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

No-not money, but credit; that is the
bane of my life ! Why am such fool /?
run up accounts with a sort of pleas
ure, as if | were getting things for moth
ing, but feel sensibly poorer whenever 1
pay out the ready money for a needed
article"
As Mr.. Jones closed this sentence, the
waiting maid opened the door and hand
ed in another letter. He broke the seal
with foreboding of something unpleas-
ant. A long. narrow piece of paper was
revealed, with some unmistakable words
printed at the head. among which were,
bought Of" and below which were
almost interminable lines of writing and
figures. A hurried falling of the eyes
to the footing up of the column of fig
ures gave the unwelcome result. 1t was
the groeer's bill, and the sum total one
hundred and thirty-one dollars. His ex-
elamation of surprise fell with q shifting
sound on the ears of his wife.
What is it? she asked, almost fal-
teringly.
Green's account"
''Oh His bill can't be very large !;
for I never sent the pass-book when l
had the money to buy what l wanted -
1T is hundred and thirty-one dol
lars"
''That seems impossible
Il presume it is all right. But you
can look over it yourself
The bill was carefully scanned. though
without discovering any error of eonse-
quenee. Two barrels of -four, basket
of wine and few other items, counted
up heavily.
Jacob" said Mrs Jones, speaking
in low. winning, but very earnest
voice, there is something wrong in all
this No reason in the world exists why
we should have these bills to trouble US .
Il don't know about that" replied
Mr.. Jones, somewhat moodily, II wish
[ could believe so. :"
Eve ought to pay the cash for every
thing we buy Jones ventured
upon more decided position.
.'It is easy enough to say that re-
torted her husband, evidently fretted by
/ the words. But how is the cash to be
paid down when we haven't the cash in
our purses %
sAre you really desirous to have this
/ question Of paying cash solved ?" Mrs
Jones queried, in a pleasant way.
30, certainly. Read me the riddle
and shall be eternally obliged"
| Il believe | can show that there was
no need of running up these two bills,
at least"
s.Parker's and Green's? ?''
"Yes."
Il am all attention
'sThe two amount to over two hund-
red dollars ?''
"Yes."
IF l can show you where, during the
past six months, one hundred dollars
have been spent needlessly, in pretty
round sums. viii you eoneede that small
er sums have gone, in the same way, to
an equal amount ?''
| 80 yes; I'll eoneede to it without a
moments hesitation
Very well (; take your pencil and set
down the items as | name them"
Mr. Jones took his pencil and a piece
Of paper.
There are fourteen dollars for that
pair Of vases"
/ Mr.. Jones WINGED a little, but did not
reply. The vases had been purchased
solely to crafty his Wife-at least he
had always, in his own mind, assumed
this to be the ease-and her mentioning
these articles first seemed little unkind
"And tWenty-three for the pier-glass- "
This article Mr.. Jones had bought at
a public sale, where it went off .'tempt-
Z
ingly low" It proved too wide for the
pier, and rather marred than increased
the beauty Of the parlor-
"Very we'll; 90 on" said he, in a
voice that was not over cheerful.
six dollars for the engraving Of
Franklin at the French Court, and eight
for the frame; that makes fourteen more "
You are counting up pretty fast,
Mary"
These are the heaviest items. I viii
now gather up some Of the smaller ones. I"
@We hare attended four concerts. at
q dollar > ticket and had to engage >
carriage On two Of these occasions. In
consequence Of rain Twelve dollars
we're expended here"
"But we aust have some recreation.
Both Of u are fond Of musIc."
..True, Jacob. Yet If We are Among
the thousands who cannot afford these
Iaxuries, We should bear the PriEa.ioa
eheerfalIy."
Bat We certainly can afford con
cert now and then, Mary"
1T seems not, Jac1b. at least, We
have not enjoyed these entertainments
during the past season without tie pen
atty of debt While we we're paying
i Ii r.. ww.