The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-12-31

econ GAN- tiI0 case NIuleL AeAsO O0OA
more hopeful.
On the next Gay Mr.. Ellis asked to
have his salary increased. Business had
n 1t b8en very good for the past season,
/. an 1 there was some demur; but ne was
a faithful and intelligent clerk, and, IN
view of this, two hundred dollars were
added to his SALARY, not more e lily, IL an
to cover the deficits Of the last monts;yet
enough to cause our young f1iendto feel
much elated, and to lure him into freer
instead of a closer style of living.
The second New Years Day brought
another day of reckoning. 4 baby had
been born, and with this sunbeam that
came brightly into their home, came
also added expenses, and consequent IN
crease Of depth. The original five hun
dred dollars borrowed to furnish the
house was yet unpaid, and the friend
who loaned that sum had grown cod III
consequence.
'sHappy New 1earl" called his sweet
little wife. as the sun looked brightly III
through heir chamber window, awaken
ing her with its kiss.
s'Happy New Year.." he answered,
irving to throw into his voice the glad
ness that was not in his heart; for he
had been awake for over an hour, think
ing OF the bills that had been received on
the day before, and of others which were
to come in-bills that he had no present
means Of paying.
'I must get more salary said Mr..
Ellis to himself, as he brooded that New
Years Day over his unhappy affairs.
He asked for an increase, but it was de-
MED.
81 am worth more than twelve hun
dred year, and will have it - was his
mental ejaculation. So he set himself
to work to find another situation, and
after few months succeeded in obtain
ing a new place and a salary OF two
thousand o year.
This good fortune quite set up our
young friend He felt rich and on the
strength of this feeling INDUCED himself
with new parlor carpet and set Of
chairs-on credit.
But the next New Years Day brought
its sure reckoning, and MI. Ellis found
himself further behindhand than when
his salary was only one thousand dol
lars, and deeper in the Slough of Des-
pond.
'sThis Will never do" he said to him
self, after brooding all day over his
miserable affairs. 81 cannot live on
two thousand dollars. The case is hope
less.
Then a ray OF light shot into his mind.
He was a quick, clear headed account
ant, and the suggestion came to him
that he might get books to post and ac
counts to settle, as night work. A sense
of relief pervaded his heart as this idea
took shape and settled into purpose.
On the very next day he sent an adyer-
tisemen to one of the papers, and in less
than week had an engagement to post
a set Of books and get off q balance
sheet, work that would occupy his
evenings for at least a month, and for
which he was to receive one hundred
dollars.
A better day was dawning upon Mr..
Ellis-so he thought and felt; and his
heart grew light and hopeful. SO the
day would have been better, if to larger
resources had been added economy and
self-denial But this was not the case.
He poured more water into his barrel,
and the added pressure made the water
flow through the unstopped leaks more
freely.
It was no better with him when the
next New Years Day came round. And
so it went on for ten years; and we find
him still as unhappy on New Years
dawn as when it first opened on his mar
ried life.
The day came in bright and sunny
AS Mr.. Ellis took his seat at the break
fast-table, he looked into the faces of
five pleasant children, and across at his
still young and attractive wife He
ought to be a happy man with treasures
like these. But he was not; and the
shadows that were on his countenance
threw themselves across and around the
table, and dimmed the sunshine of
young hearts. The children talked
gayly at first, but gradually silence
fell upon them. The oldest Of them
could be seen stealing glances of inquiry
at their fathers face, and then dropping
their eyes til ought fully. Mrs. Ellis did
the same, signing family to herself, and
feeling sense of oppression going down
like heavy hand on her bosom. She