Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-10-18

earning, as the case may pe. but let US Illk
more ,about your affairs; let me see the
trouble nearer. Must you have ten thousand
dollars positively right away p
"Oh, no, no; it's not so bad as that. l
was only looking ahead, and seeking to pro-
vide the means for approaching payments. l
don't want partner so far as the business it
self is concerned. don't like partnerships
they are almost always accompanied with
annoyances or danger. 1t was the money
was after not the man.
"The monty would come dearly at the
price of the man. At least that is my opin-
ion. But am glad to hear you say Aaron,
that you are in no immediate danger. May
not the storm be weathered by reefng sail, as
the old seamen say p
"By reducing expenses 2
ayes"
Mr.. Little shook his head.
"Dont say no too quickly" replied his
wife. "Let US go over the whole matter at
home and at the store. Suppose two or
three thousand dollars were saved in the year.
What difference would that make 2"
ooh, if that were possible, which it is not,
it would make q vast difference in the long
run; but would hardly meet the difficulties
that are approaching
'Suppase you had thousand dollars with
in 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, Besy2"
desperate diseases require desperate rem
edies, replied the brave little woman in a
l. II n. IL Il
red flag"
SWhat do you mean by the red flag? 2"
"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. My piano alone is
worth three hundred and fifty. We can
board a year or two; and when you get all
right again return to honse keeping"
awe won't try that yet Betsy" said Mr..
Little.
t'But something must be done. The dis
ease is threatening, and my first prescription
will arrest its violence. 1 have. somcthine
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 as
much more than one-halt 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 will
go into your store as chief clerk"
"Betsy you're crazy y
'sNot lit of it. Aaron; but q sensible
woman, as you will find before you're a year
older, if you'll let me have my way. l don't
like that Hopson, and never did, as you
know. l don't believe he's fair man. Let
nae 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 a
while"
'sYou must think of il, and we won't wait
a while" replied the resOlute wife. "What
is right to be done is best done quickly. IS
there not safety in my plan ?
ayes, l think there is; but --'
''Then let US adopt it at once, AMI throw
all butts overheard, or, and she looked al
him little mischievously, "perhaps you
would rather have some talk with Mr.. Law
renee first ?"
"Hang Mr.. Lawrence calculated Aaron
Little.
"Very well; there being no help in Mr..
Lawrence, we will go to work TO help our
selves. Self-help, I've heard it said, is al
ways the best help, and most to be depended
on We may know ourselves and trnst our
selves; and that is a great deal more than
we can say about other people. When shall
We have the sale p
0Not so last, Betsy, not so fast. l hav'nt
agreed to the sale yet. That would be TO
make certain loss. Furniture sold at auc-
ton never realizes above half its cost"
at would be a certain gain, Aaron, if it
saved you from bankruptcy, with which, as
understand it, you are threatened"
81 think" said Aaron, eve may get on
without that like the idea of your com
ing into my store and taking Hopson's place.
All the money from retail sales passes thro'
his hands, and he 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, can hardly tell. I've seen nothing
wrong. But if you take his place, fifteen
hundred dollars will be saved certainly"
"But if I have the house to keep" Mrs.
Little answered to this, show can help you
at the store2 The first thing in order Is to
get the house off my hands"
"Don't you think that Annie could be in
duced 10 come and live with us for a few
months until we try the experiment."
8, But the money, Aaron; the money the
furniture would bringl That's what I'm
looking after You want the money now"
avery true"
aThen let US hang out the red flag. Half
way measures may only ruin everything. l
know that mother will not let Annie leave
home, so its no use 70 think of it. The red
flag, Aaron-the red flagl Depend upon it,
that's the first right thing to be done. A
thousand or fifteen hundred dollars in hand
will make you feel like another person-give
you courage, 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"
"Shal 1 ssy towards Are you afraid to
do what common prudence tells you to be
right"
~ aods afraid, Betsy; but am no longer
faint-hearted. With such a brave little wire
as you to stand by my side, l need not feal
the worldP
In week from that day the red Gag was
/ hung out When the auctioneer made NJ
his accounts be had in hand a little Ovel
eighteen hundred dollars, for which a check
was filed out to the order of Aaron Little
It came into his hands just at the right mo-
ment and made him feel, to use his Owl
words, "ss easy as an old shoe
One week later, Mrs. Betsy Little took thC
place of Mr.. Hobson, as chief manager anC
cash receiver, in her husbands store. Thert
were some few signs of rebellion among tht
clerks and shop girls at the beginning; bu
Mrs. Betsy had a quick, steady eye, and {
self-reliant manner that caused her presenct
to be felt, and soon made everything sub
servient to her viii. 1t was remarkable
fact, that at the close of the first week Of he
administration of affairs, the cash receipts
were over a hundred and fifty dollars in ex
cess of the receipts Of any week within tht
previous three months.
HHave we done any more business thar
usual this week 2" she asked Of one clerk ant
another; and the uniform answer was "no.'
"Then," said the lady to herself, " there
been foul play here. No wonder my hus
band was in trouble
At the end Of the next week, the sales cam
-