The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-06-02

Ihat was TO be expected, OF course,
said Jocobs, with forced calmness.
"The credit was for only six months.
But how much is the bill %
His voice was unsteady as he asked
the question.
GA hundred and twenty dollars p
and poor Mrs. Jacobs burst into tears.
'1mpossible p exclaimed the startled
husband. Impossible! There is
some mistake. A hundred and twenty
dollars! Never %
"There is the BILL" and Mrs. Jacobs
drew it from her bosom. ~
Jacobs glanced eagerly at the footing
up of the long column of figures.
There were numerals to the value of
one hundred and twenty dollars.
at can't be-" he said in a troubled
voice, Edwards must have made a
mistake"
$50 l thought when | first looked
at the BILL" replied Mrs. Jacobs, recov-
ering herself, yet speaking in sad
voice. "But l am sorry to say that it's
all right. l have been over itand over
it again, and cannot find an error. Oh
dear how foolish 1 have been. 1t was
so easy to get things when no money
was to be paid down. But 1 never
thought of a bill like this. Never!''
Jacobs sat for some moments with
his eyes upon the floor. He was think
ing rapidly.
"So much for good credit" he said
at length taking long breath. "What
fool have been. That fellow Ed
wards, has gone to the windward of
me completely. He knew that if he
got me on his book, he would secure
three dollars to one of my money, be-
yond what he would get by the cash
down system. One hundred and twen-
ty dollars in six months. All me, are
we happier now for the extra dry goods
we have procured? Not whit. Our
bodies have been a little better clothed,
and our love of display gratifed to
some extent. But has all that wrought
a compensation for a pain of this day
of reckoning?"
Poor Mrs. Jacobs was silent. Sadly
was she repenting of her part in the
folly they had committed.
Tea time came, but neither husband
nor wife could much more than taste
food. That bill for a hundred and
twenty dollars had taken away their
appetites. The night that followed
brought to neither of them a very re-
freshing slumber; and in the morning
they awoke sober-minded, and little in
clined for conversation. But one tho't
was in the mind of Mr.. Jacobs-the
bill of Mr.. Edwards and one feeling
in the mind of his wife-self reproach
for her part in the work of embarrass-
ment.
"What will you do?" said Mrs. ia
cobs, in a voice that was unsteady,
looking into her husbands face with
glistening eyes, as she laid her hand
upon his arm, causing him topause as he
was about leaving the house.
"Tm sure / don't know" replied the
young man gloomily, 81 shall have to
see Edwards, suppose, and ask him
to wait. But I'm sure I'd rather take
a horse-whipping. Good credit! He'll
sing different song now.
For moment or two longer the hus-
band and wife stood looking at each
other. Then as each sighed heavily,
the former turned away and left the
house. Bis road to business was past
the store of Mr.. Edwards, but he now
avoided the street in which he lived,
and went whole block out OF his way
to do so.
How am I to pay the bill ?" mur-
INJURED the unhappy Jacobs, pausing in
work for the twentieth time, as he sat
at his desk, and giving his mind up to
troubled thoughts.
Just at this moment the senior part
ner in the establishment came up and
stood beside him.
swell, my young friend," said he,
kindly, " how are you getting along ?''
Jacobs tried to smile and look cheer
ful, as he ereplied-
'sPretty well sir" But his voice
had a touch Of dependency.
"Let me see," remarked the employ
er, after pause, "yonr regular year
is up to-day, is it not?"
eyes, sir" replied Jacobs, his heart
sinking more heavily in his bosom, for
the question suggested a discharge
from his place, business having been
dull for some time.
" | was looking at your account yes
terday," resumed the employer " and
find that it is drawn up close. Have
you nothing ahead.
! "Not dollar, / am sorry to say,''
returned Jacobs. "Living is expensive
and | have six mouths to feed"
"That being the case," said the en-
ployer, as you have been faithful to US,
and your services are valuable, we must
add something to your salary. Now
you receive seven hundred dollars p"
Yes, SIR"
"We will call it eight hundred and
6fty.'
A sudden light flashed into the face
of the unhappy clerk; seeing which
the employer, already blessed in bles-
sing another added
"And it shall be for the last as well fol-
as the coming year. will fill you out
check for hundred and fifty dollars
as balance due you up to this day."
The feelings of Jacobs were too much
agitated to trust himself to oral thanks
AZ he received the check which the em