The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-08-14
The Morristown Gazette.
HALF A LOAF.
A STORY OF HARD TIMES.

SS'0AAJs not OJ@os 90 SHO 0pOEAOS
wandering to the cradle, where two
curly heads were lying.
But when one has had the whole
loaf, May, one does not exactly rel
ish the half-rations you mention"
said Charlie, moodily. But his eyes
followed his wife's to the cozy nest
Of the twin babies.
cit 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 1t would
not be easy to find employment
now"
"You think I had better remain
with Mr.. MiffinT'
81 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 cartail his ex-
penses, and he must discharge some
of his clerks. / 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 prospects
brighten. Idon'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 to be economical. There
are many ways in which I could
save"
"And make a perfect slave of
yourself"
mot bit of it. 1 have plenty of
leisure time. DOW that May and Bella
amuse each other. Come, Charley,
accept Mr.. Mifin's 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
a situation, for the whole town was
echoing Mr.. Mifin's cry Of hard
times. The small nest-egg in the
bank would coon melt away when it
became the sole support of four; and
SO. kissing Mabel, he promised to
follow her advice. But it caused his
pride a sore wrench.
He had entered the service of his
present employer at seventeen, and
slowly, steadily gaining favor by
dint of faithfully fulfilling every du-
BY, he had won his way to the desk
Of head clerk. Not until he had Sc
cured this position and the hand
some salary accompanying it. would
be ask Mabel to be his wife, furnish.
ing a pretty cottage home out of his
savings, and giving her a thorough
w comfortable income for housekeep-
ing expenses. He was not extrava- /
CANT, but it pleased him to see his !
wife well dressed, to give her an ef-
fcient servant, to have his twin girls |
ever presentable. his table we'll ap-
pointed. 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 i'm.
possible. House rent must be met,
and the sum remaining each month
would have to be carefully calculated
to meet all the expenses, leaving but
little margin for pleasures or extrav-
agance of dress.
Then, what would Will say?'
Will Castleton was Charles cous-
in, who had been his lifelong COM
Danion. Together they had left the
for a business position,
Will entering the grain store of Har-
rev G. Russell, at the same time |
had taken the place in Mr..
difin's dry goods store. Shoulder
o shoulder the young men had work
ID their way up, until this financial
risis brought all business men into
difficulties of greater or
ess magnitude.
Will had expressed the warmest
at the proposal made to
is cousin, strongly advising him to
brow up his situation, and "see how
Id Miffin would get along without
im," and Charlie, before seeing
label, was quite ready to follow his
dvice,
He knew Will would think him
lean-spirited to remain upon half
alary, and yet Mabel was right
Half q loaf was better than no
read"
And while Charlie Castleton was
nus weighing the pros and cons of ,
is decision, DIR. Mifin was listen
Ig to the counsel of his old friend
nd chum, the senior partner of the !
nm when it had been "Gardner &