Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-04-19

"a POhCOO, OOo Ii cIO hnOWb
about it, she may 60 on in way that i
really extravagant under the circum
stances. think that men ought Away
to tell their wives when anything il
going wrong"
"You do ?'
"Certainly | do. What better reason
can you want than the one l have
| given? If she knows that the income
is reduced, as a prudent wife she viii
endeavor to reduce the expenses
Hadn't you better take off your coat
and sit down and talk with me little
before you go to see Mr.. Lawrence?"
Mr.. Little permitted his wife to draw
off his overcoat, which she took into
the passage and replaced on the hat
rack. Then returning into the parlor
she said:
! "Now, Aaron, talk to me as freely as
you choose. Don't keep anything back
Whatever the trouble is, let me know il
to the full extent"
ooh, there's no great trouble yet.
am only afraid of trouble. see il
coming, and wish to keep out of its
way, Betsy"
"Thats wise and prudent" said his
wife. "Now tell me why you are going
to see Mr.. Lawrence"
Mr.. Little's eyes fell on the floor, and
he sat for some moments in silence.
Then looking up, he said
"The truth is, Betsy, l must have
more capital in my business. There
will be no getting along without it.
Now Mr.. Lawrence can command, or at
least he says he can command, ten
thousand pounds. think he would
like to join me. He has said as much
two or three times"
Are you going to see him on that
business %
g. was"
"Don't do it," said Mrs. Little, en-
phatically.
"Why not?" asked Aaron.
"Because he isn't the man for you
not if he had twenty thousand pounds" ("
because is no reason" replied Aaron
Little.
"The extravaganza of his wife is,"
was answered firmly.
"What do you know about her?'
"Only what l have seen. I have
called on her two or three times, and
have noticed the style in which her
house is furnished. 1t is arrayed in
palace attire compared with ours. And
as for dress, it would take the interest
of little fortune to pay her milliner's
and mantua-maker's bill. No, no,
Aaron, Mr.. Lawrence isn't your man,
depend on it. He'd use up the ten
thousand pounds in less than two
years."
"Well, Betsy, that's pretty clear
talk" said Mr.. Little, taking a long
breath. "I'm rather afraid, after what
you say, that Mr.. Lawrence is not my
man. But what am | to do?" and his
voice fell into a troubled tone, I" | must
have more capital, Or" Mr.. Little
paused.
Cor what ?" His wife looked at him
steadily, and without any signs cf weak
anxiety.
"Or | may become bankrupt"
"I'm sorry to hear you say that,
Aaron" and Mrs. Little's voice trembled
perceptibly. "But I'm gle you've told
me. The new parlor carpet, of course,
l shall not order"
ooh, 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 new carpet"
"Indeed, and it a0iU make differ
ence them" replied the little woman in
her decided way. "The last feather
breaks the camel's back. Aaron Little
shall never fail because of his wife's ex-
travagance. ! wouldn't have a new
80 oa,,oI - /
half price,"
You are brave, true woman, Betsy"
said Aaron, kissing his wife, in the glow
of a newborn feeling of admiration.
~ hope that shall ever be true,
brave wife," returned Mrs. Little, "will-
ing always to help my husband, either
in saving or in earning, as the case may
be. But let us talk more about your
affairs; let me see the trouble nearer.
Must you have ten thousand pounds
right away9"
"Oh, no, no; it is not so bad as that
| was only looking ahead, and seeking
to provide the means for approaching
payments. I don't want partner so
far as the business itself is concerned
[ don't like partnerships; they are
almost always accompanied with annoy
ances or danger. 1t was the money 1
was after; not the man."
"The money would come dearly at
the price of the 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 i'm
mediate danger. May not the storm be
weathered by reefng sail as the sailors
say?"
"By reducing expenses ?"
eyes"
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. Sup
pose one or two thousand pounds were
saved in the year, what difference would
that maker"
ooh, if that were possible, which it is
not, it would make vast difference in
the long run, but it would hardly meet
the diff iculties 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 me safe for
the two months. But where is the five
hundred pounds to come from, Betsy ?"
Desperate diseases require desperate
remedies replied the brave little
woman IN resolute way. Sim not
afraid of the red flag"
What do you mean by the red hag?n
Let us sell off our furniture at auc-
ton, and put the money in your bust
ness. 1t won't bring less than five hun.
dred pounds; and it may bring more
My piano alone is worth nearly a hun.