Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-11-29

year. nat dlffefence would tnat inake'
"Oh, if that were possible, which Is not,
il would make vast difference in the long
run, but would hardly meet the difficulties
that are approaching"
Suppose you had a thousand dollars
within The next two months, beyond what
your business will give?'
"That sum would make all safe for the
two months. But where is the thousand
dollars to come from, Betsy"
desperate diseases require desperate
remedies" replied the brave little woman
in resolute way. IL am not much afraid
of the red flag"
"What do you mean by the red flag!'
"Let US sell off our furniture at auction,
and put the money in your business. 1t
won't bring less than thousand dollars;
and it may bring two. Ny piano alone is
worth three hundred and fifty. We can
board year or two i: and when you get all
right again return to house keeping"
ave won't Try that yet, Betsy" said
Mr.. Little"
"But something must be done. The
disease is threatning, and my first pre.crip-
ton will arrest its violence. l have some
thing more to propose; it comes into my
mind this instant; after breaking up we
will GO home TO mothers. You know she
never wanted us TO leave there. 1t won't
cost US much more than one-half what it
does now, taking rent into the account
We will pay sister Annie something to
take care of little Eddie and Lizzie through
the day, and l will go into your store as
chief clerk"
"Betsy! you're crazy!"
"Not bit of it, Aaron, but sensible
woman, as you will find before you're a
year older, if you'll let me have my way.
I don't like that Hopson, and never did,
as you know. 1 don't believe he's fair
man. Let me take his place, and you will
make clear saving of fifteen hundred
dollars year, and maybe, as much more. :"
81 can't think of it, Betsy. Let US
wait while" 47 ftaf.
"You must think of it, and we won't
wait while," replied the resolute WIFE
What is to be done is best done quickly
Is there not safety in my plans" ta'
ayes, l think there is; but"
"Then let us adopt it at once, and throw
all butts overheard, Or" and she looked at
him little mischievously, "perhaps you
would rather have some talk with Mr.. Law
renee frst?"
"Hang Mr.. Lawrence!" calculated Aa-
ron Little. t. N...
"Very we'll there being no help in MIR.
Lawrence, we will go 10 work to help our
selve. Selfhelp. I've heard it sail, is
always the best help, and most to be de-
pended on. We may know ourselves and
trust ourselves, and that is a great deal
more than we can say about other people.
When shall we have the sale?''
"Not SO fast, Betsy, not so fast. l
hav'nt agreed 10 sale yet. That would be
to make a certain loss. Furniture sold at
auction never realizes above half its cost"
at would be a certain gain, Aaron, if
it saved you from bankrudtcy, with which,
as understand it, you are threatened.
~ think" said Aaron, eve may get on
without that. l like the idea of your
coming into the store and taking Hopson's
place. All the money from retail sales
passes thro' his hands, and be has it in his
power, if not honest, to rob me seriously.
I've not felt altogether easy in regard
to him of late. Why, 1 can hardly tell.
I've seen nothing wrong. But if you
take his place, fifteen hundred dollars will
be saved certainly . ".- as
"But if 1 have the house to keep" Mrs.
Little answered to this, show can l help
you at the store! The first thing in Or
der is to get the house off my hands"
.Don't you think that Annie could be
induced to come and live with us for few
months until we try the experiment."
"But the money, Aaron; money the
furniture would bringl That's what I'm
looking after. You want the money now.
"Very true." 10 .I
"Then let US hang out the red flag
Halfway measures may only ruin every
thing. / know that mother will not let
Annie leave home, so its no use to think
of it. The red flag, Aaron-the red flag !!
Depend upon it, that's the first right thing
to be DONE. A thousand or fiften hun
dred dollars in hand will make you cour-
age, confidence and energy"
,"You may be right, Betsy; but can't
bear the thought of running out that red
flag of which you talk so lightly"
"Shall l say coward? Are you afraid to
do what common prudence tell you to be
rights" io aaae- 1r.ae9 sdi 5e ~.
81 was afraid, Betsy; but am no longer
faint hearted With such brave little
wife as you to stand by my side, l need
not fear the world !" .v..
In week from that day the red flag
was hung out. When the auctioneer made
up his accounts he had in hand little
over eighteen hundred dollars, for which a
check was filled out to the order of Aaron
Little. 1t came into his hands just at the
right moment, and made him feel, to use
his own words, 'as easy as an old shoe."
One week latter, Mrs. Betsy Little took
the place of Mr.. Hopson, as chief man.
ager and cash receiver, in her husbands
store. There we're some few signs of re-
bcllion among the clerks and shop girls at
the beginning; but Mrs. Betsy had quick,
steady eye, and selfreliant manner that
caused her presence to be felt, and soon
made everything subservient to her will
1t was remarkable fact, that at the close
of the first week of her administration Of