The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-01-13

M Engagement W post ~ oa nouAs sSu
get on . balAnoc-sheet, work that would
occupy his evenings for d least . month,
and for which he Vas 10 receive 500.
A better day vas davnine upon Mr.,
Ellis--so he thought and fels; and his
heart grew light and hopeful 80 the day
would been better IL 70 larger resources
hal heen sdded economy and selfdenial.
Bat this vas not the case. He poured
more water into his hsrrsl, and the added
pressure made the wstsr how through the
uAstoppsd leaks 20 freely.
II Was no better With him when tho next
New Years Day came round And 40 II
went on for ten years; and We find him
stiIl rs unhappy on New Years dawn y
when it first opened Of his married life !
The day camc in bright aad sunny. Al
Mr. Ellis took bis est d the breakfast
table be looked into the faces Of Ave pleas.
ant children and across Il his still young
and attractive wife. He ought 70 10 8
happy man. with treasures like these.
But he WAS not; and the shadows that
were on his countenance threw themselves
across and around the table and dimmcd
the sunshine Of young hearts. The child.
ren talked gsyly At first, but gradually q
silence fell upon them. The oldest Of
them could be seen stealing glanccs Of in
quiry at their fathers face. and then drop.
ping their eyes thoughtiully. Mrs. Ellis
did the sams, signing family to herself,
and feeling sense Of oppression going
down like heavy hand upon her bosom.
She knew but too we'll Why there was =
cloud on her husbands brow.
Happy New Year, said . neighbor,
sherrily, to Mr.. Ellis, an hour after break
fast, meeting him . little way from his
own door.
! don't see III was the reply OF our friend |
in playful, half-worried manner.
You ought TO nee it, then. answered tho
neighbor II you don't there's something
wrong.
OF course there is In fact there is al.
ways something wrong with me on New
Years Day.
Bills! said the neighbor, Struggling his
shoulders and arching his eyebrows.
Billsl answered Ellis, moodily.
I thought so, frankly responded the
other.
y You did, hal His manner little net.
tied.
OF course. What else could mar your
happiness to-day--a man with such dear
good little wife and 80 many sweet child
rem as you havei
What am to do? asked Ellis, breaking
down.
Do? Why. have no bills on New Years
Day.
Easier said than done.
OF course 1t is; brs that 10 no reason
why it cannot be done.
should like 10 know the remedy, said
Ellis.
II is very simple. said the neighbor.
Ellis looked At him inquiringly. II
Always pay for what you buy at the !
time You got it.
Easy enough said; but supposing you {
have not the money at hand? Il
Then don't buy. Ii
Not bread and meat for your children? 4
The neighbor turned and looked at Ellis /
from head to foot with an expression Of
that had in it surprise, re-
proof and just little contempt. s
What is your income year? he asked in
> quiet, repressed way. l
About 50, 500, take one year with anoth- d
er. v
Humph A fair show for bread and b
meat, at least, one would naturally believe.
But bread and meat aren't all, answered d
Ellis, putting himself on the defensive. 81
No, but they represent our necessities, =
which usually do not cost half ss much as /,
our superfuities Here is just where the ii
pinch comes. 1t is for the things they Il
night As well do without that men are /,
roubled with bills on New Years.
Not my case, said Ellis, rallying little. h
Here I have grocer's bill and = butchers v
Dill, shoemaker's bill and taylor's bill,
! doctors bill. and A. Il
But where have your 81, 500 gone, inter q
'upted the neighbor, and these bills not ir
ettled before1
This threw Mr.. Ellis mind into confus- N
on. He could not give q prompt answer ii
o the question. cl
How much rent do you pay? inquired h
he neighbor
Six hundred dollars, replied Ellis. st
Can you afford to pay so mueh9 Al
No. NJ
Then why do you pay it7 ie
Because I cannot get . house TO suit me
or any less. b,
Suit you! exclaimed the neighbor. shak- n,
ng his head. All, my good friend, / see or
there the trouble lies 1t is what suits bi
That is desired and not what can be af- III
orded that governs you in expenditure Il,
10 one who lives by this rule can hope for 81
nything but the continual worry and hu- q,
,iliation OF being in debt m
Which have 10 my hearts content. said
Ills bitterly. And, struggle a. will
annot free myself from its coils. hs
Don't say that. You may il you will.
II you will show me the way out Of this I
readful state Of Affairs. will hold you ~ TO
~ truest frisad. vi
The ncighbor WAS silent for some mo- 40
isnts. bc
Are you really in eArnest1 he asked st ca
myth. sb