Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-19

frightened. He had been sitting in de-
spondent attitude, looking over the malls,
the lines of care strongly marked on his
face. As Charlie spoke the large eyes grew
brighter, aud he smiled pleasantly, as he
said:
"Thank you, CasLleton. 1t would have
caused me serious embarrassment to lose
you, and am heartily glad you will stay.
1 trust you will not loLg be obliged 10 take
a smaller salary, but circumstances compel
me to economize."
"You have been . kind employer TO me,
| for ten years." answered Charlie, land II
am really OF any more value than another
would be in my place, l will not desert
you"
And looking into the careworn face that
troub BILE was marking more deeply than age,
Charlie resolved to serve Mr.. Mifflin moro
faithfully in his perplexities than in his
more prosperous days.
1t was not long before the old gentleman
felt the sympathy of his young clerk, and
looked to him as he had never done before
for advice as we'll as service. lie admitted
him to confidential relations, explaining
| the difficulties caused by the failures OF
other firms, some heavily indebted TO the
house Of John Mlfflin, others upon whom
he had depended for goods obtained upon
credit.
bay by day, as the hard, trying winter
wore away, the two grew friends faster,
and so far from lessenng 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 il Of which an OPP
portunity haG never been given him.
And Mabel, at home, was bravely taking
| her diminished share of the loaf with a
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 balf-grown girl en-
gagged to mind the babies while Mabel
cook ed and washed aud ironed and served,
meeting difficulties with courageous
heart. She had never been droue in the
worlds hive, having been a busy little
dressmaker before Charlie Castleton won
her heart, and took her 10 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 put aside,
many dollars well weighed before they
were sn.nt
| 7, vas with n heart full of pardonablo
| triumph that the young couple at the end
| Of The first year of reduced pay, found they
were still out Of debt, and had not touched
the pest.eop in the hank.
| "You see Charlie. VIC made the half loaf
go round " said Mabel. AZ they went care
IuIIv aver the wears expepse book.
| "The,o a,o M c,nmbs" he said. with a
vry face a'o W ''
| "Neyer mind, IL was better than idle
ness"
| "Yuu are right, aud there is more than
that, NAV. ! have been able to help Mr..
Miffiin more than ever could have done
iu our old relations to each other. His per-
plexitles made him long for some one to
whom he could speak confideutially, and
when the ice was once broken, he took me
fully into all the business condolences.
could OMEN suggest way out of difficulty
that had not occurred TO him, and even
when 1 was of no actual use to him, IL was
a relief TO pour out his troubles to some
one who was in full sympathy with him"
"But YOU have worked very hard, Char
liel 1 never saw you so tired as you often
haye been this year, and your face is more
careworn than 1t has ever been,"
"well, II Is some comfort TO know that
business prospects are looking brighter.
BY cl, sest economy, Mr.. Mifilin has man
aged TO meet the obligations he was afraid
would ruin him, and there is good look
out for the coming year.
"Will he give YOU " hole loaf yet, Char
lieY
mot yet, / think. Never mind. We
have held out so far. We will not despond
now."
"Despondl guess noti ani hoping
to have some OF those crumbs you were
speaking of next year. l have learned
many valuable lessons in saving"
The secc nd year was certainly not an ca
sy one for Mabel. "A wee baby in addition
to the three year-old twins kept the moth
er's hands busy, while there was no de-
crease in household work. Many little ar
tlcles of clothing and housekeeping, TOO
hat lasted well through one year, we're past
service in the second one, and II was moi
easy to replace them.
Often Mabel feared the saving for "rainy
day" must be broken in upon, but she kept
all sucb ars shut up in her own heart, and
had ALWAYS bright word of cheer for tired
Charlie when he came home.
She never told him that the late break fas
that she had planned to let the babies sleeI
} while he ate his early one, comprised nont
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