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

wandering to the cradle, where two
heads were lying.
s.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 a bad time of the year to be
out of situation" SAID Mable, after
long silence, tand many of whom
we know are idle. 1t would not be
very easy to find employment now"
"You think / had better remain
with Mr.. Miffiinn."
Il do. Tell me exactly what he
said to you.''
ssThe substance of what he said
was simply this: Business is so very
dull that he is obliged to curtail his
expenses. and he must discharge
some of his clerks. / have been
with him ten years, and he was
pleased to say that | 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. | don'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 | could
save
"And make a perfect slave of
yourself. y
''Not bit of it. l have plenty of
leisure time now that May and Bella
can amuse each other. Come Char
lie, accept Mr.. Mifiin'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 too well that it would
be almost useless to look for a new
situation, for the whole town was
echoing Mr.. Miffiin's cry of hare
times. The small nest egg in The
bank would soon melt away when i
became the sole support of four, anC
so, kissing Mabel, he promised tt
follow her advice. But it cost hi
pride a sore wrench.
He had entered the service of hi
present employer at seventeen, ant
slowly, steadily gaining favor b,
dint of faithfully performing ever
duty, he had won his way to tn
desk of head clerk. Not until b
had acquired this position and tn
handsome salary accompanying
would he ask Mable to become hi
wife, furnishing pretty cottag
; home from his savings, and givin
her a thoroughly comfortable incom
for housekeeping expenses. He wa
not extravagant, but it pleased hil
to see his wife well dressed, to Civ
: her an efficient servent, to have b
twin girls ever presentable, his tab
: well appointed. All this had bee
easy enough to do upon his salar.
and there had been something adde
= for three years to the little ban
g fund.
!. But to do this upon half the pre-
i ent income was simply impossible
House rent must be paid, and tt
: sum remaining each month wou
d have to be carefully calculated
: meet all the expenses, leaving b.
/ little for pleasure or extravaganza
q dress.
n "Then what would Will say"'
e Will Castleton was Charles cou
Il in, who had been his long compa
ion. Together they had left t
e school room for a business positio
r Will entering the grain store of Ha
2, vey & Russell at the same time Cha
2 lie had taken the place in Mr.. MI
e fins dry goods store. Shoulder
= > shoulder the young men had work
,e their way, till this financial cri'
had brought all business men in
h temporary difficulties of greater
+. less magnitude.
d. Will had expressed the warm'
N Nle indignation at the proposal made
of cousin, strongly advising him
if throw up his situation and "see h
Ill old Miffiin would get along withe
er him." aud Charlie, before seei
s. Mabel, was quite ready to follow
- advice.
fe
- He knew Will would think b
?o mean spirited to remain upon h
'I salary, and yet Mabel was rig
it Half loaf is better than no bread
And while Charlie Castleton W
- thus weighing the pros and cons
nd his decision, Mr.. Miffiin was list
le, ing to the counsel of his old frie
ed and chum, the senior partner of
IS firm that had been Gardner & Milf
81 and who, though he had retired ye
80 before, was still the friend and /
NO quent adviser of his former partne
ng sit is mistake, Miffiin,' he So
the s'You had better send young Cas-
os- ton about his business and engage
!, " entirely new book keeper. You '
find that half pay means half servi
asa - a mark my words
r ~ e