Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-22


badly"
"You can get piece replied Jacobs. We
won't have to pay for it now. Edwards will
send in the bill at the end of six months, and
it will be easy enough to pay it then"
"Oh, yes, easy enough" responded his wife
confidently.
$50 piece of muslin was procured on the
credit account. But things do not stop here.
| A credit account is too often like breach in
canal the stream is small at first, but soon in
creascs to ruinous current. Now that want
had found supply source, want became more
clamorous than before. Scarcely day passed
that Mr.. or Mrs Jacobs did not order something
from the store, not dreaming, simple souls. that
an alarming heavy debt was accumulating
against them.
As to the income of Mr.. Jacobs, it was not
large. He was, as has been intimated, clerk
in a wholesale store, and received salary of
seven hundred dollars year. His family con-
sisted of wife and three children, and he found
it necessary to be prudent, in all its expendl-
lures, in order "to make both ends meet
Somewhat independent in his feelings he had
never asked for credit of any one with whom he
dealt and no one offering it, previous to the
tempting inducement held out by Edwards, he
| had regulated his outgoes by his income BY
this means he had managed to keep even with
the world though not to gain any advantage
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 COM
Portable or for little display without feeling
that the indulgence drained the purse too heav-
lily. And weak vanity on the part of Jacobs
was gratfed by the flattering opinion of his
honesty entertained by Edwards the storekeep-
or. His credit was good, and he was proud of
the fact. But the day of reckoning, and at 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
to the familywardrobe, 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 storekeeper's hands, and
tempted needless expenditures.
The end of the six months credit approached,
and the mind of Jacobs began to rest upon the
dry goods dealers bill, and to be disturbed by
feeling of 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 large sum for him to owe, particularly as
he had nothing ahead, and his current expenses
were fully up to his 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 would almost sufiocato him.
One evening he came home, feeling more So
Der than usual He had thought of little else
all day except his bill at the store. On meet
ing his wife, he saw that something was wrong.
"What ails you, jane" said he kindly. "Are
you sick?"
NO." was the simple reply. But her eyes
dropped as she said it, and her husband saw
that her lips slightly quivered.
Something is wrong Jane said her hus-
band.
Tears stole to the wifc's cheeks from beneath
her half-closed lids-the bosom labored with
the weight of some pressure.
"Tel me Jane," urged Jacobs, "if anything
is wrong. Your manner alarms me. Are an,
of the children sick ?"
"Oh, no. no. Nothing of that" was quickl,
::~-arel- "h"t-hut-Nr Edwards hoe "-n. ii
THAT was to be expected, Of course sale
! Jacobs with forced calmness. The credit wa
for only six months. But how much is thi
bill?"
His voice was unsteady as he asked the qucs
ton.
"a hundred and twenty dollars" and poo
Mrs Jacobs sarst into tears.
"lmpossible !" exclaimed the startled hus
, band. "Impossible There is some mistake
A hundred and twenty dollars! Never"
: "1hcre is the BILL" and Mrs Jacobs drew
|
Jacobs glanced eagerly at the footing up o
the long column of figures. There were mum
4 erals to the value of one hundred and twenty
at can't be-" he said in troubled voice
Edwards must have made mistake
$50 thought when first looked at the bill,
replied Mrs Jacobs, recovering herself ye
speaking in sad voice. "l'ut | am sorry t
D say that it is all right. / have been over it AM
! over it again, and cannot find an error. Oh
i dear! how foolish have been. 1t was so cas-
to get things when no money was to be pa
down. But | never thought Of bill like this
e Never"
+. Jacobs sat for some moments with his eye
\ upon the floor. He was thinking rapidly.
o $50 much for good credit" he said at length
Il taking long breath. What fool have been
y That cunning fellow, Edwards, has gone to tn
: windward of me completely. He knew that
k he got me on his book, he would secure thre
n dollars to one of my moneys, beyond what h
would get by the cash down system. One hur
: dred and twenty dollars in six months AL
i me! Are we happier, now, for the extra DIR
If goods we have procured? Not whit Ou
S bodies have been little better clothed, and ou
love of display gratifed to some extent. Blu
: has all that wrought compensation for the pal
= of this day Of reckoningP"
Poor Mrs Jacobs was silent. Sadly was sh
d repenting of her part in the folly that they ha
e committed.
n Tea time came, but neither husband nor vii
could do much more than taste food. That bi
l. for hundred and twenty dollars had take
d away their appetites. The night that followe
Il brought to neither of them q very refreshin
slumber; and in the morning they awoke sobt
/ minded, and inclined for conversation. Bl
l. one thought was in the mind of Mr.. Jacobs
d the bill of Edwards; and one feeling in II
= mind of his ife-self-reproach for her part
is the work of embarrassment.
l. "What will you do P" said Mrs Jacobs, in
voice that was unsteady, looking into her hu
h bands face with glstening eyes, as she laid ht
hand upon his arm, causing him to pause as
Is was about leaving the house.
n "I'm sure don't know" replied the your
man, gloomily. 81 shall have to see Edward
er ! suppose, and ask him to wait. But I'm SUI
a I'd rather take horse whipping. Good credi
l He'll sing different song now"
For moment or two longer the husband an
is wife stood looking at each other. Then as eat
a. sighed heavily the former turned away and le
lie the house. His road to business was past Il
Or store of Mr.. Edwards,-but now he avoidt