Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-08-17
Cash Down.

he erumpled in his hand piece of pa
per which he had just taken from an en-
velope; .sor.'' he added. in lower tone.
s.that had . great DEAL more of it than
has, thus far In life, fallen to my lot.
What have you there? p inquired the
wife of Mr.. Jones, looking up from her
work. and speaking in q subdued voice.
'.Parker's bill. answered the husband.
'tAh how much is it %
Seventy dollars
'.Nor' Mrs. Jones gave a start as she
made the ejaculation. while slight pale
ness oEerspread her face.
Its too true ; though | didn't dream
Of It's being over thirty or forty. But
running accounts always make long jour-
neys in short time. All, me- Money
-mouey-money 1t is the bane of my
life
Money or credit. Jacob ?' Mrs
Jones looked up timidly as she said this
and IN evident doubt as to the effect Of
her question for Mr.. Jones was one of
your sensitive, self-willed men, who can
never bear to be thought in the wrong.
/ The question was so pertinent and
timely, that it reached home. And it
came so unexpectedly that Mr.. Jones
hardly knew whether to be vexed, angry,
amused. or convicted Of error. The read
er viii better understand the case after
i brief retrospeetion-
The income of Mr.. Jones was not
large, yet sufficient for the comfortable
support of his family. If he had not been
afflicted with singular mental maIady,
/ which showed itself IN strange aver
sion to paying cash for anything-that
is, anything useful Mrs Jones. On the
contrary, had particular horror of run
ming up accounts. If she lacked the
means of buying any needed article, she
preferred doing without it altogether to
purchasing on credit Mr. Jones liked
to have money in his pocket. It made
him feel uneomfortabIy poor-if his purse
was empty.
But, unfortunately, he was d man Of
many wants, and, We fear, with little
vein Of eovetousness in his heart, for to
look upon an attractive thing was in
stantly followed by a desire to possess
It This being SO, it IS not strange that
the money carried in his pocket-Was ev-
er diminishing, and that he could not
always tell what had become Of it.
'.I am going out this morning" said
Mrs Jones, about six months previous
to the time CUR story commences, 1and
I wish you would let NE have ten dol
lars"
'4Ten dollarsI'' Mr.. Jones shrugged
his shoulders sWhat are you going to
buy
Il want piece Of muslin for one
thing, and"
'0h, well. Mary, can arrange all
that for you. easily enough L haven
/ the money to spare, this morning; but
I'll stop In at Parker's as I 20 down.
aud tell him to let you have whatever
you want. You'll find him q very pleas
ant man to deal with, and glad to get
cur custom"
1T don't matter, particularly, to-day, -
said Mrs. Jones, her countenauee falling
and her voice becoming little husky !;
Il can wait until to-morrow"
f'But, I'm not SO sure that III have
the money to spare tomorrow. Business
IS dull, and have considerable to pay
about these times No-Fd rather you
would get what you want at Parker's-' =
Mrs Jones never opposed her husband
very strong IN anything She felt acute
ly, and had her own clear views in re-
gard to what was useful and proper /;
but her disposition was yielding lit
tie too much 50, it may be admitted
stVery well" she answered. almost
meekIy, '.if you desire It, I will get
what 1 want at Parker's"
Mr.. Jones was relieved by this ezpe-
dent, and his money remained IN his
pocket, reserved for some stronger ap-
peal. It never for moment occurred
to him that be was requiring his lnde-
pendent, sensitive-minded wife TO sub
nit to something like humiliation IN 60
ing to . store-keeper and requesting him
TO charge the goods she bought
You'd better get all you want, Ma
"" he said. in light. cheerful way,
as he was leaving the house s'the bill
won't come IN until the end Of the year.
Mr.. Jones had nearly twice the sum
IN his purse that his wife had asked for,
and the fact that It was still IN his pos
session gave him comfortable feeling
. Of ease IN money matters On his way
70 his place Of business. . pair Of china
vases eaptivated his fancy, and, On the
impulse Of the moment, he stepped into
the store and inquired the price
ssE-c@sa~s ,IeTIz-v -r-z II :. sv-a~r.r
-Dearer thaa l Supposed said be,
. IN rather . disappointed voice And
/ Jones was turning away, when the store
i keeper. reading his customer 1t > glance,
said