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

credit
Mr. lane was as matter Of course, I'M
happy from that momeht Had these
bills not ex .,ed, aad the surplus of the
year shown the pleasant wgregate o. four
hundred dollars, be would have been
quite IS happy as when be figured II up
at six hundred. But, in Imagination, be
had been better of by tive huudred dol,
lars than the truth now discovered him to
be. aud the loss was felt ai real. The re-
mainder Of the evening passed gloomily
enough. when Mr. Lane retired to bed,
he could not sleep for thinking OF the dry
goods, grocery and bread bills. While he
thus lay awake, memory assisted him TO
the knowledge of two or three other lit
tie matters Of the same kind There was
an unsettled tailor's bill that might take
twenty-five or thirty dollars to balance (;
aud the book-maker had something
against him. Ten bushels Of potatoes and
three barrels ofapples thai he had order.
ed sent home Ia October, we're yet to be
paid for. At least fifty dollars more of
his years profits vanished
At last Mr.. Lane fellaslsep, and dream
ed all night Of oils that cane almost in a
shower around him, On New Year morn
ing, he sat silent aud moody at the break
fast table, eating but little, and looking
no one in the face. All were oppressed
but his wife knew its nature and the cause
from which it was produced
1t was early when Mr.. Lane went to
his place Of business, on he morning OF
the first of January; not so early, how
ever, but that one or two persons had
preceded him, and left behind them vsi-
BILE tokens Of the fact On the desk were
a couple of sealed notes. He opened
them with a vague presentiment Of some
thing dsagreeable, and be was not disap-
pointed, The first contained narrow
slip of paper, with printed head, and
certain written characters and figures be-
low, which plainly enough expressed the
fact that nc was indebted TO a certain
dealer in groceries in the sum of seventy
six dollars. o dearl was lhe mental ex-
clamation of pain that followed the peru
sal of this bill. That a little piece Of pa.
per, three or four inches long, should
have such power over the feelings of a
man!
The next billet was opened with more
nervous state of mind. AS he broke the
seal and displaced the envelope, another
slip of paper, folded over from the end in
three sections, dropped upon the desk.
1t was the bread bill for six months, and
called for forty-four dollars and ten cents.
/. II possible2 Too bad too bad too
bad ! had no idea Of this.
Thus the unhappy man expressed bis
feelings. While yet holding thIs bin in
his hand, lad entered the store and
coming back to the desk where he sat,
politely handed him an ominous piece OF
paper, and retired. He opened it and
read:
Mr.. Archibald Lane-bought of, &c.
The particulars were, an air-tight
stove, at twelve dollars; a cooking-stove,
at thirty; and various other matters OF
Russia pipe, freboards, etc, in all,
amounting TO fifty five dollars. Though
the genial heat from the air-tight stove
had comforted Mr.. Lane every morning
since 1t came home, and he had enjoyed
the improved cooking ofthe new addition
TO the kitchen department, he had entire
~ forgotten that the bill for these IN
creased advantages had never been set
tied.
declare he exclaimed half aloud, and
striking the desk as he spoke. How
came | to forget that bill? ! meant to
have paid it when the articles came home
aud told jenkins to send it in.
Soon after this, Mr.. Lanes young man
came in from the post-ofiice. There were
three letters, each with the city post
mark, and each with bin inclosed. One,
the taiIor's bill, called forty-eight dollars
/ another was from halter, and demand.
ed five; and the thiId came from a job.
bing carpenter, who had been called in
at sundry times to mend and make, aud
asked for the sum Of twenty-three dollars
ninety.two cents.
MIR. Lane read them over, and then
/ placed them under paper-weight on his
desk, utterng at the same time q long
drawn sigh.
/ The morning paper was yet unread
1t lay on the desk beside Mr.. Lane; and
/ from habit more than desire to know It's,
contents, he opened il and commenced
reading. An occurrence Of some inter
est had taken place IN neighboring city
aud he was in the midst Of a narrative oi
the event, and much interested in il
when be started quickly at the sound Of a
voice near him. a man had entered and
was standing at bis elbow.
Good morning, Mr.. Lane, said tho
man.
Good moroirg, Williams, returned Mr.
Lane. Can do anything for you to-day
be added in a tone Of cheerfulness.
Not much, said the visitor, removing
hs hat as be spoke, taking therefrom 4
small package Of papers, which he com
meuced turning over.
You haven't bill against meI Mr.
Lane spoke confidently.
4 What do yon call that? replied tbc
man, as be drew slip paper from The
package in his hand, and presented Il.
One barrel Of -four; five hams; bush