The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-07-11

a good way to let the rich, glossy surface
catch the best point Of light, and his
quick eye told him that the customer was
beginning to be tempted.
"I'll cut you off coat pattern" said
he, taking up his yard stick 81 know
you want it. Don't hesitate about the
matter"
Jacobs did not say "No," although the
word was on his tongue. While he yet
hesitated, the coat pattern was measured
off and severed from the piece.
There it is, and the greatest bargain
you ever had. You will want trimmings,
of course" came in a satisfied, halftri-
umphant tone from the lips of the store
keeper. I" And the greatest bargain you
ever had. You will want trimmings, Of
course"
As he spoke he turned to the shelf for
padding, silk, ETC., and while Jacobs, half
bewildered, stood looking on, cut from
one piece to another, until the coat trim
mings we've all nicely laid out. This
done, Mr.. Edwards faced his customer
again, rubbing his hands from an internal
feeling Of delight and said,
You must have handsome vest to
SO with this, of course"
My vest is little shabby" replied
Jacobs, as he glanced downward at a gar
ment which had seen pretty fair service
4" If that's the best one you have, 1t
will never do to 90 with new coat"
said Edwards in a decided tone " Let
me show you beautiful piece of black
satin"
And so the store keeper went on tempt
ing his customer, until he sold Kim a vest
and pantaoons in addition to his coat.
After that he found no difficulty in sell
ing him . silk dress for his wife. Hav-
ing INDUCED himself with an entire new
suit, he could not, upon reflection, think
Of passing by his wife, who had been
wishing for a new silk dress for more
than six months.
Can't you think of anything else ?"
inquired Edwards. L" I shall be happy to
supply whatever you may want in my line"
Nothing more, I believe" answered
Jacobs, whose bill was already thirty five
dollars; aud 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 with me is good for any amount"
When Mr. Jacobs went home and told
his vile what he had done, the unrefect-
ing woman was delighted.
wish you he'd taken a piece of mus
ln," she said. 1--WE want sheets and
| pillow-cases very badly"
" You eau gets piece" replied Jacobs.
We won't have to pay for it now. Ed
wards will send in the bill at the end of
six months, and it viii be easy enough 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 SO often
like breach in a canal the stream is
small at first, bat soon increases to III
nous current. Now that want had found
a supply source, want became more clam
orous than before. Scarcely day passed
that Mr. or Mrs. Jacobs did not order
something from the store, not dreaming,
simple souls, that al alarming, heavy debt
was accumulating against them.
As to the income of Mr.. Jacobs, it was
not large. He was, as has been intimat-
ed, clerk in a wholesale store, and re-
ceived a salary of seven hundred dollars
year. His family consisted of wife
and three children, and he found it neg
essary to be prudent in all his ezpendi-
lures, in order "to make both ends NEE" :"
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 temptation or induce
ment held out by Edwards, he had regu-
lated 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 very pleasant to have things
comfortable and for little display, with
out feeling that the indulgences drained
the purse too heavily. And weak vanity
on the part of Jacobs was gratifed by the
fattering opinion of his honesty enter
tained by Edwards, the storekeeper. His
credit was good, and he was proud of the
fact. But the day of reckoning drew
near, and at last it came.
Notwithstanding the credit at the dry
goods store, there was no more money in
the young mans purse at the end of the
SIX months than at the beginning. The