the rain falls not; and yet these very persons
are constrained to admit, in their more sober moments, that all is
ordered about right.
Be this as it may, however, there can be no doubt that a just measure
of frugality and economy is a cardinal virtue, and should be early
inculcated, even though it cost us some time and effort.
A great deal has been said, and no small number of words wasted, in
endeavoring to show the folly of spending two pence to save one;
whereas, to do so, in some circumstances, may be our highest wisdom. If
it be important to learn the art of _saving_--the art of being
_frugal_--then the art should be acquired, even if it costs something
in the acquisition. No one thinks of reaping the full reward of adult
labor in any occupation, the moment he begins to put his hand to it, as
a mere apprentice. Does he not thus, in learning his occupation or
trade--especially during the first years--spend two pence to save one?
Does not all preparation for the future, obviously involve the same
necessity?
I do not, certainly undertake to say that it is always proper--or
indeed, that it is often so--to spend more, in order to save less. I
only contend that it is sometimes so; and that to do so, may not only
be a matter of propriety, but also a duty.
Let me give an example. Young women are sometimes apt to acquire a
habit of being wasteful in regard to small things, such as pins,
needles, &c. Yet, to teach them, in these days of refinement, always to
pick up pins when they see them lying before them on the floor or
elsewhere, and put them into a pin-cushion, or in some suitable place,
would no doubt be considered as quite unreasonable.
But would not such a habit be exceedingly useful? Am I to be told that
it would be a great waste, since the value of the time consumed in thus
picking up pins and needles, would be more than twice the value of the
articles saved? Am I to be told that this is not only spending two
pence to save one, but that it is actually wicked? If so, by what art
shall a wasteful young woman be taught good habits?
I would certainly urge a young girl who was careless about pins,
needles, &c., to form the habit of picking up every one she found. I
would do so, to prevent her prodigal habits from extending to other
matters, and affecting and injuring her whole character. But I would
also do so, to cure the bad habit already existing. More than even
this; I advise every young woman who finds herself addicted to habits
which are opposed to a just frugality and economy, to begin the work of
eradicating them, without waiting for the promptings of her mother and
friends. Nor let her, for a moment, fear the imputation of meanness; it
is sufficient for her that she is doing what she knows to be right.
Good habits, as well as bad ones, like virtues and vices, are apt to go
in company. If one is allowed, others are apt to follow. First, those
most nearly related; next, those more remotely so; and finally,
perhaps, the whole company.
I would not dwell long on a subject like this, in a book for young
women, were I not assured that the case requires it. I see young women
every where, especially among the middling and higher classes, and in
great numbers too, exceedingly improvident; and not a few of them,
wasteful. The world seems to be regarded as a great store-house which
can never be exhausted, let them be as extravagant as they may. They
forget, entirely, the vulgar but correct adage, that "always taking out
of the meal tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom"-and
seem to take it for granted there is no bottom to their resources.
Our grand-mothers--our great grand-mothers, rather--were not ashamed of
frugality or economy. They were neither afraid nor unwilling to do what
they knew to be right, simply because it happened to be unfashionable.
I am not, indeed, either constitutionally or by age, one of those who
place the golden age exclusively in the past. I can see errors in the
conduct of our grand-mothers. But I also see in them excellencies; many
virtues of the sterner, more sober sort, which have been bartered for
modern customs--not to say vices--at a very great loss by the exchange.
What we have thus lost, I should be glad, were it possible, to restore.