The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-05-11
how you beautiful piece Of black

vest and pantaloons in addition TO his
coat. After that, he found no difficulty
in selling him silk diess for his wife,
Having INDUCED himself in an entire new
suit, he could not, upon reflection, think
of passing by his wife, who had been
wishing for new dress for more than six
months.
"Can't you think of any thing else 2"
inquired Edwards. 81 shall be happy
to supply whatever you may want in my
line"
Nothing more, l believe" answered
Jacobs, whose bill was already thirty-five
dollars; and he had yet to pay for max
ing his coat, pantaloons and vest.
"But you want various articles Of dry
goods. In family there is something
called for every day. Tell Mrs. Jacobs
to send down for whatever she may need.
Never mind about the money. Your
credit is good with me for any amount"
When Mr.. Jacobs went home and told
his wife what he had done, she, unrefcct-
ing woman, was delighted.
"I wish you had taken a piece Of mus
lin," said she. ave want sheets and
pillow cases badly"
.You can get piece" replied Jacobs.
=" We wont have TO pay for it now. Ed
wards will send in tho bill at the end of
six months, and it will be easy enough to
TO pay for it then"
"oh, yes, easy enough" responded his
wife confidently.
So piece of muslin was procured on
the credit account. But things did not
stop here. A credit account is too often
ike breach in a canal; the stream is
small at first, but soon increases to n ru-
inous current. Now that want had found
a supply source, want became more clam
orous than before. Scarcely a day pass
cd that Mr.. or Mrs. Jacobs did not order
something from the store, not dreaming,
simple souls, than an alarming, heavy
debt was accumulating against him.
AS to the iacome Of Mr.. Jacobs, it was
not large. He was, as has been intima-
ted clerk in a wholesale store, and re-
ceived salary of seven hundred dollars
year. His family consisted of wife and
three children, and he found il necessary
TO be prudent, in all his expenditures, in
order 'to make both ends meet" Some
what independent in his feelings he had
never asked for credit Of any one with
whom he dealt, and no one offering il,
previous TO the temptation inducement
held out by Edwards, he had regulated
his out goes by his income. BY this
means he had managed to keep even with
the world; though not TO gain any ad-
vantage on the side of fortune. Let us
see if his good credit has been of any real
service to him.
1t was so very pleasant TO have things
comfortable for little display, without
feeling that the indulgence drained the
purse too heavily. And weak vanity on
the part of Jacobs was gratified by the
hattering opinion Of his honesty enter
tanned by Edwards the storekeeper. His
credit was good, and he was proud Of the
fact. But the day Of reckoning drew near,
and last it came.
Notwithstanding the credit at the dry
goods store, there was no more money in
the young clerks purse at the end Of six
months than at the beginning. The cash
that would have gone for clothing when
necessity called for additions 10 the fam
lily wardrobe, had been spent for things
the purchase of which would have been
omitted but for the fact that the dollars
were in the purse instead of in the store
keepers hands and tempted needless ex-
penditures.
The end Of the six months credit ap-
preached, and the mind Of Jacobs began
10 rest upon the dry goods dealers bill,
and to be disturbed by anxiety. AS to
the amount of this bill he was in some
uncertainty, but he thought it could not
be less than forty dollars. That was a
large sum for him TO owe, particularly as
he had nothing ahead, and his current
expenses were fully up to bis income. 1t
was now, for the first time in his life, that
Jacobs felt the nightmare pressure of
debt, and it seemed at times as if it wod
almost suffocate him.
One evening he came home, feeling
more sober than usual. He had thought
Of little else all day except his bill at the
store. On meeting his wife, he saw that
something was wrong.
"What ails you, jane" said he kind
ly. " "Are you sickl"
"No," was the simple reply. But her
eyes drooped as she said it, and her hus-
band saw that her lips slightly quivered.
Something is wrong, Jane" said her
husband.
Tears stole to the wife's cheeks from
beneath the half-closed lids-her bosom
labored with the weight Of some pressure.
"Tell me, Jane" urged Jacobs, ''if any
thing is wrong. Your manner alarms
me. Are any of the children sick"
"Oh, no, no. Nothing Of that" was
the quick reply, "but-but-Mr. Ed
wards has sentin his bill"
"That was to be expected, Of course" "
said Jacobs, with forced calmness. "Thc
n n L