Angela Brazil

The Luckiest Girl in the School Angela Brazil

"There's no doubt about it, we really must economize somehow!" sighed Mrs. Woodward helplessly, with her housekeeping book in one hand, and her bank pass-book in the other, and an array of billsspread out on the table in front of her. "Children, do you hear what I say? The war will make a greatdifference to our income, and we can't-simply can't-go on living in exactly the old way. Thesooner we all realize it the better. I wish I knew where to begin.""Might knock off going to church, and save the money we give in collections!" suggested Percyflippantly. "It must tot up to quite a decent sum in the course of a year, not to mention pew rent!"His mother cast a reproachful glance at him."Now, Percy, do be serious for once! You and Winona are quite old enough to understand businessmatters. I must discuss them with somebody. As I said before, we shall really have to economizesomehow, and the question is where to begin.""I saw some hints in a magazine the other day," volunteered Winona, hunting among a pile ofpapers, and fishing up a copy of The Housewife's Journal. "Here you are! There's a whole article on WarEconomies. It says you can halve your expenses if you only try. It gives ten different recipes. Number One, Dispense with Servants. Oh, goody! I don't know how the house would get alongwithout Maggie and Mary! Isn't that rather stiff?""It's impossible to be thought of for a moment! I should never dream of dismissing maids who havelived with me for years. I've read that article, and it may be practicable for other people, but certainlynot for us. Oh, dear! Some of my friends recommend me to remove to the town, and others say'Stay where you are, and keep poultry!'""We can't leave Highfield! We were all born here!" objected Winona decisively."And we tried keeping hens some time ago," said Percy. "They laid on an average three-quarters ofan egg a year each, as far as I remember.""I'm afraid we didn't know how to manage them," replied Mrs. Woodward fretfully. "Percy, leavethose papers alone! I didn't tell you to turn them over. You're mixing them all up, tiresome boy!Don't touch them again! It's no use trying to discuss business with you children! I shall write andconsult Aunt Harriet. Go away, both of you, now! I want to have a quiet half-hour."Aunt Harriet stood to the Woodward family somewhat in the light of a Delphic oracle. To apply toher was always the very last resource. Matters must have reached a crisis, Winona thought, if theywere obliged to appeal to Aunt Harriet's judgment. She followed Percy into the garden with a soberlook on her face.