OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 61 



you will be sure to prosper. When I pass this way again, 

 I will tell you what to do next." So saying, he departed. 



Here, then, is another friend ! Providence is certainly 

 lending me a helping hand. 



No sooner, however, was one difficulty settled, when an- 

 other came up. What should I do about money matters ? 

 The cards I received from the flower store would not pay 

 Mr. Hardtack the grocer, nor would Sharpedge & Co. give 

 me meat for them. I do not mean to run into debt ; indeed, 

 I must not. Could I forget Mrs. Warren's experience in 

 " How I managed my house on .200 a year " ? Her open- 

 ing chapter made too deep an impression on me, to leave me 

 easy under debt. Yet, for all that, I had to yield. My 

 children must be fed, and to be able to work in my garden 

 I must have good, substantial food. The final result was 

 my obtaining credit at the stores till the end of the month. 

 When that time arrived, I presented all my tickets or checks, 

 and was paid promptly in full. That very morning I settled 

 every bill, and had something left besides. 



My whole income from the sale of flowers (including the 

 fifteen dollars I mentioned before) amounted to forty-five 

 dollars and fifty cents. By economy and care, we managed 

 to live on a trifle less than this. To be sure, we had no 

 rent to pay, and no repairs were needed at present. I had 

 the interest on the mortgage and the taxes to pay, but'neither 

 were due till December. Perhaps by that time I shall be 

 able to meet them. 



