Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-02-08

1t always grieved Mrs. Parker 10 SC
her husband in trouble from any cause
and, now that she had disturbed the cheer
full current Of his feelings, she Instant,
sought to restore its peaceful flow. 81
she spoke lightly of what had occurred
praised the vases, and said they were JUS
what she had long wanted.
Il will be very economical said she
and so will you, dear. In a little whilt
we can save all the vases cost, and so have
them without any drawback
Very ready was Jacob Jones to accep
comfort. particularly from this quarter
The words ofhis wife were like the sun.
rays melting through cloud. The hus'
band was himself again.
But. was he any wiser for this little ep-
isodcs Not much, we are sorry to say.
The shadow had passed from his spirit
too quickly to leave even memory of
its gloom behind. On the very next day
he spent five dollars in things supcrfuous;
and even while he was doing this his wife,
from economical considerations, was mu-
sing over the propriety of making her last
seasons bonnet answer. with some fresh
trimming, instead Of buying new one.
And so matters went on until the year
closed, when there came summin5 5-up
Of the years accounts.
Money or credit, jacob Mrs. Jones
had said, in answer to the exclamation of
her husband that money was the bane Of
his life; and Mr.. Jones, thrown consider
ably a-back by the question, which came
home upon him with a telling force, was
in state of mind nearly balanced between
anger, confession of error and amusement
at the aptness of his wife interrogation.
Credit, Mary, credit exclaimed Mr..
Jones. with forced emphasis. You have
struck the nail on the head. No-not
money; but credit; that is the bane Of
my life Why am such fool: l run
up accounts with sort of pleasure, as if
| were getting things for nothing, but feel
sensibly poorer whenever l pay out the
ready money for needed article
As Mr.. Jones closed this sentence, the
waiting maid opened the door and hand
ed in another letter. He broke the seal
with a foreboding of something unplcas-
ant. A long, narrow piece of paper was
revealed, with some unmistakablc words
printed at the head, among which were
"Bought Of and below which were
almost interminablc lines Of writing and
figures. A hurried falling of the eyes to
the footing up of the column of figures
gave the unwelcomc result. 1t was the
grocers bill. and the sum total one hun
drcd and thirty one dollars. His excla-
nation of surprise fell with q shifting
sound on the ears of his wife.
What is it :, she asked, almost falter-
ingly.
Green's account
oh. His bill can't be very large -
for l never sent the pass book when l
had the money to buy what wanted.
1t is hundred and thirty one dollars.
That seems impossible.
Il presume it is all right. But you
can look over it yourself
The bill was carefully scanned, though
without discovering any error of conse-
qucnce. Two barrels Of flour, basket
of wine, and few other items, counted
up heavily.
jacob said Mrs. Jones, speaking in
low, winning, but very earnest voice
there is something wrong in all this
No reason, in the world, exists why WI
should have these biiis to trouble us
Il don. know about that, replied Mr.
Jones, somewha. moodily wish coule
believe So
I'VE ought to pay the cash for every
thing We buy'-Mrs. Jones ventured up
on a more decided position.
1t is easy enough to say that, retort
ed her husband, evidently fretted by the
words. but how is the cash to be pait
down when we havn't the cash in oui
purses
Are you really dcsirous to have thii
question of paying cash solved Mrs
Jones quericd, in pleasant way.
oh. certainly, Read me the riddle
and shall be cternally obliged.
Il believe can show that there was NJ
need Of running up these two bills, a
least
'Parkcr's and Green's"
Yes
| Il am all attention.