The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-12-07

but she kept all such fears shut up in be
own heart and had always bright wor
lofcheer for tired Charlie when he cam
home.
She never told him that the late breaE
fast that she had planned to let tn
babies sleep while he ate his early on
comprised none Of the little temptin
dishes Of his own meal, but WIS LITERAL,
bread and milk six mornings out of tn
! seven. She never let him know that tn,
reason she suggested his lunch dow
town, to save the long walk home, wa
really to save the price of that meal to
ward the dinner, the dainty little parce
he carried never costing the price Of :
regular meal for them all.
She did not tell him that she was cut
ting up her own dresses to clothe the
twin girls, and sewing busily every leis-
ure moment to keep all the little one,
tidy.
And yet there came a day in June
when six months of the second year were
almost gone, when she spent the last
dollar of the weeks money while the
week was only half gone. Charlie had
given heI, long before, some signed
checks to meet such an emergency, but
it was her pride to think that not one
had yet been presented at the bank.
She took one from the desk where they
had lain so long and spread it out before
her, calculating, with FUCKERS on her
pretty face, how small sum she could
stretch over the necessary expenses.
Il hate to begin, she said half aloud /;
"if once we break in upon that money,
it will melt away like snow before the
sum-"
There was no alternative but debt,
and Mabel knew that Charlie would
never be willing to owe any man a cent
while he had cent with which to pay
HIM. So, with great sigh, she dipped
her pen in the ink to fill out the blank
check. Before it touched the paper,
however, she paused, listening. There
was step in the hall that was not that of
the nurse or her charges, voice ringing
out full and clear, calling:
Mabel Where are you, May?"
Here in my ROOM" she answered.
'Oh, Charlie, what is it,"
For the face at the door was SO radiant
that all care seemed to have slipped from
It forever.
"Good news, May! And yet-perhaps
| should feel sorrow, too, only 1 did not
know him."
"What are you talking aboutf
"Did you read this mornings paper?"
"Yes."
"Did you notice the death of Amos
Gardiner"
"No. Is that the Mr. Gardner who used
% be Mr. Mifflin's partner, before you
went into the store?"
"Yes; he was a bachelor, and he has
eft his whole estate to Mr. Miffin, except
, few legacies. The store will be closed
ill after the funeral; so we have three
lays holiday, May"
Il am glad you will be able to rest"
"But that is net all. Do you guess the
.est?"
"You are to have your old salary
Igain?"
"More than that. Mr. Miffin took me
o his house this morning and told me
III his plans. He will enlarge his busi-
ness, and take on all his old salesmen
who are willing to come. He has given
ne permission to offer position to Will
Castleton, who has been nearly a year
,ut of employment, because he would
iot accept your theory Of half loaf
icing better than no bread"
Il know. Poor Will / am afraid that
Maria had a worse year than ours has
,een, Charlie"
"Nor is this all May"
"More good news still?"
aMore still, Mr. Gardner, Mr. Miffin
ays, did me some injustic some time,by
that would proportion my
work to the decrease in my salary. To
Itone for this he has left me five thous
md dollars"
"Oh, Charlie.
"nold on little woman: he also ad
Used Mr. Miffin, in their very last inter
,iew, to reward me for my faithful, dis
Interested devotion to him in his late
difficulties by taking me as partner
n the business"
Charlie Oh, my Charlie, | must
either laugh or cry" said Mabel, almost
Historically.
Laugh, then, by all means, The new
irm of Miffin 4 Castleton must not be
by tears, even happy ones
Hurrah, who says after this that half
loaf is not better than no bread?"