Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-11-09
A HALE LOAF.

a aAUI AOAIs
s'Half loaf is better than no bread
Charlie.''
Little Mabel Castleton said this wistful
", 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 mood
lily. But his eyes followed his wife's to
the cosy nest Of tho twin babies.
sit is ba0 time of the year to be out OF
a SITUATION said Mabel after long 81
lence; land how many of whom we know
are idle 1t would not be*easy to find en-
ployment now"
"You think had better remain with
Mr.. Miflin ?"
81 do. Tell me exactly what he said to
you.''
1.-The substance of whathe said was this
Business is SO very dull that he is obliged
to curtall his expenses, and he must dis.
charge some of his clerks. 1 have been
with him for ten years, and he was pleased
to say that am very useful to him, and
he can give me but half my present salary
though he promises to raise it when bus
mess prospects brighten. 1 don't know
what to do. We are none too rich at my
present salary.
''Yet we have saved something each
month. Besides, dear, we have not tried
ito be economical. There are many ways
lin which I could save.''
"And make perfect slave of yourself
''Not bit of it. have plenty of leisure
time, now that May and Bella amuse each
other. Come, Charlie accept Mr.. Miffiin Is
offer. You may hear of something better,
even if you remain there; but don't throw
yourself out of a situation in the dead of
winter, for my sake and the children's.''
The last argument conquered. Charlie
knew only too well that it would be almost
useless to look for new situation. for the
whole town was echoing Mr.. Mullins Cry
of hard times. The small nest egg in the
bank would soon melt away when it be-
came the sole support of four and so, kis-
sing Mabel, he promised to follow her ad-
vice. But it caused his pride a sore
wrench.
He had entered the service of his present
employer at seventeen, and slowly, steadi-
ly gaining favor by dint of faithfully full
filling 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 Ma
bel to be his wife, furnishing a pretty cot
tage home out of his savings, and giving
her thoroughly comfortable income for
housekeeping expenses. He was not ex-
travagant, but it pleased him to see his
wife well dressed. to give her an efficient
servant, to have the twin girls ever pre-
sentable, his table well 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 present
income would be simply impossible. House
rent must be met, and the sum remaining
each month would have to be carefully cal
culated to meet all the expenses, leaving
but little margin for pleasures or extrava-
gance Of dress.
"Then, what would Will say ?"
Will Castleton was Charles cousin, who
had been his lifelong companion. To
gether they had left che school room for a
business position, Will entering the grain
store of Harvey & Russell, at the same
time Charlie had taken the place in MI
Miffiin's dry goods store. Shoulder to
shoulder the young men had worked their
way up, till this financial crisis brought
all business men into temporary diff culties
of greater or less magnitude.
Will had expressed the warmest indigna-
ton at the proposal made to his cousin,
strongly advising him to throw up his
situation, and ''see how Miffin 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-"Half loaf was
better than no bread"
And while Charlie Castleton was thus
weighing the pros and cons of his decision
Mr.. Miffiin was listening to the counsel of
his old friend and chum, the senior part
ner of the firm when it had been 'sGardner
& Mifin,' and who, though he had re-
tired years before, was still the friend and
freuuent adviser Of his former mariner.
ut is mistake, Miffin,' he said. "You
had better send young Castleton about his
business, and engage an entirely new book
keeper. You will find half pay will mean
half service-mark my words.''
@But [ might search g. from end
to eng aplsda l not Iffnq clerk competent to
take Charles place. - -
"Then pay him full salary
81 cannot do it unless reduce the mum
Der Of statesmen, and I am short-handed
now. There is but one way for me to KEEP