The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-02-06

Mts AAhc NAi As tbAAtNA VI NSNfHe
unhappy from that uomenl. Had thesr
bills not existed, AID the Surplus Of ID
year shown the pleasant aggregate Of fou
bubdred dollars, be would have beei
quite A. happy as wbca be figured Il ul
3, siH hundred dollars, be would haEi
been quile a. happy as when be figure,
\ up Al siT basdred. Bat 10 imagination
he bad been better OF by two hundred
dollars than the ruth now discovered
bin 20 be, and the loss was felt as real
The remainder Of the evening passed
gloomlly enough. When Mr., Lane re
tired to bed, be could not sleep for think
ing Of ibe dry goods, grocery, aud brsst
bills. While be thus lay awake, memory
assisted him to the nowledge Of two OF
three other little matters Of she sams
Kind. There was as unsetlled tsiIor's
bin that might take twenty-five or thirty
dollars 10 balance; and The boot mAkcI
had something against him. Ten bushel,
OF potatoes aud three barrels Of apple,
that be bad ordered sent home 10 Oclo.
Der, were ye. TO be paid for, At leAsl
afty dollars more Of bis years profits
vanished.
AT last, Mr.. Lane fell asleep, and
dreamed all night Of bills that came al.
most in shower around him. On New
Year morning he sat silent aud moody at
the breakfast table, eating but little, and
looking no Que in The face. All were op.
pressed by his state Of mind, though none
but his wife knew its nature aud the
cause from which II WAS produced.
II was early when Mr.. Lane went to
his place Of business, on the morning OF
the hrst OF January; not so early, how
ever, but that one or two persons had
preceded him, and left behind them
visible tokens OF the fact. ca bis desk
were couple OF sealed notes. lie open.
ed them with vague presentimeut OF
something disagreeable, aud be was not
The first contained mar
row slip OF paper, with printed head
and certain written characters and figures
below, which plainly enough expressed
the fact that be was indebted to certain
dealer In groceries in the sum OF seventy.
xix dollars.
q, dear! was the mental exclamation
Of pain that followed the perusal Of this
bill. That a little piece OF paper, three
Or four inches wide aud six inches long
should have such power over the feelings
1f mani
The next billet was opened with more
nervous state OF mind. Az be broke the
'ea and displaced the envelope, another
narrow piece Of paper, folded over from
The ends 10 three sections, dropped upon
he desk. 1t was the bread bill for six
months, and called for forty -four do liars
md ten ceuts.
Is il possibleS Too bad too bad too
lad had no idea of this.
Thus the unhappy man expressed his
ceilings. While yet holding this bill in
lis hand, y lad entered the st ore; and,
coming back to the desk where be sat,
politely handed him an ominous piece OF
PAPER, and retired. He opened It, and
cad
Mr.. Archibald I.sne-Bought of, &c.
The particulars were, an sir-tight stove
It twelve dollars; cooking stove, at
hirty; and various other matters OF Rus
ia pipe, tire-boards, etc., in all, amount
ng to fifty.fve dollars. Though the
yenial heat from the air.tight stove had
,omforted Mr.. Lane every evening since
{ came home, and he had enjoyed the
improved cooking of the new addition to
he kitchen department, he had entirely
orgolten that the bill for these incre ased
,dvautages bad never been settled.
declare, he eIclaim ed, half aloud and
trikiug the desk as he spoke. How came
to forget that bill? meant to have
,aid II when the articles came bome, aud
old Jenkins to send il IN.
soon after this, Mr., Lsne's young man
ame 10 from the post Office. There were
hree letters, each with the city poslmark
nd each with bill enclosed. One, the
Silor's bill, called for forty eight dollars
mother was from halter ,and demanded
I've; and the third came from a jobbing
arpeuler, who had beeu called Ia at sun-
Try times to mead and make, aud asked
or the sum Of tweuty-tbree dollars,
liaety.two cents.
Mr. Lane read them over, aud then
,laced them under paper weight on bis
!csk, utteriug, al The same time, long
lrawn sigh.
The morning paper was yet unread. II
ay on the desk beside Mr.. Lane; and,
rsR habit more than from any desire 10
nov its contents, be opened II aud com.
nenced reading. An occurrence OF some
interest bad taken place 10 neighboriug
ity; aud be was ia the midst OF = nara.
i've OF the event, aud much interested in
I, when he started aud turned quickly al
he sound OF voice near him. A man
lad entered aud was standing 81 bis
lbow.
Good morning, Mr.. Lane, said the man.
Good morning, Williams, returned Mr..
4ane. Can do anything for you to-dAyI
,e added, Ia tone Of affected cheerful.
iess.
Not much, said the visitor, removing
lie bat As he spoke aud taking therefrom
small package Of papers, which be com
neneed turning over.
You hsvep't q bill sgAinst mel Nj.
4sue spoke confidently.
What do you call tbAlS replied the man
q be drew a slip Of paper from ibe pack
.ga l., hEs hsrH sna s.resa0fad IL