The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-07-25

tainly come to ruin in another year.
Mrs. Ben Weston, too, felt decidedly un-
pleasant about the improvement that had
been going on in her sisters house.
ssWhy can't We have rosewood table
and set of parlor chairs" said Mrs. Wes-
ton, pouting her lips in very unamiable
position. .,--..
Simply my dear, because cannot afford
it, replied the philosopher merchant.
'How can Joe afford it?'
Il presume he knows his own business
best.'
sHe has put over a hundred dollars in his
house,
Ben whistled sTother side of Jordan and
made no reply.
'Do Ben, buy, some chairs.'
Cant afford it,
'Yes you cam
NO, can't
sYou can afford it as well as Joe.'
'Perbaps can
do buy some.'
Il should be glad to oblige You, but |
cannot take the money from my business.
year hence, if business prospers with me,
you shall have them.'
"A hear hence,' pouted the wife.
Il must spend a hundred dollars in adver-
tising, the next quarter.
'How foolishn
sVery foolish, but it must be done.'
'That's the way you throw away your
money-you don't catch Joe do such trick
as that
'True, but though he has the advantage
Of corner store, paid three hundred dol
lars more on my mortgage than he did.
Then you surely can afford the table and
chars
NAY, my dear, will not spend dollar
for superhuities while am in debt
Mrs. Ben Weston felt very bad about it,
but her husband was firm, and she was
forced to content herself with the plain fur
niture.
Mrs. Joe Weston enjoyed her nice parlor
until the novelty wore away, and then she
discovered that there was q great many
other articles wanted to make things look
uniform. The two windows must have dra-
perry curtains, pier glass was needed, and
some pictures were wanted to relieve the
walls. Her husband who had once exceed
ed the limit of his means, found no great
difficulty in doing SO again, and the things
were bought.
But Joe had some scruple about it. His
notes began to be troublesome, and every
day he was in the street borrowing money.
His business, too, had not met bis expecta-
tions. Instead of increasing in the ratio Of
his last years experience, it hardly held its
own, and the poor fellow began to have some
serious misgivings about the furniture.
Before the year had expired, he was obli-
gsd n intro luc, rigid system of retrench-
Meptihto his family and business affairs in
otdsSp bring his expenses within hissin-
d zz;szzE = -. - -
1 1t6thcr year had, rnssedsaway in the bu-
f&15e experience of The y0nng merchants.
3dNkbooks weres ali1ei md the result in
hack and white, ssoe lhem. ~,
fBen had followed ystem of ap
tising through the ysaf. He had ex1i1dvd
large sums, but made the outlay with Judg-
ment and discretion.
The result had exceeded his most sanguine
expectations. His store was Ct eded with
customers, genuine bona fidsJ ners, and
with small proportion Of g4& and fan
cy shoppers. The papers I'D orneso the
best families in the city and puntry, full
descriptions of his stock. HisAame was as
fami illiar as ''household Words in the dwell
lings of the rich and poor, of the farmer, the
mechanic, and the laborer.
Truly the harvest was abundant; and Ben
rubbed his hands with delight as he cast
his eyes over the figures which conveyed to
him the pleasing result of the years opera
tons. He had the means not only Of clear
! ing himself of debt, but also of gratifying
I all ,fpr ,rht ,Io
required, besides some little surplus with
which to increase hisbdsiness.
The furniture wassboaght and set up;
every debt was discharged, ,xand importers
and jobbers were eager to give him unllmit-
ed credit
onesIy while he was running upon this
pleasant State Of things, Joe Weston enter
| ed the store. For some months past the
intercourse between the young merchants
had not been so cordially as formerly
] Jos's nice things had rather set him up.
some of the upper ten had eondeseended to
visit h1vand he had attended the alma par
ties with his wife.
He was getting along fast in hisown esti
nation, and cherished a supreme contempt
for the slow motion of his sfriend. But
when iB the middle Of the wear. He found
himself running down hill, and discovered
that Ben's store was crowded withshoppers,
while his own WAS empty, feel envy
took possession of him. "Ben 3e un-
derselling," he concluded, and 1ker or
later. the consequence wbuid aprea The
prosperous merchant cohld nae hrt Notice
the sad and detected 4 pd of fiend,
and as he ensesed the re, sHod yc,,
Joe Joe, and where DO you y0ar's' said
Business, Ben, business p replied Jos, de.
murelv.
STOOD Business before pleasure.a
"Any,hint tVFef. to-day p asked doe; but
the query was not put in the buoJ6s, elas-
tic tone which had distinguished him in
former times.
! "A triae; how much do you want9' re-
turned Ben promptly.
| To tell the truthi'm 'bang up.'' have
/ 90, note of four hundred to pay, and
/ have not yet raised the FIRST dollar towards
/ il.
| you are late; it is half past one now,
said Ben consulting his watch. ~
.Ben, ! am in tight place, said Joe, in
| q low, solemn tone. ~. ....
/ sIndeed. am sorry to hear is and
4 ben's lace wore an expression OF sincere
! pity. Nothing serious, hope
an afras - -
sSAa, can do Tor ~ al.sl kie 70
ncrcAan, took Down his check book, and
examined the eendisn of his bank account.
/ Il can give you a check for three hundred,
/ If that will do you any good, continued he,
taking up his pen to hll out the blank.
sThank you Ben, You are very kind, but
don't know as ought to take IT,.
Not take is! Why no. p
sIf 1 could pay this note, there is no pos.
sibilisy that could get through the month
/ $50 bad ss that? Pom my soul ! am sor'