Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-11-22
IN wo1id maKe :, x.sz..


Suppose you had five hundred
pounds within the next two months,
beyond what your business will give
you ?"
esThat sum would make me safe fol
two months But where is the five
hundred pounds to come from, Bet
sey?"
:" Desperate diseases require desper-
ate remedies replied the brave little
woman in resolute way. :" I'm not
afraid of the red flag"
What do you mean by the red
flag go r.
8Let US sell off our furniture at
auction, and put the money in your
business. It 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
''We won't try that yet, Betsy, "
said Mr. Little. ....fa-.s
g But something must be done. The
disease is threatening, and my first
prescription will arrest it's violence. /
have something more to propose. 1t
comes into my mind tins instant after
breaking up we will go to mothers
You know she never wanted us TO leave
there. It won't cost us much over
half what it does now, taking rent
into account We will pay sister Annie
something to take the care of little
Eddie and Lizzie through the day, and
[ will go into your warehouse as chief
clerk
E'Betsy YOU re crazy
'FNot a bit of it, Aaron. but sensi-
BILE womsn, as you will find before
you're a year older, if you'll let me
have my way. / don't like that Hob
son, and never did, as you know. I
don't believe he's fair man. Let me
take his place, and you will make q
clear three hundred pounds year; and
maybe as much more"
g I can't think of it, Betsy. Let us
wait awhile F .l.ua
eYou must think Of it, and we won't
wait awhile, Z" replied the resolute wife.
q What is right to be done is best done
quickly. Is there not safety in my
plan 2"
"Yes, I think there is; but"
"Then let us adopt it at once, and
throw all butts overheard, or" and she
looked at him little mischievously,
q Ftperhaps you would rather have some
talk with Mr.. Lawrence first!n
Hang Mr. Lawrence !" calculated
Aaron Little.
Very well; there being no help in
Mr.. Lawrence, we will go to work to
help ourselves. Self help, I've heard
it said, is always the best help, and
most to be depended on. We may
know ourselves and trust ourselves I;
and that is a great deal more than we
can say about other people. When
shall we have the sale2''
"Not 50 fast, Betsy, not so fast. I
haven't agreed to the sale yet. That
would be to make certain loss. Fur
niture sold at auction never realizes
above half it's cost. E
at would be certain gain, Aaron,
if it saved you from bankruptcy, with
which, as I understand it, you are
threatened.
Il think, said Aaron, "we may get
on without that I like the idea of
your coming into my warehouse and
taking Hobson's place. All the money
from retail sales passes through his
hands, and he has it in his power, ii
not honest, to rob me seriously. I've
not felt altogether easy in regard to
him of late. Why, I can hardly tell.
I've seen nothing wrong. But if you
take his place three hundred pounds
will be saved certainly. +. II.
But if [ have my house to keep"
Mrs. Little answered to this, chow
can help you at the warehouses; The
first thing in order is to get the house
off my hands," @ a1
" Don't you think that Annie could
be'induced to come and live with us for
few months until we try this new ex-
pertinent? .s .s.f
''But the money, Aaron; the money
this would bring! That's what [ am
looking after. You want money now" "
every true.
"Then let us hang out the red flag.
Half way measures may only rum
everything. [ 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 ycrr courage, confidence and en-
ergy."
You may be right, Betsey; but [
can't bear the thought of running out
that red flag, Of which you talk so
lightly" -
"Shall [ say coward? Are you afraid
to do what common prudence tells you
is right 2" ---,-.-..- &.
f was afraid, Betsey; but am no
longer faint hearted. With such
brave little wife as you to stand by my
side. need not fear the world.
In week from that day the red f1ag
was hung out. When the auctloneer
made up his accounts, he had in hand
a little over eight hundred pounds, for
which a check was filed out to the or
der of Aaron Little. 1t came into his
hands just at the right moment, and
made him feel, to use his own words,
Es as easy as an old shoe. One week
later, Mrs. Betsey Little took the
place of Mr.. Hobson, as chief manager
and cash receiver in her husband s
warehouse. There were some few signs
of rebellion among the clerks and shop
girls at the beginning; but Mrs. Betsey
had quick, steady eye, and self
reliant manner, that caused her pres
ence to be felt, and soon made every
thing subserviant to her will. 1t was
remarkable fact, that at the close OF the
first week Of her administration OF at
fairs the cash receipts were over thirty
pounds in excess of the receipts of any
week within the previous three months
"Have we done more business than
usual this week." she asked of one
clerk and another; and the uniform
answer was, "No."
'sThen, said the lady to herself,
/ there's been &C foul play here. No won
der my husband was in trouble"
At the end of the next week the sales
came up TO the same average, and at
the end Of the third week were forty