Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-10-16
MI CELL A n Y.
THE TRUSTEE WRIT ;
OR, PAY AS rot GO.

'Ho, hum sighed William Taylor, as he
seated himself by the stove, and propped up
his head with both hands.
He had Just made the fire. 1t was six
O'Clock on q winter morning-the first day
of January-and his wife had begun to get
breakfast.
William Taylor WAS an under clerk in the
Office of the Bagg Corporation, a large
manufacturing establishment in a New
England village. He had been married
about two years, but life went hard enough
with him. though he did the best he knew
how to do, he could not make both ends of
the year meet. 1t is true, he had some no.
tions about his social standing that were not
exactly in keeping with his position, and
especially not with his salary. which was
only three hundred dollars year.
Dollars and cents were the most un-
manageable commodities he was called upon
to handle. They were slippery and would
not stay between his fingers, all he could do.
lie had not devoted much attention to the
subjest of finance, and in consequence it
became one of the trials OF his life.
What is the matter, William y asked
his wife, touched by his deep sigh.
This is payday replied the husband
with another deep sigh.
OI
had not friend in the world.
Il am miserable, Helen.
Miserable =
Il am, indeed
what, because it is payday
Yes
People generally feel rejoiced at such
times
Il don't know. | have laid awake half
the night thinking of it.
why, William. Why should you feel
30 unhappy =
Il owe more than can pay
You dol
Helen, who was no fnancier, any more
than her husband, had never given the
subject thought. She was not a little
surprised at the abrupt announcement.
Il do, Helen; ard l am fearful that
shall have trouble with it.
sWhat sort of trouble - asked Helen,
frightened, but having no very definite idea
of what to dread
Perhaps some one will sue me, trustee
uly salary, or something of that kind.
Why didn't you tell me OF this before,
Will am, | would rather lived on crust
of bread, and wear a calico to church. than
make you unhappy, or have you sued or
trusted. Will they put you IN Jail and
N''~
thought of such a catastrophe.
think not but they may put me to a
great deal of trouble.
Why didn't you tell me before
I didn't know it myself. Last Tuesday
made few figures, and found that owed
about a hundred and fifty dollars. My
quarters salary is only seventy-hve.
But some of them will wait. We will re-
trench.
| went to see Spike but he refused tc
wait beyond the first of January.
We have been extravagant, William
am afraid we have.
How much do you owe Spike
About thirty illars.
My stars Thirty dollars
Yes; such bills count up fast.
We ought not to owe him a cent. W.
ought not to ride at all, though enjo.
riding very much.
So do |, and Spike was always willing t
trust me.
Spike kept the livery stable in the village
and was generally willing to run up lon
bills with those of whom there was an
chance of getting his pay.
| am 80 sorry.
Il had no idea the bill was so much ti
he sent it in about three weeks ago
w . must stOp HUNG
1T will be hard to do So After | &c
done at the Office, it is so pleasant to driv
out half a-dozen miles but didn't thin
had ridden so much.
Perhaps he will wait.
No he said he would not
What shall be done
i don't Know.'
Cant you borrow some money
sPerhaps | can
Won't Mr.. Mason lend you some /
has been very kind to you, and seems to
very much interested in you.
i shouldt like to ask him.
why not "
Il should have to expose my affairs
him.
IN tell you what l will do
What y
Il will write to Aunt Hannah. You knC
how fond she is of me. | will ask her
lend me hundred dollars. She is rich al
perhaps she will give 1t to me-
William did not like to have her do 6
but the perils in his path finally Undue
him to consent. On the strength of
letter, he could put Spike of week
two
There was something to hope for,
least, and William ate his breakfast, a
borrowing the money to pay debt, v
only transferring, not cance!ling it. /
he looked only to the present. If he COZ
escape his importunate creditors this til
be did not fear for the future.
1t was quarter of eight by the clock,
he was required to be in the Office as 81
ss the porter opened the gate.
Mr. Mason was the agent of the B'
Corporation, and man of large heart
excellent feelings. lie was not little
centric in some of his ways, lie had VII
and opinions of his own he did his o
thinking and perhaps this is what m
him seem odd to some people.
He had found William Taylor, in a ST
tying up bundles for twenty dollars mon
lie had taken fancy to him, and know
him to be prompt and correct accounts
industrious and attentive to business,
of excellent character, he had given
his present situation. William had b
married over year then, and was the ii
or of little boy.
Three hundred dollars looked like &
wages to william. 80 he took be
house, put few articles of new furnit
into it, opened accounts with the butcl