The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-06-01

muslin" said she; 1--WE want sheets. and
pillow cases badly
You can get piece" replied ia
cobs 1--WE won't have to pay for it now
Edwards will send the bill at the end Of
six months, and it will be easy enough
to pay it then"
"Oh, yes, easy enough" responded
his vile, confidently.
So piece of muslin was procured
on the credit account. But things did
not stop there. A credit account is too
often like branch in cunal-the
stream is small at first, but soon increa.
ses to ruinous current. Now that
want had found source, want became
more clumorous than before. Scarcely
day passed that Mr.. or Mrs. Jacobs
did not order something from the store,
not dreaming, simple souls, that au
alarming heavy debt was accumulating
against them.
AS to the income OF Mr.. jacobs, il
was not large. lie was, as has been in
timated, clerk in wholesale store ald
received a salary Of seven hundred dol
las year. His family consisted of
vile aud three children, aud he had
found it necessary to be prudent in all
his expenditures, in order to make both
ends meet, Somewhat independent in
his feelings, he hud never asked credit
Of any one with whom he dealt, and no
one offering it, previous TO the tempting
inducement held out by Edwards, be
had regulated his outgo by his actual
income. BY this means lie had managed
to keep even with the world, though
not to gain any advantages on the side
Of fortune. Let US see how it was with
him at the end of six months, under the
new system. Let us see il his good
credit" has been any real bencf. to
him
1t was so very pleasant to have things
comfortable, or for little display, with.
out feeling that tho indulgence drained
the purse too heavily. Aud weak van.
ity on the part of Jacobs aud wife was
gyatiiied by the aatteriug opinion of
Mr.. Jacobs honesty entertained by
Edwards, the storekeeper.. His credit
was good, and he was proud of the fact.
But the day Of reckoning was apprach.
ing and at last it came
Notwithstanding the credit at the
dry goods store, there was no more
money in the young clerks purse at the
end of six months that ut the beginning.
The cash that would have gone for cloth.
ing, when necessity called for additions
to the family wardrobe, had been spent
for things the purchase OF which would
have been omitted but for the fact that
the dollars were in the purse instead of
in the storekeepers hand, aud tempted
needless expenditure.
As the end Of the six mouths credit
period approached, the mind OF Jacobs
began to rest upon the dry goods deal
ers bill and to be disturbed by feeling
Of anxiety. As to the amount of this
bill he was in some uncertainty but he
thought that it would not be less than
forty dollars. That was "a large sum for
him to owe, particularly as he had moth
ing ahead, aud his current expenses
were fully up to bis income. 1t was
now, for the first time in his life, that
Jacobs felt the nightmare pressure of
debt, and it seemed at times as if it
would almost sutfocate him.
One evening he came home more 50.
ber than usual. He had thought of
little all day besides his bill ut the store
On meeting his wife he saw that some.
thing was wrong.
"What ails 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 cheeks from
beneath her half.closed eyes-the bosom
labored with the weight Of some pres.
sure.
"Tell me Jane," urged Jacobs, "if
anything is wrong. Your manners
alarm me. Are any Of the children
sick 7"
"Oh, no no ! Nothing ofthat kind"
was quickly answered. "Bat-but-
Mr.. Edwards has sent in his bill"
That was to be expected, ofcourse,"
said jacobs, with forced calmness.
The credit was for only six months.
But how much is it ?"
His voice was unsteady as he asked
the question.
A hundred and twenty dollars"
And poor Mrs. Jacobs burst into tears.
Impossible !" exclaimed the startled
husband. "Impossiblel There is some
mistake. A hundred and twenty dol
lars Never p
"There is the bill" And Mrs. ia
cobs drew it from her bosom.
Jacobs glanced eagerly at the footing
up of the long column Of figures. There
were numerals to the value Of one hun.
dred and twenty dollars.
+" 1t can't be-" he said in troubled
voice. Edwards has made some mis-.
take"
$50 thought when first looked at
the BILL" replied Mrs. Jacobs, recover
ing herself, yet speaking in a sad voice.
But am sorry to say it is all right.
| have been over it again, aud again,
aud cannot find an error. Oh, dear /!
how foolish have been. 1t was so
easy to get things when no money had
to bs paid down. But l never thought
Of n bill like this, never"
jacobs sat for some moments with
his eyes upon the floor. lie was think
ing rapidly.
s.Sn much for n rnnd credit . he