Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19
P o e TIC Al.
4 HALF LOAF,

|
Charlie"
Little Mabel Castleton said this visit
fully, her eyes, as she spoke, wandering
to the cradle, where two curly heads
were lying. ....
But when one has had the whole
loaf, May. one does not exactly relish
the half-rations, you mention said
Charlie moodily. But his eyes follow
ed his wife's to the cosy nest of the twin
babies.
1t is bad time Of the year to be out
of situation" said Mabel after long
silence and how many Of whom we
know are idlel It would not be easy
to find employment now
You think had better remain with
MIR. Mif1in.'
4 do. Tell me exactly what he said
to you.'
The substance OF what he said was
this: Business is SO very dull that he
Is obliged to curtail his expenses, and
he must discharge some of his clerks. l
| have been with him for ten years, and
he was pleased to say that 1 am very
useful to him, and he is very unwilling
to part with me. But he can give me
but half my present salary, though he
promises to raise it when business pros
poets brighten. don't know what to
do. We are none too rich at my present
salary. u --'-
yet we have saved something each
month. Besides, dear, we have not
tried to be economical. There are ma
ny ways in which could save"
And make perfect slave Of your
SELF
Not bit Of it. l have plenty Of
leisure time, now that May and Bella |
amuse each other. Come, Charlie ac-
cept Mr.. Miflin's offer. You may
hear Of something better, even if you
remain there but don't throw yourself |
out of situation in the dead Of wiuter,
for my sake and the childrens.'
The last argument conquered. Char
lie knew only too well that it would be
almost useless to look for new situa-
ton. for the whole town was echoing
Mr.. Miff1ln's cry of hard times. The
small nest egg in the bank would soon
melt away when it became the sole sup
port OF four; and SO, kissing Mabel, he
promised to follow her advice. But it
caused his pride sore wrench.
He had entered the service Of his pre-
sent employer at seventeen, and slowly,
steadily gaining favor by dint of faith
fully fulfilling every duty, he had won
his way to the desk of head clerk. Not
until he had secured this position and
the handsome salary accompanying it,
would he ask Mabel to be his wife, fur
nishing pretty cottage home out of
his savings, and giving her thoroughly |
comfortable income for housekeeping
expenses. He was not e1travagant,
but it pleased him to see his wife well |
dressed, to give her an efficient servant t,
to have the twin girls ever presentable,
his table we'll appointed. All this had
been easy enough upon his salary, and
there had been something added for |
three years to the little bank fund. |
But to do all this upon half the pre-
sent income would be simply impossible.
House rent must be met, and the sum
remaining each month would have to be |
carefully calculated to meet all the ex-
penses, leaving but little margin for
pleasures or extravaganza Of dress.
.'Theu, what would Will say Z"
Will Castleton was Charles cousin,
who had been his life long companion.
Together they had left the school room
for business position, Will entering
the grain store ofHarvey & Russell, at
the same time Charlie had taken the
place in Mr.. Aiflin's dry goods store.
Shoulder to shoulder the young mon
had worked their way up, till this finan-
cial crisis brought all business men into
Temporary difficulties of greater or less
| magnitude. /
Will had expressed the warmest in
dignation at the proposal made to his
cousin, stronly advising him to throw
up his situation, and ''see how Miflin
would get along without him." and
Charlie, before seeing Mabel, was quite
ready to follow his advice.
He knew Will would think him mean
spirited to remain upon half salary, and
yet Mabel was right-.'sHalf loaf was
better than no bread. 1.a-a ssl. "A
And while Charlie Castlston was thus
weighing the pros and cons Of his de-
cislon Mr.. Aiflin was listening to the
counsel Of his old friend and chum, the
senior partner of the 6rm when it had
been Gardner & Nifin.' and who,
though he had retired years before, was
still the friend and frequent adviser Of
his former partner. ~
1t Is a mistake, Mifliin,' he said.--
You had better send young Castleton
about his business. and engage an en-
tirely new book keeper. You will find
halfpay will mean half service-mark
| "But l might search C---from end
to end and not end clerk competent
to take Charles place."
Then pay him full salary"
Il cannot do It unless reduce the
number of statesmen, and 1 am short
handed now, There is but one way for
me to keepmy hesd above water. You
see Clark's failure involves me very
if i1i'