The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1873-01-16


assd.Iy larreassd from ihe FIRST Of Jana
srs. and tI. Profits ucre as fair ~ they
ever had been. Heretofore, hi. expenses
had kept SO closely side by side with biz
income. as 20 leave bis mind oppressed
With care. sad iu some doubt ss 10 future
sueacss. out during Is, al bad been 50
brisk in hls matters Of trade, and 20 easy
90 matters al money, that bis mind was
uniformly cheerful, sud sometimes elaicd.
he fclt that, at last, he was entering the
way to prosperity; a way be had so long
been seeking earnestly to fnd.
A. the year drew towards close, Mr..
Lane experienced feeling Of self-sali.-
faction unusual at such times. a doubt
"a to which would oyerbalanoe the other
h,s expenses or his profits, had usually
made The last week Of the year one Of
great sobricty 10 MI Lane. In IS, 1t
was different. As the wear wanod, he
had none Of the old feelings, for be was
we'll satisfied that be would have several
hundred dollars on the profit side Of the
account, above aud beyond all expenses
something that had not occurred IN form
err times.
NJ have made both ends meet, | viii
be satisfied, was his usual mental declar-
adon when be proceeded to make up
his account Tor the year. II was different
now.
III don't have five or six hundred dol
lars over, shall be much mistaken. This
was the pleasant remark Of Mr.. Lane to
himself, as he began the work of ascer-
tanning the result OF his years business.
All came out pretty much as he expected.
There was a balance in his favor Of about
six hundred dollars, after liberal mar
gin had been allowed ior certain bad and
doubtful accounts.
Things begin TO look brighter, said Mr..
Lane as he sat with bis wife, on New
Years eve. III younger children were
IN bed, and the oldest daughters, Kate
aud Emily, were out, spending the even
ing with a friend. This was said after
taking a cigar from his mouth, letting the
smoke curl Iazily about his head, which
was reclining on the back ofa cushioned
rocklng-ehair.
am glad to hear you say so, replied
Mrs. Lane. New Years eve bad not al
WAYS been a cheerful time.
I've been looking over my affairs to-
day, continued the husband, and fnd my.
self better of than was last year at this
time, by at least six hundred dollars.
That is encouraging,
feel ii so. trust things are to be
easier in future, and that we will get a
little beforehand in the world. IL is
time; for | will soon be in years, and less
able to give active attention to my busi-
uess.
am pleased on more than one account
said Mrs. Lane, to hear that You have
done so well this year. I've been good
deal worried to-day about a bill that
had no idea would be half as large as il
is. 1t was sent in this morning.
Whose bill is that? asked Mr.. Lane,
with an apparent change offeeling.
Mr.. Mercer's bill for dry goods.
didn't know there was a bill there.
0 yes. Didn't you remember you told
me to get whatever the family wanted
from him?
| didn't mean TO run up bill, though
1t was so understood by me, But that
makes little difference, If the money had
been paid down, the cash would not be
on band now.
How much is the bill?
One hundred and thirty dollars.
why, Auna! Bless nav heartl How
in the world could you run up bill like
t. at?
I've bought very little for myself, re.
Piled the rebnked wife, in a subdued aud
choking voice. Nearly all has been for
you aud the children.
a hundred and thirty dollars! Oh dear
dear, dear! calculated Mr.. Lane, throw.
his cigar into the CRATE, and beginning to
rock him self violently. So much of my
six hundred dollars profit scattered to the
wiud wonder how many more bills
you will have coming inl
This was downright cruel; and so Mrs
Lane felt it, She did not, however, pun.
ish him for the ungenerous remark witt
tcars, for she was not woman disposed
to give way TO this weakness. Her re-
ply was:
/ None that the wants Of the family have
not required to be made.
/ But ! wished you to pay cash, Anna
/ You know that last January, when ",
were almost smothcred with bills from al
quarters, wc made resolution to pay
cash for everything during the coming
year; aud thoughl this had been done
know very well that such a thing wa
talked about, replied Mrs. Lane, and,
/ believe, acted upon for a time. And
also know that yoa yourself told me t,
open au account at MERGERS in the spring
/ when asked you Tor money Q purchase
summer clothing tor the family.
didn't mean 10 have It 90 beyonf
/ thai said Mr. Lanc. modifying bis tone
Bat what other bills are thcrcS
/ There il bin at CheeFcman's for gro
cefics,
/ That can't be much. for ! have bough
almost everything 10 quantities.
No. don't suppose Il will amount 4
anything Of consequence.