Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-10-15
CHAPTER II.

OusiHeSS piospIIeu ni'u 'he JounS3 non'
By prudent and careful management, each
had not only made a living, but had been
able to pay small portion of the mortgage
on the stock, at the end of the first year.
Joseph had the advantage of his friend in
furniture. Mrs. Weston's little parlor look
ed exceedingly pleasant and comfortable
Besides, it looked as though her husband
was prospering in business.
1t was so very nice that the young wife
could not bear the idea of having the parlor
shut up so no one could see it till the furni-
ture had grown rusty; consequently she
made up her mind that they must have a
party.
Their friends had parties; why should not
they? 1t looked stingy not to have one
Mrs Weston was an eloquent debater, and
she gained the day in the matter. It's true
the party was not very extravagant affair,
but it cost Joe some fifty dollars. In the
meantime, Ben had paid quite as much for
advertising as his friend had for new furni-
ture and the party. Joseph laughed at him,
and finally come to believe that he was in
sane, and would certainly come to ruin in
another year.
Mrs. Ben Weston, too, felt decidedly un-
pleasant about the improvements which had
been going on in her sisters house.
eWhy can't We have rosewood table and
a set of stuffed chairs, Benjamin? ? asked
she, pouting her pretty lips in very una
Unable position.
Simply, my dear, because can't afford
it, replied the philosophical merchant
'How can Joe afford it%
Il presume he knows his own business
best
'Hc has put over hundred dollars into
his house
Ben whistled "T'other side of Jordan
and made no reply.
do, Ben, buy some chairs
Cant afford it,
Yes you can
NO can't
sYou can afford it as we'll as Joe'
perhaps | can
do buy some
Il should be very glad to crafty you, but
can't take the monty from the business
A year hence, if business has prospered with
me, you shall have them
a year hence pouted the wife.
Il must spend hundred dollars in adver-
tising the next quarter
'How foolish "
Very foolish, my dear, but it must be
done
That's the way you throw your money
away-you don't catch Joe doing such
thing as that
True, but though he has the advantage
of corner store, I paid three hundred dol
lars more on my mortgage than he did
Then you surely can afford the table and
chairs
Nay, ny dear, ] will not spend dollar
for sulerAuities while 7 am in debt
Mrs. Ben Weston felt very badly about
it, but her husband was irm, and she was
forced to content herself with the plain fur
niture.
Mrs. Joe Weston enjoyed her nice parlor
till the novelty wore away, and then she dis
covered that there was great many other
articles wanted to make things look uniform.
The two windows must have drapery curtains,
a pier-glass was needed, and some pictures
we're wanting to relieve the walls. Her hus-
band, who had once exceeded the limits of
his means, found no great difficulty in doing
so again, and the things were bought.
But Joe had some scruples about it. His
notes began to be troublesome, and every
day he was in the street borrowing money.
His business, too, had not met his expecta-
tions. Instead of increasing in the ratio of
last years experience, it hardly held its own,
and the poor fellow began to have some Sc
rious misgivings about the future.
Before the year had half expired, he was
obliged to introduce rigid system of re-
trenchment into his family and business af-
fairs, in order to keep his expenses within
his income.