The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-06-10

READ part the time, then. ''
seBut, Fred, have beaR thinking
OF something" and a smile played
upon the pretty lips Of the yonng
wife.
What, Ellen?"
''I miss something in Our house"
''Do you
30, very much, indeed"
'sWell, Ellen, what is it.
"a piano; it would be so nice to
practice these long dreary days. L
should be as happy as a princess if I
only had a piano"
Mrs. Chester's father was in af-
fluent circumstances, and before she
was married, she had been accustom-
ed to many luxuries, which her hus
bands limited means would not per-
nit him to provide.
But, Ellen. can't afford piano
The times have not been 50 hard in
ten years.
You have $500 in the bank.
''But / have reserved it to pay ail
notes"
Don't you expect to make enough
to pay it,
1T is very doubtful; my business
hardly pays expenses.
''lou will be able 10 pay tl.nt, l
know" continued the eloquent petit
TONER
''Well, my dear, you shall have !.
piano"
"You are dear husband. You'll
get me one of Chickering's"
ANY kind you please, my dear"
And before dinner time the instru-
ment came home, and Mrs. Chester
was as happy as piano could make
her, albeit she had little idea Of the
significance of ''three per cent a
month, and protested notes"
Men said the times would be bet
ter, but the prophecy was vain. Mer-
chants failed, brokers failed, the bunk
and insurance companies failed. Bu-
siness was duller than it had been
for the last twenty years. Poor
men lounged at tho corners OF the
streets, vainly waiting for !, Job.
while there wives and children shiv-
cred with the cold, and hungered even
for crust of bread. Ruin and dis
case were tho order of the day, and
men wondered where would he the
end of it all.
Fred. Chester's business did not
pay his shop expenses, to say nothing
of his household, and when that
dreadful note fell due, he had not
dollar towards redeeming it. Ruin
stared him in the face, and it was
now his turn to look sad.
Five hundred dollars was small
sum, yet he could not raise it. Even
three per cent. Il month, without
collateral" would not procure it.
must be done Some
friend must get him ont Of the scrape,
or he must certainly fall His wife's
father was wealthy, but he had mar
ried his daughter against his wishes,
and there was no hope in that quar-
ter. But Elen's uncle, a blunt,
honest master mason, had always
looked kindly upon him, and per-
haps he would open his purse strings.
The note was due on the following
day, and he decided to make the ap,
plication to Uncle Luke, as he was
familiarly called In the course of
the forenoon, however, he happened
to call at the store. and Fred. Stated
his position.
"Eh, said the blunt old mechanic.
Il thought things WAS going or
swimmingly with YOU
$50 they were, but the times are
20 deucedly hard that cannot make
enough to pay expenses replied
Fred, with dolorous expression of
where's the $1,000 which You re-
.cived from your fathers estate?'
Il paid my debts with it.
But didn't You tell me tha, voa
lidn't owe above $2,OOO?"
II paid off 81, 800
And the rcst?"
well, that went in various ways. "
"And your stock is MI mortgaged?"
eyes; for 81 900.
You have done u good business?
eyes.
"Wc!!, well, l am in hurry just
low, but | will go up and dine with
'ou, and we will talk it over. and
Uncle Luke left the shop.
Fred. did not like his uncle's in !
luisitiveness, but had strong hope
hat he would get him out of his pre-
'ent scrape. Writing q hasty note.
le despatched his boy to inform his
wife thai Uncle Luke would dine with
hem.
Dinner came, and 80 did Uncle
Luke. Ellen had q nice dinner rea-