Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-12-24

sef-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.
1t was no better with him when the
next New Years Day came round. And
so il went on for ten years; and we find
him still as unhappy on New Years
dawn as when II first opened on his mar
ried life.
The day came in bright and sunny. As
Mr.. Ellis took his seat at the breakfast.
table he looked into the faces of five pleas.
ant children and across at his still young
and attractive wife. He ought to be n
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 dimmcd
the sunshine of young hearts. The chill.
dren talked gayly at first, but gradually a
silence fell upon them. The oldest of
them could be seen stealing glances of in
quiry at their fathers face, and then drop
ping their eyes thoughtfully. Mrs. Ellis
did the same, signing family TO herself,
and feeling sense of oppression going
down like heavy hand on her bosom.
She knew but too well why there was a
cloud on her husbands brow
Happy New Yearl" said a neighbor,
cheerily, to Mr.. Ellis, an hour after
breakfast, meeting him little way from
his own door.
"I don't see it'' was the repiy of our
friend, in a playful, half-worried man.
ner.
"You ought to see it, them" answered
the neighbor If you don't there's
something wrong"
"Of course there is. In fact there's al
ways something wrong with me ON New
Years Day."
"BiIlsp' said the neighbor, shrug-
ging his shoulders and arching his eye
brows.
"Billsl' answered Ellis, moodily.
l thought so," frankly responded the
other.
e You did, hal" His manner little
nettled.
OF course. What else could mar youl
happiness to-day-a man with such q
dear, good little wife and so many sweet
children as you have?"
"What am to do?" asked Ellis, break,
ing down.
"Do? Why, have no bills on New
Years Day"
Easier said than done"
"Of course it is; but that is no reason
why it cannot be done"
81 should like to know the remedy, >
said Ellis
1t is very simple" said the neigh
Dor.
Ellis looked at him inquiringly.
always pay for what you buy at the
time you get it,"
Easily enough said; but suppose you
haven't the money in hand ~
"Then don't buy"
mot bread and meat for your chill
dren?"
The neighbor turned and looked a
Ellis from head to foot with an expression
OF countenance that had in it surprise, re
proof and just a little contempt.
"What is your income a year ~ hC
asked, in a quiet, repressed way.
About $4,000, take one year with an
other" was replied.
"Humph! A fair show for bread and
meat, at least, one would think"
"But bread and meat aren't ALL" an
swered Ellis, putting himself on the de
fensive.
"No; but they represent our necessi
ties, which usually do not cost half as mucl
as our superfluities. Here is where thu
pinch comes. 1t is for the things they
might do without that men are troubled
with bills at New Years"
mot my case" said Ellis, rallying I
little. 81 have a grocer's bill and |
butchers bill shoemaker's and tailor
bill; doctors bill and a"
/" But where have your $4,000 gone,
interrupted the neighbor, land these bill
not settled before?"
This threw Mr.. Ellis mind into confu
| 81 10 ~, a ,,,A
to the question.
How much rent do you pay?" askeo
the neighbor.
" Six hundred dollars" replied Ellis.
" Can you afford to pay so much"
MOI
"Then why do you pay it?"
Because | can't get house to suit m
for any less.
"Suit youp' exclaimed the neighbol
shaking his head. "Ah, my good friend
] see where the trouble lies. 1t is whf
suits-what is desired-and not what ca
be afforded that governs you in eXpend
ture. No man who lives by this rule ca
hope for anything but the worry an
humiliation Of debt"
Which | have to my hearts content,
said Ellis, bitterly. "And, struggle as
will, cannot free myself from its coils.
Don't say that. You may if yo
will"
"If you will show me the way out {
this dreadful state of affairs / will hol
you as my truest friend"
The neighbor was silent for some mt
ments.
Are you really in earnest? ?" he aske
at length.
Never more so, in my life" replie
Ellis.
"Will you lay before me a full stat
ment of your atiairs?"
"Yes."
And then follow strictly the line
action / demonstrate to your reason as ii
only one that will lead you out of tn
labyrinth of trouble in which you are il
volved ?"
81 will"
"Come to my house this evening" sal
the neighbor. " Bring with you stat
ment, as near as you can make it out,
| all you owe, and the longest time you ca
t get for its full payment. We will the
3 look the matter squarely in the face, al
} see what can be done"
/ The list of unsettled accounts brOug
in by Mr.. Ellis was long and discou
aging one, amounting in all to over 81
, 500.
, ~ am ashamed to make this eXhib
tion," he said, in choking voice an
with look Of humiliation.
The neighbor went over the list in
, quiet, business way, ticking off variol
items with his pencil. He then made
: list of these items, and, footing up Il
. amount said: "These are all things tn
might have been done without, and yo
+ see they have cost you over $500"
3 Yes, see, answered Ellis, in sui
dued voice.
( "And | think itmay be safely assumed
said the neighbor, "taking your way
I doing things, that you have let as muc
more run through your fingers in e.
! penditures of various kinds not absolute
! demanded for health Or comfort in yol
family"
Mr. Ellis assented
S Here, then, are between six and seve
4 hundred dollars in a single year-nearl
half the amount of all you owe. III
4 !. I.