The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-11-16


/ was only looking ahead, and seeking to
provide the means for approaching pay
ments. / don't want a partner so far as
the business itself is concerned. l don't
like partnerships; they are almost always
accompanied with annoyances or danger.
II was the money / was after, not the man -
"The money would come dearly at the
price of man, if you took Mr.. Lawrence
for partner. At least that is my opinion.
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 sailors say?
"By reducing expenses Z"
-'Yes."
Mr.. Little shook his head.
"Don't say no too quickly" replied the
wife. "Let US go over the whole matter
at home and at the store. Suppose one or
two thousand pounds were saved in the
year, what difference would that make {? -
ooh, if that were possible, which it is
long run, but would hardly meet the diff
culties which are approaching
"Suppose you had five hundred pounds
within the next two months, beyond what
your business viii give you?''
"That sum would make me safe for two
months But where is the five hundred
pounds to come from, Betsy?"
desperate diseases require desperate
remedies replied the brave little woman
in a rcsolute way. "Im not afraid of the
red flag
"W hat 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 five hundred pounds,
and it may bring more. My piano alone is
worth nearly hundred. We can board
for year or two, and when you get all
right again, return to house Keeping
1--WE won't try that yet, Betsy said
Mr.. Little.
'But something must be done. The
disease is threatening, and my first pre-
scription will arrest its violence. | have
something more to propose. 1t comes into
my mind this instant; after breaking up we
will 60 to mothers. You know she never
wanted US to leave there. 1t won't cost us
much over halt what it does now, taking
rent into account. We will pay sister
Annie something to take care of little
Eddie and Lizzie through the day, and l
will go into your warehouse as chief clerk
"Betsy you re crazy
Not bit of it, Aaron, but sensible
woman, as you will find before you're
year older if you'll let me have my way.
| don't like that Hobson, and never did, as
you know. | don't believe he a fair man.
Let me take his place, and you will make
clear three hundred pounds q year; may
be as much more"
q can't think Of it Betsy Let US wait
awhile
"You must think of it, and we won't
wait awhile" replied the resolute wife.
"What is right to be done is best done
quickly. Is there not safety in my plan p
"Yes | think there is; but"
"Then let US adopt it at once, and throw
all butts overheard, or," she looked at him
a little mlschieviously, "perhaps you would
rather have talk with Mr.. Lawrence
first "
Hang Mr.. Lawrence calculated
Aaron Little.
every well, there being no help in Mr..
Lawrence, We will go to work to help our
selves. Self help, have heard it said, is
always the best help, and most to be de-
pended on. We may know ourselves and
trust ourselves; and that is great deal
more than We can say about other people.
When shall we have the sale ?"
"Not so fast, Betsy, not SO fast. l
haven't agreed to the sale yet. That would
be to make certain loss Furniture sold
at auction never realizes above half its
cost
I" 1t would be a certain gain, Aaron, if it
saved you from bankruptcy, with which,
as | understand it, you arc threatened
81 think" said Aaron, eve may get on
without that. like the idea of your com
place. All the money from retail sales
passes through his hands, and he has it in
his power, if not honest, to rob me serious
ly. I've not felt altogether easy in regard
to him of late. Why, can hardly tell.
Eve seen nothing wrong. But if you take
his place three hundred pounds will be
saved certainly"
"But if have my house to keep" Mrs.
Little answered to this, chow can l help
you at the warehouse The first thing in
order 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 this new experiment ?"
q But the money, Aaron; the money
this would bring That's what am look
ing after. You want money now"
Every true"
Then let us hang out the red flag.
Half way measures may only ruin every
thing, l 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 Five or six hundred
pounds in hand will make you feel like
another person-give you courage, conf
dence 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 tells you is
right ?"
Il was afraid, Betsy; but am no longer