Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-26

On his desk were a couple Of sealed notes.
lie opened them with vague presentment
Of something disagreeable, and he was not
disappointed. The first contained a narrow
slip Of paper, with printed head, and GER
tain written characters and figures below,
which plainly enough expressed the fact that
he was indebted 10 a certain dealer in gro
ceries TO the sum Of seventy-ive dollars.
"Oh, dear" was the mental exclamation
Of pain that followed the perusal of this bill.
That a little piece Of paper, three or four
inches wide and six inches long, should have
such power over the feelings Of man.
This next billet was opened with more
nervous state OF mind. As he broke the
seal and displaced the envelope, another
narrow piece OF paper, folded over from
the ends in three sections dropped upon the
desk. Il was the bread bill for six months,
and called for forty-four dollars and ten
cents.
"Is il possible 2 Too bad too bad too
bad ! had no idea Of this"
Thus the unhappy man expressed his feel
ings. While yet holding this bill in his
hand, lad entered the store and, coming
up to the desk where he sat politely handed
him an ominous piece Of paper and retired.
lie opened and read
Mr.. Archibald Lane-bought Of" etc.
The particulars were An air-tight stove, at
twelve dollars a cooking stove, at thirty
and various other matters Of Russia pipe,
tire-boards, etc. amounting to flty-fve dol
lars. Though the genial heat from tho air.
tight stove had comforted Mr.. Lane every
evening since il came home, and he had en-.
joyed the improved cooking of the new addi-
tion to the cooking department, he had en-
tirely forgotten that the bill for these in
creased advantages had never been settled.
declare !" he exclaimed half aloud, and
striking the desk as he spoke; how came
| to forget that bill ? Lmeant to have paid
it when the articles came home, and told
Jenkins to send it in"
Soon after this Mr.. Lanes young man
came in from the postofice. There were
three letters, each with bill enclosed. One,
the tailor's bill, called for forty-oight dol
lars another was from the halter, and de
manded FIVE; and the third came from a
johbing carpenter, who had been called in at
sundry times 10 mend and make and asked
for the sum Of twenty-three dollars aud
ninety-two cents.
Mr.. Lane read them over, and placed them
under paper weight on his desk, uttoring,
at the same time, long-drawn sigh
The morning paper was yet unread. II
lay on the desk beside Mr.. Lane and more
from habit than any desire to know its con
tents, he opened it and commenced reading
An occurrence OF some interest had taken
place in a neighboring city and he was in
the midst of a narrative of the event, and
much interested III it, when he started and
turned quickly at the sound of voice near
him. A man had entered, and was stand
ing at his elbow
Good morning, Mr.. Lane" said the man.
"Good morning, Williams" returned Mr..
Lane " Can | do anything for you TO-
day ?" he added, in tone Of affected
cheerfulness.
" Not much,' said the visitor, removing
his hat as he spoke, and taking thsrefrom a
small package of papers.
You haven't bill against me ?" Mr..
Lane spoke confidently.
"What do you call that 2" replied the
man, as he drew a slip of paper from the
package in his hand and presented it.
"One barrel of flour; five hams a bushel
of corn meal, and a sack of salt. Bless mel
Didn't | pay for these at the time p
The man smiled aud shook his head,
Why, it's nine months since | made the
purchase, and I'm certain told you TO send
in the bill. | never like small matters of this
kind TO stand"
/" It's been overlooked But the money
will be just as good now," was the pleasant
answer.
With as geod grace as it was possible
for him TO assume, Mr.. Lane turned to his
desk, and drawing forth his pocket-book
counted out thirteen dollars, saying, as he
did so, =" The next time | make bill at your
store ! wish you to send it in before the first
of January"
won't PROMISE" was good-humoredly
replied, as the man bowed and Withdrew.
The pleasure was all on his side, and he
could afford to be in good humor.
Z" hope that's the last, said MIR. Lane, as
he wound the string of his great pocket
book round aud round its distended sides,
and then laid it carefully back in his desk.
But he was in error Ere the day passed,
his boot-maker sent in his bill, amounting to
iilteon dollars, aud from q lady shoemaker
came little token, footed up with the sum
Of twenty dollars more. An upholster had
been called upon to make chamber carpet,
aud do sundry little matters about the house
during the year and he called for eight
dollars aud thrty-four cents, Then the
obbing cabnetmaker had his account to
settle with Mr.. Lane, for sundry applications
of his art to broken.b backed chairs, rickety
tables, loose veneering, etc, cts, for all OF
which he wanted sixteen dollars. Thus il
went on hour after hour until towards even.
ing the glazier called for two dollars and q
half; the timer for five and the gas filter
for eight.
BY this time, human patience, at least SC
far as Mr.. Lane was concerned, had besr
well nigh exhausted. lie felt like making
very severe application of his foot TO any
man or boy who might again invade hi
premises with bill lie was sitting nt hi,
desk, in this not very amiable mood, witt
the bills he had received since morning
| spread out before him, aud q slip Of papel
in his hand, upon which the whole of th,
sums they called for, amounting TO four hun
! dred aud sixty.nine dollars and eighty-si,
cents, had been added up, when he heard th'
door open and shut. Turning with ner
vous start, he saw the familiar face oil al
old negro who had polished his boots for thu
last half dozen years. lie knew his errand
and felt that this was like adding insult u
injury. Peter came shufiling along towards
the desk at which Mr. Lane remained seated
with contracted brows, revealing at eacl
step more aud more of his polished ivory.
Little bill, nassa Lane" said the negro
producing dingy piece OF paper.
This was too much. IL was an ordeal be
yond what oyertried patience could bear
Clear out, you black rascal !" exclaime'
the sufferer, in a passionate voice.
"Alassa Lane" who had been looked upol
by Peter as one of the most amiable men il
the world. completely astounded the poo
negro and he beat a hasty retreat, glnncin.
/ back every now and then TO see ii an ink
stand or paper weight was not advancing il
the direction of his head, with something lik
lightning speed
To sudden storms there always follows
deep calm. BY the time Peter had vanishe'
| through the door, retiring with a velocit,
which could not have been increased hal
seven imps been at his heels, Mr., Lane
mind was trembling back from its state 0
uncomfortable excitement. Laying his fac
upon the desk, he sighed heavily. Mortif
cation took the place of irritation, and ange
against others was succeeded by ango
against himself.
"Ah me !" was breathed forth heavily, al
| last and raising himself up, he gathered
together the bills that were spread out be
! fore him, and thrusting them into the desk
| turned the key with firm hand, making
/ the lock click as the bolt sprang TO its place
When Mr., Lane went home that evening
his mind was calm. lie had passed through
day Of sad trial and disappointment, bul
| he knew the worst and was prepared for it
/ When the milk bill, milliner's and mantua
makers bill and other bills, were laid before