Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-04-03

lcreases to -ruinous current. Now
that want had found q supplying source,
want became more clamerous than be-
fore. Scarcely day passed that Mr..
or Mrs. Jacobs did not order some thing
from the store, not dreaming, simple
souls, that an siarmiugly heavy debt
was accumulating against them.
As to the income Of Mr.. Jacobs, 1t
was not large. j.
He was, as has been intimated. clerk
| in a wholesale store, and received a
salary of seven hundred dollars year.
His family consisted Of wife and three
children, and be had found it necessary
Ito be prudent in all the expenditures,
in order to make both ends meet
Somewhat independent in his feeling,
be had never asked credit Of any one
with whom he dealt, and no one offered ,
previous to the tempting inducement
held out by Mr. Edwards; he had reg
ulated his outgoes BY his actual 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 how it is with him
at the end Of six months under the
new system. Let's see if his good
credit has been OF any real benefit to
him.
1t was not so very pleasant to have
things comfortable or for little dis
play without feeling that the indul'
gence drained the purse too heavily
And weak vanity on the part OF ia
cobs was gra'i6ed by the fattering
opinions of his honesty entertained by
Mr.. Edwards, the storekeeper. His
credit was good and he was proud of
the fact. But the day Of reckoning
was approaching. and at last it came.
notwithstanding the credit Of the
dry goods store, there was no more
money in the young clerks purse at
the end Of six months than at the be.
ginning. The cash that would have
gone for clothing. when necessity called
for additions TO the family wardrobe,
had been spent for things. the purchase
of which would be omitted. but for the
fact that the money was in the purse
instead of the storekeeper's hands, and
tempted needless expenditure.
As the end Of this six months credit
approached, the mind of Jacobs began
to rest upon the drv-goods dealers bill,
and to be disturbed by a feeling of an1-
iety. As to the amount Of this bill, he
was in some uncertainty; but he
thought it would be not 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 i!
seemed at times, as if it would sufocate
him.
One evening be came home. feeling
more sober than usual. He had
thought of little else all day beside his
bill at the store.
On meeting bis wife he saw that
some thing was wrong.
What ais 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 the
husband.
Tears stole to the wife's cheek from
beneath her half-cIosed lips-the bo'
som labored with the weight of some
pressure.
Tell me, Jane,' urged Jacobs. ii
any thing is wrong. Your manner
! alarms me. Are any of the children
sick?'
'Oh, no, no. Nothing Of that wa
t quickly answered. 'But-but-Mr
Edwards has sent in his BILL
That was to be expected, Of course,
: said Jacobs, with forced calmness.-
The credit was for only six MONTHS
: But how much is the bill?'
t His voice was unsteady as he asket
!. the question.
! An hundred and twenty dollars.
: and poor Mrs. Jacobs burst into tears
e Impossiblel exclaimed the stsrtle'
!. husband. Impossible! There is som
d mistake. An hundred and twenty dol
e lars? Never!'
There is the BILL And Mrs. ia
? cobs drew the bill from her bosom.
v Jacobs glanced eagerly at the footin
n up OF the long column Of figures. wher
were numerals TO the value of on
d hundred and twenty dollars.
20 1t can't be- he said in trouble
% tone. Edwards has made mistake
Is so thought when first looked I
the bill,' replied Mrs. Jacobs. recover
Of ing herself. yet speaking in tremulor
ie tone. But | am sorry TO say that it
s. all right. I have been over it, an
'e over it again, and cannot find an erio
lie Oh, dear, how foolish have been.
y was SO easy to get things when u
: money was not to be paid down. b
ID / never thought Of q bill like this.-
e, Never. ! s-sc ct r~
Jacobs sat for some moments with b
s. ieyes resting on the door. He wi
es thinking rapidly. ir-- g. rs
SO much for good credit be said {
S, length. taking along breath. sWhst
J. fool have been. That cunning fellow
Of Edwards, has gone to the windwsrd
il me. completely. He knew if he g
. me ON his hooks. be Honld certainl