Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-11-06

1t touched Charlie Castleton deep
ly when entering the counting house
to announce his determination to re-
main in his position, to see the face
of his employer brighten. And as
Charlie spoke the large eyes grew
brighter and he smiled pleasantly as
he said:
'sThank you, Charlie. 1t would
have caused me serious embarrass-
ment to lose you, and | am heartily
glad you will stay. | trust you will
not long be obliged to take a small
salary, but circumstances compel me
to economiZe."
"You have been kind employer to
me for ten years." replied Charlie,
'sand if / am really of more value to
you than another would be in my
place | will not desert YOU
And looking into the careworn
face that trouble was marking more
deeply than age, Charlie resolved to
serve Mr. Miff1in more faithfully in
his perplexities than in his more
prosperous days.
1t was not before the old gentle
man felt the sympathy of his young
clerk and looked to him as he never
did before, for advice as well as SER
vice. He admitted him TO confden-
tial relations, explained to him the
difficulties caused by the failure of
other firms, some heavily indebted to
the firm of Joel Mifiin, others upon
whom he had depended for goods
obtained upon credit.
Day by day, as the hard, trying
winter wore away, the two friends
grew more fast, and so fafSfrom les
sening his work, Charlie found him
self willingly lifting some of his en-
ployer's burdens upon his own shoul-
ders.
He gave more time to business and
he was gaining an insight into it of
which an opportunity had never been
given him.
And Mabel, at home, was bravely
taking her share of the dimished loaf
with a smiling face and a cheerful
heart. As far as might be she kept
from Charlie a knowledge of her do
mestic economies, but some of then
were apparent.
The woman whose competent aiC
demanded high wages was dismissed
and half-grown girl engaged tc
mind the babies while Mable cooked
and washed and ironed and sewed
meeting difficulties with a courageou:
heart She had never been a dront
in the worlds hive, having been {
busy little dressmaker before Charli,
Castleton won her heart and took he
to preside over his pretty home.
But for three years of her married
life she had been much petted, an(
there were many pleasures to pu
aside, many dollars well weighed be
fore they were spent.
1t was with heart full of pardon
e able triumph that the young couple
: at the end of the year of reduce
pay, found they were still out Q
5 debt and had not touched the nes
Ii egg in the bank.
e "You see, Charlie, we made th
5 half loaf go round," said Mabel, a
e they went carefully over the year
Il expense book.
. 'sThere are no crumbs" he sal
u with weary face.
K "Never mind that; it was bette
than idleness"
"You are right; and there wa
= more than that, Mabel. | have bee
e able to help Mr.. Miffiin more than
u could have done in our old relation
% to each other. His complexitit
II made him long for some one to whol
IL he could speak confdentially, al
the ice was once broken he took II
fully into his business confidence.
5 could often suggest a way out of di
l. ficulty that had not occurred to hi
le and even when / was not of actu
d use to him it was relief to pour O
L his troubles to some one who was
+ full sympathy with him.
/ ''But you have worked very har
" Charlie. | never saw you so tir
~ as you often have been this yea
us and your face is more careworn th;
W it has ever BEEN
VI "Well, it is some comfort to knc
that business prospects are grown
'e' brighter. By the closest econor
lis Mr.. Miffiin has managed to meet t
10 obligations he was afraid would II
," him and there is good lookout
uC the coming year"
" "Will he give you a whole lc
lis yet, Charlie?''
''Not yet, 1 think. Never mir
ini m We will not despond yet.
~ "Despond! [ guess not. l ;
IT, going to have some of those crum
you were speaking of next year.
as have learned some valuable lesso
u in saving"
en- The second year was not an es
nd one to Mabel. A baby, in ad
,he tion to the three-year-old twins, k'
lin the mothers hands busy, while th
ars was no decrease in the househt
re- work. Many articles of clothing a
+. housekeeping, too, that lasted W
Id. one year, were past service in
,le- second. and it was not easy to