Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19
And the worried man Of business en-
tered into long explanations of his diff

tered into long explanations Of his diff
cultles not necessary to repeat here.
1t touched Charlie Castleton dceply,
when, entering the counting-house to
announce his determination to remain
in his old position, to see how the face
Of his employer frightened. He had
been sitting in a Respondent attitude,
looking over the mails, the lines of-care
strongly marked on his face. As Char
lie spoke the large eyes grew brighter,
and he smiled pleasantly as he said:
THANK you, Charlie. Itwoild have
caused me serious embarrassment to
lose you and I am heartily glad you
will stay. trust you will not long be
obliged to take smaller salary, but
circumstances compel me to economize.'
You have been kind employer to
me for ten years." replied Charlie,
'and if am really of more value than
another would be In my place, I will
not desert YOU
And looking into the careworn face,
that trouble was marking more deeply
than age, Charlie resolved to serve Mr..
Miffin even more faithfully in his per-
plexitles 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 new
er done before fer advice as well as
service. He admitted him 10 confiden-
tial relations, explaining the difficulties,
caused by the failure of other firms.
some heavily indebted to the house Of
John Mifflin, others upon whom he had
depended for goods obtained upon
credit. -....
Day by day, as the hard, trying win
ter wore away, the two friends grew
faster, and so far from lessening his
work, Charlie found himsef willingly
lifting some of his employers burdens
upon his own shoulders.
He gave more time to business, and
was gaining an insight into it of which
an opportunity had never been given
him.
And Mable, at home, was bravely
taking her diminished share of the loaf
with a smiling face and a cheerful heart.
As much 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 half grown girl engaged to mind
the babies, while Mabel cooked and
washed and ironed and sewed, meeting
difficulties with a courageous heart. She
had never been drone in the worlds
hive, having been a busy little dress
maker before Charlie Castelton won her
heart, and took her to preside ever his
pretty home.
But for three years of her married
life she had been much petted, and
there were many pleasures to put,
aside, many dollars well weighed be-
fore they were spent.
twas with heart full of pardonable
triumph that the young couple, at the
end OF the year of reduced pay, found
they were still out Of debt, and had not
touehed the nest-egg in the baLk.
"Y gu see, Charlie, we made the last
loaf 60 round said Mabel, as they went
carefully over the years expense book.
There are no crumbs, he said. with a
wry face.
Never mind, it was better than idle
ness"
You are right, and there is more than
that, Mabel. l have been able to help
Mr.. Miffin more than ever could have
done in our old relations to each other.
His perplexities made him long for some
one to whom he could speak confden-
TALLY, and when the ice was once bro
ken, he took me fully into all the bust
ness condolences. l could often suggest
a way out ofdificulty that had not oc-
Cured to him, and even when 1 was of
no actual use to him, it was a relief to
pour out his troubles to some one who
was in full sympathy with him."
But you have worked very hard,
Charlie 1 never saw you so tired as
you often have been this year, and your
face is more care worn than it has ever
been.' .t...-. 81. ..
We'll, it Is some comfort to know
that business prospects are looking
brighter. BY closest economy, Mr..
Mifflin has managed to meet the obliga-
tons he was afraid would ruin him, and
there is a good lookout for the coming
year. .-...-.- SOL. Ai''i'- q "
b will he give you whole loaf yet.
Charlie y .--s j.. --.......... .. D..
Not yet, think. Never mind. We
have held out SO far. We will not des-
pond now"
'Despond /! 1 guess not! 1 am hop
ing to have some of those crumbs you
were speaking of next year. I have
learned some valuable lessons in saw
ing sI9-~ .....} -.--ls- .-....stl
The second year was certainly not an
easy one for Mabel. A wee baby, in adj
dltion to the three-year-old twins, kept
the mothers hands busy, while there
was no decrease in the household work.
Many little articles Of clothing and
housekeeping, too, that lasted we'll one
year, were past service in the second,
and it was not SO easy to replace them.
Often Mabel feared the savings for a
tsrainy dayu must be broken in upon.