The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1875-09-29

way home he called and got Mr..
Skidd's bill.
"You can take and look it over"
said the trader, with a patronizing
smile; you'll find it all right"
George had intended to pay the bill
then and there. But, when he saw the
long column of figures, and glanced
his eyes at the total. his heart leaped
up into his mouth. He was astonish-
ed he had thought to himself, as he
had come along, that Skidd's bill
would be about twelve to fifteen dol
lars. After paying everything else,
he would have twenty dollars left,
which would srtisfy this last demand,
and leave something over. He had
just commenced housekeeping, and
did not expect to save much at first.
But, mercy, how all his anticipa-
tions were knocked in pieces as he
looked atthe bill. He told Skidd he
guessed lie would look it over, and on
his way home he examined it; he
could find nothing wrong in the items
but tn sum total was a poser
twenty. SIX dollars and forty-two cents.
For long time after he reached
home he tried to convince Hattie that
there was nothing the matter with
him; but at length he plpcked up
courage, aud drew forth Skidds bill.
He had expected that his wife would
be paralyzed. But on the contrary,
she ooly smiled and said it was all
right
"All right ?" echoed George.
"All right, so far as Mr.. Skidd is
concerned" said Hattie. "You re.
member what told you once before !;
aud now let's sit down and eat sup
per, spd then we will look the matter
over"
And after supper they went at the
WORK, Hattie taking the bill and a
piece of blank paper, and following
all the items with her pencil.
First" she said, "is box of figs
at fifteen cents pound. 1t was very
cheap, no doubt, but the eight pounds
came to a dollar and twenty cents.
Had you been required to pay the
cash, you would not have bought them.
You would, at least have asked me if
liked them, and | should have told
you-No. Next we have gallon of
golden syrup, which we did not need
and for which you would not have
paid cash witIuut ooessfatiug mo-"
And so she went on throwing out
articles and cutting down the bill to
lees than fifteen dollars.
A dollar here had not seemed a
great deal to George; and y dollar
and half there; then seventy.fve
cents, and then only fifty cents; but
there had been twenty visits 10 the
store during the month, and the ag-
gregate of these trivial sums was con-
siderable.
George saw the whole thing, and he
kassg his wife had been right from the
"Don't say a word" he said. 81 see
the mistake. But I'll have to work
around into the right track by de-
grees!'
"How so, George ?"
"Why, haven't enough money left
of my months wages to quite pay
this bill, so that / shall be unable to
enter upon the cash principle at pres
ent."
"Tbere need be no difficulty in that
direction" said Hattie. 81 have not
spent quite all nay little capital. l had
already fixed it for a bit of nest
egg; and / don't know as it could be
put into a better use than the laying
of a foundation for cash payments
At any rate, George, let us try it for a
while"
George kissed his wife and said she
was a blessing, and he promised that
he would follow her advice in the fu.
-ture. He took the sum of money
which she had given and held it as a
loan, which he was to return ut the
earliest moment. And he felt an am
bitlon to see how speedily he could
do it.
And on Monday morning the new
rule of life went into operation
George Brown paid Mr.. Skidd's bill
and told him that thereafter he should
pay for everything he bought. The
store, keeper "pooh-poeh'd," and said
there was no need OF It.
"Bless you, nay boy,I would az lie
trust you as moi"
II do not doubt it, Mr. Skidd, but
prefer not to be trusted. would
rather consume my own groceries thar
| ooneur,a wanna A hill ia an evil nj
hest, and l don't choose to have evils
growing on my hands if | can hell
it,"
Mr.. Skidd saw very plainly that hi
| nnstnmar,s uisinn WAS clear. and hI