The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-31

| asked she, pOutlng her pretty lips INTO I
very unamiable position.
"Simply, my dear, because l canno
afford it, '.replied the philosophical mer
chant.
How can Joe afford it?
best"
He has put over 800 into his house. ,
Ben whistled and made no reply.
"Do, Ben, buy some new chairs.'
"Can't afford it,
Yes, you CAM
Ono, can't
"You can afford it as we'll as joe"
Perhaps CAM
Do buy some.'
q! should be very glad to crafty you
but cannot take the money from my
business. A year hence, if business pros
pers with me, you shall have them.'
"A year hence,' pouted the wife.
II must spend a hundred dollars in adj
vertising the next quarter
Every foolish
VERY foolish, my dear, but it must he
done"
THAT'S the way you throw your money
away: You don't catch Joe to do such a
thing as that
True; but though he has the advan.
tage of having corner store, paid three
hundred dollars more on my mortgage
than he did"
''Then you can afford the table and
chairs
Nay, my dear, 1 will not spend dol,
lar for supertluities while l am in debt"
Mrs. Ben Weston felt very badly about
1t, but her husband was firm, and she was
tn, a.,
ture.
Mrs. Joe Weston enjoyed her nice par,
lor till the novelty wore away, and then
she discovered that there were great
many other articles wanted to make
must have drapery curtains, pier glass
was needed, and some pictures were
wanted to relieve the walls Her husband,
who had once exceeded the limit of his
means, found no difficulty in doing so
again, and the things were bought.
But Joe had some scruples about it
his notes began to be troublesome, and
every day he was in the street borrowing
money. His business, too, had not met
his expectations. Instead of increasing in
the ratio of the first years experience it
hardly held its own, and the poor fellow
began to have serious misgivings about
the future - - ~
Before the year had half expired he was
obliged to introduce rigid system of re-
trenchment into his family and business
affairs, in order to keep his expenses with
in his means.
Another year has passed away in the
business experiences of the young mer-
chants. The books had been balanced,
and the result stood in Black and white
before them.
Ben had followed up his system of adj
vertising through the year. He had ex-
pended large sums, but made the outlay
with Judgment and discretion.
The result exceeded his most sanguine
expectations. His store was continually
crowded with Customers with genuine
bona .fde customers, and with but small
proportion Of gadders and fancy shoppers.
The newspapers had borne to the best
families in the city and country full de-
scriptions of his stock. His name was as
familiar as "household words" in the
dwelling of the rich and poor, of the
farmer, the mechanic and laborer. -, I
! Truly, the harvest was abundant, and
Ben rubbed his hands with delight as he
cast his eyes over the figures that conveyed
to him the pleasing result of his year. s
operations. He had the means not only
OF clearing himself of debt, but also of
gratifying his wife by giving her all the
new furniture she required, besides a
handsome surplus with which to increase
business.
The new furniture was bought and Get
up; every debt was discharged, the inn
H.,
unlimited credit. =
: One day while he was Eliminating on
this pleasant state of affairs, Joe Weston
entered the store. For some months past
the intercourse between the young mer-
joe's nice things had rather ''set him up
some of the upper ten had condeseended
to visit him, and lie attended the al
mack parties with hiswife. 'f"
He was getting ahead fast in his own
estimation, and cherished supreme con-
tempt for the slow motion, of his friend.
But when, in the middle Of the year,
he found himself. runnings down hill,
and discovered that s.Benns- store was
crowded with shoppers while his own was
empy,a feeling of envy took possession
OF him. Ben must be underselling, and
sooner or later the consequences would
appear: - = =
The prosperous merchant could not but
not notice the detected mien of his friend, as
ne entered the store. z@f .
How are you, Joe o. You are almost a
stranger, lately. Where do you keep
yourself?" asked Ben.
Business, Ben, business!' replied Joe,
demurely. F'"'
"Good business before pleasure. ,
Anything over to-day?' asked Joe
but the query was not put in that elastic
tone which had distinguished him in for
ne IA at tyias; ~ aiach d sdp want ." re.
piled Ben, promptly. ,.-7g'
"To tell the truth, I am bang up;
Ehaveta mote FIR two hundred to pay, and ]
have not raised the. first dollar toward
it," ,yt;-
You are late, it is half past one, ,, re.
piled Bel, Consulting hiis lwVatcf!to sig5l
ben, am in tight place." said Joe,
an low sshmnInreI 8 4.H2 r.,
Indeed! I am sorry to hear it, rand
Den's face wore an expression of sincere
sympathy. "It is nothing serious3 u
81 Xes,als soss II
eW$aEda do IA h& &di the
y6ung MIN t6UK down Ms q ecK .b0bk ana
examined the state Of bis bank account. u
flH ssssa IG Is Be- Se t eoea hun =.
continued, taking up the pen to I'LL up the
blank.
Thank you, Ben, you are very kind
| but don't know as ought to take it,