The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-01-19
CHAPTER III.

Business prospered with the youug
men. BY prudent and careful man /.
agement, each had not only made q
living. but had been able to pay a
small portion of the mortgage on the
stock, at the end Of the first year.
Joseph had the advantage OF his
friend in possessing a better Local
ton, and though his rent was some
what higher, the difference was more
than compensated by the increased
facilities it offord, ID him. The pros.
pect was decidedly bright to him.
If his business increased as il had
done, he would be enabled to clear
himself Of debt in another year.
Under this encouraging aspect he
ventured TO expend u hundred dol.
lars in additions to his furniture,
which bis wife insisted was absolute
ly necessary for their comfort aud
The house had been fur
nished altogether too plain for this
progressive age, in her estimation.
She was behind some Of her friends,
VIII, she was sure, were doing no
better than her husband.
Joseph was q little obstinate at
first but then there was something
so decidedly comfortable in set Of
stuffed chairs and lounge, that he
did not hold out in his opposition.
He was doing we'll, and the expen
diture would not seriously embarrass
him.
With nice new Brussels carpet
and the new furniture, Mrs. Weston's
little parlor looked exceedingly plea
SAINT and comfortable. Besides, IL
looked as though her husband was
prosperipg in his business.
1t was so very nice that the young
wife could lot bear the idea of hav.
ing the parlor shut up, so that no
one should see il till the furniture
bad grown rusty; consequently she
made up her mind tuat thew must
have party.
Their friends had parties why
shouldn't they 1t looked stiugy
not to have one. Mrs. Weston was
an elegant debater, and sue gained
the day in this matter. 1t is true
the party was not very extravasant
affair; but it cost Joe some fifty dol
lars; In the meantime Benjamin
had paid qnite as much for advertise
ing as his friend had for new furni-
ture and the party. Joseph laugh
ed at him. and finally came to be-
lieve that he was insane, aud would
certainly come to ruin in another
year.
Mrs. Ben Weston, too, felt decid-
edly unpleasant about the improve
ments which had been going on in
her sisters house,.
"Why can't we have a rosewood
table and set of stuffed chairs,
Benjamin ?" asked she, pouting her
pretty lips into very unamisble po-
sition,
"Simply, my dear, because ] cam
not afford it, replied the philosoph'
cal merchant.
"How can Joe afford it 7"
II presume he knows his own bus
ness best"
He has put over hundred dol-
lars into his house."
"Ben whistled "T'other side OF
Jordan" aud made no reply.
"Do, Ben, buy some new chairs"
"Can't afford it."
eyes, you can"
"No, I can't"
"You can afford it as we'll as Joe"
perhaps I oan."
"Do buy some.'
"Ishould be very glad to gartify
1ou, but cannot take the money
rom my business. A year hence. il
business prospers with me, you shall
,ave them"
"A year hence,' pouted the wife.
IL must spend a hundred dollars
in advertising the next quarter"
"How foolish !"
very foolish, my dear but 1t
must be done."
"That's the way you throw your
money away. You don't catch Joe
10 do such trick as that"
"True but though he has advant
age OF having q corner store, I paid
three hundred dollars more on my
mortgage note than he did"
"Theu you can afford the table
and chairs"