Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-12-08
steadily, and without arly sign of weak

II III SOFTE 10 near you say Ln2t, aaron,
and Mrs. I4ittle'G voice trembled percepti-
bly,.
''But Pm glad you've told me. The
new parlor carpet, of course, l shall not
order.''
'sOh, as to that, the amount it will cost
can make no great difference" said Mr..
Little. ''The parlor does look shabby;
and know you've set your heart on a new
carpet"
aIndeed, and it will make a difference,
then, replied the little woman in her de-
cided way. ''The last feather breaks the
camels back. Aaron Little shall never fail
because of his wife's extravaganza.
wouldn't have new carpet now if it were
offered to me at half price"
"Yo ou are a brave true woman, Betsy"
said Aaron, kissing his wife, in the glow of
new born feeling Of admiration.
81 hope that L shall ever be true, brave
wife," returned Mrs. Little, ''willing always
! to help my husband, either III saving or i'll
earning, as the case may be. But let us
| talk more about your affairs; let me see the
trouble nearer. Must You have ten thou
sand pounds right away ?''
ooh, no, no; it's not SO bad as that. l
was only looking ahead, and seeking to
provide the means for approaching pay
ments. L don't want partner as far as
the business itself is concerned. | don't
/ 4InC EEbA bI4CioIIlpS3 GIIi1OSI S1N dN ,
accompanied with annoyances or danger.
1t was the money | was after; not the
| man."
'tThe money would come dearly at the
! price Of the man, if you took Mr.. Law
{ renee 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 reefing
/ sail, as the sailors say ?''
''By reducing expenses"
eyes"
Mr.. Little shook his head.
"DOnt say no too quickly" replied his
! wife. ''Let us go over the whole matter at
horne and at the store. Suppose one ortwo
! thousand pounds were saved in the year.
/ what difference would that make 81
! "Oh, if that We're possible, which it is not
! it would make vast difference in the long
run, but would hardly meet the difficulties
that are approaching"
''Suppose you had five hundred pounds
within the next two months, beyond what
! your business will give you ?'
"That sum would make all safe for the
! two months. But where is the five hun
dred pounds to come from, Betsy ?''
/ desperate diseases require desperate
remedies replied the brave little woman,
/ III resolute way. I'm not afraid of the
red flag
/ '"Let us sell 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 a
! year or two, and when you get all right
/ again return to Housekeeping"
1--WE won't try that yet, Betsy said Mr..
Little.
i "But something must be done. The
disease is threatening, and my first pre-
scription will arrest its violence. l have
| something more to propose. 1t comes into
my mind this instant after breaking up
We will go to mothers. You know she
never wanted us to leave there. 1t won't
| cost us much over half what it does now
| taking rent into the account. We will pay
! sister Annie something to take the care OF
! little Eddie and Lizzie through the day land
! l will go into your warehouse as chief
clerk" ---..-.
/ .:Betsy, you'ra crazy"
| ''Not bit Of it, Aaron, but sensible
! woman, as you will find before you're a
! 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's fair man
, Let me take his place, and you VII make a
clear three hundred pounds year, and
maybe, as much more
/ Il 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
I" What is right to be done is best done
quickly Is there no safety in my plan?'
% Yes, think there is, but
Then let us adopt it at once, and throw
all butts overheard, or" and she looked at
! him little mischievously, - perhaps YOU
would rather have some talk with Mr.; Law
! renee first."
/ "Hang Mr.. Lawrence ~ calculated Aaron
/ Little.
| "Very we'll there being no help in Mr..
! Lawrence, we will go to work to help our
! selves. Selfhelp, I've heard it said is al
ways the best help, and most to be depended
on. We may know ourselves, and trust
/ ourselves, and that is a great deal more than
we can say about other people. When
shall we have the sale ?''
" Not So iast, Betsy, not so fast. haven't
I agreed on the sale yet. That would be sure
! to make certain loss. Furniture sold at
! auction never realizes above half its cost"
/ " 1t would be a certain gain, Aaron, if il
! saved you from bankruptcy, with which as
| L understand 1t, you are threatened"
b" | Think" said Aaron, "we NAV get on
without that, ] liks thG idea OF your com
! ing into my warehouse and taking Hob
sons place. All the money from retail
t.! sales passes through his hands, and he has
it in his power, if not honest, to rob Inc sci: :.
ously. I've not beenaltOgcther easy in re-
gard to him tfltte. Why, can h I'D tel,
l've seen nothing wrong. But, if you take
lis place, three hundred pounds will be
saved certainly"
''BGt if have my house to keep Mrs
Little answered to this, chow can heir
you at the warehouse? The first thing in
order is to get the house afi any hands,
"Dpn't you think that Annie could be
| induced to come and live with us for few
months until we try this new experiment p
''But the money, Aaron the money this
furniture would bring! That's what L am
looking after. You want money now"
every true"
Then let us hang opt the red flag. Hall
way measures may only ruin everything
l know that mother will not let Annie
leave home, SO it is no use to think Of it
The red flag, Aaron-the red flag Depend
upon it, that's the first thing to be done
Five or six hundred pounds in hand will
make you feel like another person-give
you courage, col fidence and er cry"
''YOu may be right, Betsy, but can't
bear the thought of running out the red
flag, Of which you talk SO lightly
'Shall l say coward Are YOU afraid tC
do what common prudence tells you is
right?;'
: 81 was afraid, Betsy but am no longer
faint hearted. With such brave little wife
as you to stand by my side need not feal
the world.''
In a week from that day the red flag was
hung out. When the auctiOneer made UP
his accounts, lie had in hand a little over
eight hundred pounds, for which a check