The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-04

for more, but a way out one day came
to him as he went with his grandfather
into the grocery.
Charge it on nay BILL" said Mr..
Burton as he went out.
Charge it, repeated Harry, climb
ing into the buggy. "You always say
that, grandfather.
mot always said Mr. Burton; "for
l pay the bill once month. Charging
means that he writes in his books what
| owe him, till am ready to pay. 1t
is more convenient, because sometimes |
have not the money with me; but it is
generally best to pay as you go
Harry sat quite still. Why should
he not have a bill and let Bob " charge
it,? Grandfather often gave him pen
MES, and he could save them and paw
all at once. He would tell mamma the
moment he got home. No, he wouldn't
either. He try it first and see how it
seemed, and then tell her.
Harry might have known there was
something not quite right when he was
not willing to go at once to her, but
kept still, thinking he would call it
secret and enjoy telling it after awhile
So next morning he went into Bob's
and looked about. Fresh dates, alto
gether too good to do without. were in
the window, and he said at once:
Five cents worth o dates, Bob,n
adding as he took the sticky little bun
die: You may charge 'em. Bob. L
haven't any pennies this morning
Bob looked doubtful moment. Then,
sure that Mr.. Burton would pay, said,
" All right" and Harry ran off.
That very evening Uncle John drove
over from Cornish and gave Harry a
tive-cent piece, and the small debtor,
who had been a great deal worried
through the day over his mornings
work, went to bed happy. Bob was
paid next day and more dates bought,
and then, seeing some fresh lemon
drops, one cent over was charged on
Bob'S slate.
So it went on. The bill grew slowly
but surely, Harry sometimes catching
up, but oftener not, and hardly realiz-
ing how surely, till one morning Bob,
with a very sober face, handed over a
dirty slip Of paper.
Il can't read writing said Harry,
uneasily. "What is it?''
:" It's your bill, boy. High time you
paid up!"
"How much is it?" asked Harry,
family.
"Twenty-eight cents, and you'd bet
ter pay to-day, because l want all the
money | can get in
"Well, I'll pay YOU pretty SOON"
Harry said slowly, but his heart sank
within him as he turned away and
walked down the road.
Hes plucky one," said Bob to
himself. He hain't cent, but he
wouldn't let on if he was logged to
make him. l wonder what he'll do
about it?''
Harry walked on till he came to the
wood-path, into which he turned, and
went on till he came to an old loo near
a spring, over which grew clump of
alders. He sat down here and began
to think. Twenty-eight cents! What
would his mother say, and grandfather
too? How long would it take to pay at
three cents week? Harry thought it
out slowly. Nine weeks and little bit
of another! Would old Bob wait, and
what would Amy think if he stopped
treating? The school-bell was ringing,
but he could not go there. How was
he to learn a spelling lesson or a table
when over and over in his head, SEEM
ing to say itself, he heard:
"Twenty-eight cents! Twenty-eight
centsr'
81 hate an allowance! | hate it,''
Harry said passionately, throwing him
self on the ground and beginning to
cry. Il wish hadn't ever had one.
What shall do? o dear, what shall l
do?"
Down the wood-path came a tall fig
ure, with hands clasped behind and |
bent head. 1t was Mr. Osgood the
village minister, who very often walked |
here, and who stopped now in surprise |
as the sound of sobs fell on his ear. He |
looked for moment, then went on |
softly, sat down on the log and said,
50 Harry"
Harry sprang up with cry. Then,
seeing who it was, ran right into the |
kind arms he had known ever since his
and sObbed as if his heart
would break. Mr.. Osgood waited till
ne was quieter, then said gently:
Now, Harry boy. What is it all
about?''
Il hate my allowance! I don't want
70 have an income" began Harry in
,oherently. I'm in debt awfully. 1
never can pay it, not till nine weeks
and a day, and Bob'll put me in prison,
may be. What shall | do?''
Little by little the privately much
Mr.. Osgood heard the whole
story, and smiling in spite of himself,
\ Harry looked up pitifully, said:
"There are two things to be done, it
seems: First to tell mamma; then to
-hink of some way of earning money to
pay the debt"
''Then you don't believe Bob will |
want to put me in prison?'' Harry said.
mot at all. But you must pay him
just as soon as possible, and | think | |
know a way. We will go now and see
what mamma thinks of it. On the
whole, Harry, I'm rather glad you have
had this trouble"
"Glad?" repeated Harry. "How
could you be?'
Because | think you will hardly |
want to run in debt to anybody again. !
70 do it when you don't know of any
way of paying is almost as bad as steal
inc, though | know very few people |