Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-19
From the Household,
JANUARY BILLS.
4 ssery with . aeed sloral.

From the Household,
JANUARY BILLS.
A story with . Good Moral.
The year l8-- proved very GOOD
year for Mr.. Archibald Lane. His bus-
mess steadily increased from the first
of January, and his profits were as fair
Is they had ever been. Heretofore his
expenses had kept so closely side by
side with his income, az, to leave
his mind oppressed with care, and in
some doubt as to future success but
during Is all had been so brisk in
matters Of trade, that his mind was uni
formly cheerful, and sometimes elated.
He felt, that ut last, he was entering
the way 10 prosperity; q way he had
SO long been seeking earnestly to find.
As the year drew towards its close,
Mr.. Lane experienced feeling of self
eatisfaction unusual at such times. A
doubt as to which would overbslsnce
the other, his expenses or his profits,
had usually made the last week Of the
year one of great sobriety to Mr.. Lane.
In Is It was different. As the year
waned, he had none Of the old feelings,
for he was well satisfied that he would
have several hundred dollars on the
pront side of the account, above and
beyond oil expenses, something that
had not occurred In former times.
eff / have made both ends meet,
Will be sstisfied,o was his usual men,
tai declaration, when he proceeded to
make up his account for the year. 1t
was different now.
"1f don't have five or six hundred
dollars over, shall be much mistaken, .
This was the pleasant remark of Mr..
Lane to himself, as he began the work
of ascertaining the result of this years
business. ALI come out pretty near
as he had expected. There was bal
ance in his favor Of about six hundred
dollars, after liberal margin had been
allowed for certain bad and doubtful
accounts.
"Things begin to look little bright
err" said Mr.. Lane, as he sat alone
with his wife, on New Years eve. The
younger children were in bed, and the
two oldest daughters, Kate and Emily,
were out spending the evening with a
friend. This was said after taking q
cigar from his mouth, and letting the
smoke curl laziiy about his head, which
was reclining on the back Of cush-
ioned rocking-chair.
II am glad to hear You say so," re-
piled Mrs. Lane. And she spoke from
her heart. New Years eve had not al
ways been cheerful time.
Il have been looking over my affairs
to-day" continued the husband, "and
find myself better off than was this
time last year, by at least six hundred
dollars"
THAT is encouraging"
feel it so. trust things are to be
e4sIer iMfuture, and that we shall get a
little before hand in the world. Il is
time; for shall soon be inyeers, and
less able to give active attention tcRbus.
iness.n
"Pm pleased on more than one ac-
count" said Mrs. Lane, ssto hear that
you have done so well this year. I've
been deal worried to-day about bill
that l had no idea would be half as
large as 1t is. 1t was sent In this morn.
ing"
"Whose bill is that?" asked Mr..
Lane, with an apparent change of feel
ing.
"Mr. MERGERS bill for dry goods"
Il didn't know there was a bill
there"
20 yes. Don't You remember that
you told me to get whatever the family
wanted from him2"
II didn't mean you to run up . bill,
though"
cit was so understood by me. But
that makes little difference. If the
money had been paid down, the cash
would not be on hand now"
"How much is the bill?"
"I'm most afraid to say"
"How much? ?"
"One hundred and thirty dollars"
"Why, Annal Bless my heart How
in the world could you run up bill
like that?"
"I've bought very little tor myself
replied the rebuked wife, in subdued
and choking voice. NEARLY all has
been used for you and the children"
"a hundred and thirty dollars! Oh
dear! dear! dear!" calculated Mr.
Lane, throwing his cigar in the CRATE
and beginning to rock himself violent.
ly. So much of my six hundred dol
lars profit scattered to the wind.
wonder how many more bills you will
have coming inp
This was downright cruel; and SO
Mrs. Lane felt it. She did not, how
ever, punish him for his ungenerous
remark with tears, for she was not a
woman disposed on all occasions to
give way to this weakness. Her reply
was:-
"None that the wants Of the family
have not required to be made"
"But / wish you to pay cash, Anna
You know that last January, when we
were almost smothcred with bills from
all quarters, we made resolution to
pay cash for everything during the
coming year: and l thought this had
been DONE"
II know very we'll that such a thins
was talked about" replied Mrs. Lane
"and, l believe, acted upon for time
And also know that yourself told me
to open an account at MERGERS, in tn
spring, when asked you for money [
purchase clothing for the family"
II didn't mean to have it 20 beyond
that" said Mr.. Lane modifying hi
tone.
"But what other bills are there?"
"There is bill at Cheeseman's fo
groceries"
"That can't be much, for l hay,
bought almost everything in quaint
ties.n
"No, l don't suppose 1t will amour
to anything of consequence"
"Any other bill 7"
"No; none, except the bread bill"
| II thought you paid cash for bread !?
4 "We never did that, Mr.. Lane. Tn
baker serves us daily, marking on hi
tally stick the number of loaves; an,
once in three or six months sends in til
bill, when 1t is paid"
"How long has his bill been run
E:ng2"
"Six months, believe
j. "And will be forty or fifty dollars.
''Not half off, replied Mrs. Ian.
"Well, what else is there"
Nothing more, believe
II hope not. Here Is about tw huI
dred dollars cut off at q blow from th
supposed profits of tho year. Contour
these bills! Iwish that there was II
such thing as credit
l Mr.. Lane was, as a matter of cours
: unhappy from that moment. Had thes
4 bills not existed, and the surplus of tl
4 year shown the pleasant aggregate Z
: four hundred dollars, he would hay
3 been quite as happy as when he figuI
ed IL nm Mt siy hundrpl Rut in fme.