The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17


Then pay him his full salary.
cannot do it, unless | reduce the mum
Der Of statesmen, and | am short.hande,
now. There is but one way for me I,
keep my head above water. You SC,
Clarke's failure involves lne heavily, and
And the worried man Of business en-
tered into long explanations of his diff
culties, not necessary to repeat here.
II touched Charlie Castleton deeply
when entering the counting house to an
nounce his determination to remain in hi
old position, to see how the face Of hi
employer frightened. He had been sit
ting in respondent attitude, lookin,
over the mails, the lines of care strongl,
marked upon his face. As Charlie spoke
the large eyes grew brighter, and he
smiled pleasantly as he said:
Thank you, Castleton. It would hav,
caused me serious embarrassment to losc
you, and am heartily glad you will stay
trust you will not long be obliged tC
take smaller salary, but circumstances
compel me to economic.
You have been kind employer to mi
for ten years, answered Charlie, aud if
am really of any value, more than another
would be in my place, will not desert
you.
And looking into the careworn face
that trouble was marking more deeply
than age, Charlie resolved to serve Mr..
Mifflin more faithfully in his perpiexities
than in his more prosperous days.
1t was not long before the old gentle
man felt the sympathy of his young clerk,
and looked to him, as he had never done
before, for advice as well as service. He
admitted him to confidential relations,
explaining the difficulties caused by the
failures of other firms, some heavily in
debtcd to the house of John Mifflin, others
upon whom he had depended for goods
obtained upon credit
Day by day, as the hard, trying winter
wore away, the two grew friends faster,
and so far from lessening his work, Char
lie found himself willingly lifting some of
his employers burdens upon his own
shoulders.
He gave more time to business, and
was gaining an insight into it that oppor-
tunity had never before been given him.
And Mabel at home was brayely taking
her diminished share of the loaf, with
smiling face and cheerful heart. As
far as might be, she kept from Charlie
the knowledge of her domestic economies;
but some Of them were apparent. The
woman, whose competent aid demanded
high wages, was dismissed, and "a half
grown girl engaged to mind the babies;
while Mabel cooked, washed, ironed and
served, meeting difficulties with a courag-
eous heart. She had never been drone
in the worlds hive, having been a busy
little dressmaker before Charlie Castleton
won her heart, and took her to preside
over his pretty home. But for the three
years of her married life she had been much
petted, and there were many pleasures to
be put aside, many dollars well weighed
before they were spent.
1t was with heart full of pardonable
triumph, that the young couple, at the
end of the first year of reduced pay, found
that they were still out of debt, and had
not touched the nest.egg in the bank.
You see, Cha rlie, we made the half loaf
go round, said Mabel, as they went care
fully over the years expense book
There are no crumbs, he said, with n
wry face.
Never mind, it was better than idle
ness.
You are right, and there is more than
that, May. l have been able to help Mr..
Mifiiin more than | ever could have done
in our old relationship to each other. His
perplexities made him long for somebody
to whom he could speak confdentially,
and when the ice was once broken, he
took me fully into all the business conf
dences. could often suggest way out
of difficulty that had not occurred to
him, and even when | was of no actual
use to him, it was relief to pour out his
troubles to some one who was in full SYM
pathy with him.
But you have worked very hard, Char
lie | never saw you so tired as you of.
ten have been this year, and your face is
more careworn than it has ever BEEN
Well, it is some comfort to know that
business prospects are looking brighter
By closet economy Mr.. Mifflin has man
aged to meet the obligations he was afraid
would ruin him, and there is good out
look for the coming year.
win he give you whole loaf yet,
Charlie?
Not yet, think. Never mind We
have held out so far. We will not de-
spond now.
Dcspond guess not ] am hoping
to have some of those crumbs you were
speaking Of, last year. | have learned
many valuable lessons in saving.
The second year was certainly not an
easy one for Mable. A wee baby in ad-
dition to the three-year old twins kept the
mothers hands busy, while there was no
decrease in household work. Many little
articles of clothing and housekeeping, too,
that lasted well through one year, were