The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-31

Happy New Year 7" called his sweet
little wife, as the sun looked brightly in
through their chamber window, awaken
ing her with it's kiss.
Happy New Year" he answered,
trying to throw into his voice the glad
ness that was not in his heart for he
had been awake Tor 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.
1" L 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 was de-
MED
:" 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 new place, and salary of two
thousand year.
This good fortune quite set up onr
young friend. He felt rich and on the
strength OF this feeling, INDUCED him
self with new parlor carpet and set
OF chairs-on credit.
But the next New Years Day brought
its sure reckoning, and Mr.. Ellis found
himself further behindhand than when
his salary was only one thousand dollars,
and deeper in the Slough OF Despond.
"This will never do" he said to him
self, after brooding all day over his mis-
cradle affairs. L cannot live on two
thousand dollars. The case is hopeless. J"
Then 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 adver-
tisement to one of the papers, and in less
than week had an engagement to post
set OF books and get OF a balance-sheet,
work that would occupy his evenings
for at least a month, 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
selfdenial. 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 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 gaily ut
first but gradually silence fell upon
them. The Oldest of them could be seen
stealing chances at their fathers face,
and then dropping their eyes thought
fully. 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 cloud on her hus-
bands brow
Happy New Year - said neighbor,
cheerily, to Mr.. Ellis, an hour after
breakfast, meeting him little way from
his own door.
81 don't see it :" was the reply of
our friend, in a playful, half worried
manner.
You ought to see it, then" answered
the neighbor. eff you don't there's
something wrong"
"Of course there is. In fact there's
always something wrong with me on
New Years Day."
" Bills" asked the neighbor, shrug-
/ ging his shoulders and arching his eye
/ brows.
Bills :" answered Ellis moodily.
il" thought so, frankly responded tie
other.
"You did, eh?" His manner little
nettied.
"Of course. What else could mar
your happiness to-day man with such
a dear, good little wife, and so many
sweet children as you have :"
"What am / 10 do" asked Ellis,
breaking down.
"Dol 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"
Z" l should like to know the remedy, ="
said Ellis.
cit 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 2"
"Then don't buy"
Not bread and meat for your chill
dren 3"
The neighbor turned and looked at
Ellis from head to foot, with an express
sion of comtenance that had in it sur
prise, reproof, and just little con-
TEMPT.
"Wnat is your income n year z" he
asked, i'll quiet repressed way.
about two Thousand five hundred
dollars, take one year with another" was
replied.
% Humph ! A fair show for bread and