Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-25
pscrpe pavnsn. Of shis bin. or I voald

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tel! you l can't pay you nov" With
this b speang into the csrriase himseif
Giving IN impatient order 20 the driver.
and the carriage rapidly carried them
out OF sight 70 catch the train already
v1lstlinR 10 the distance.
how suddenly WAs the bright sky Of
the Browning family daskeoed BY this
pieoe OF thouRotless, cruel injustice.
NJ. Browning stood for . few moments
irreeoluts, while feelings Of anger, hu-
initiation and disappointment STRUGGLED
IN his heart. The fellow workman whom
he had employed also waited for his
small pittance, and when Mr.. Brown.
ing informed him Of the stats Of affairs,
vlsn an expression Of profanity be
threw down tho tools be held in his
hands and walked away. Bot to break
the news to his family vas the hardest
OF I'll. How could he blast their hopes
aud chilli their hearts, and On Christmas
eve, too! But il was growing nearly
dark, and something must be done. The
butcher and the grocer would both be
looking for him, and altogether il was
too hard t. endure.
! 4n. Browning saw her husband CON-
ing up the walk, and she knew by the
| oppression Of his face that something
vas wrong. She opened the door to
meet him, and exclaimed anxiously,
"Ar. Potter has gone OF TO the city TO
spend the holidays, and did not pay
me, and he viii not be back for three
weeks" said Mr.. Browning.
We'll, II that isn's outrageous - said
anger. why did You let him Oh ? II
i ! x.s : man. tell you. people eoaldn's
earned my money, I'd collect it."
There was danger that in addition to
the expeeted money, there would be the
los OF that more precious thing in the
family, affectiOnate harmony and SYM
pathy; for Mrs. Browning vas human,
and had that human instinct which
leads % TO try TO hnd some ono on
whom TO blame misfortunes and dissp-
pointmeuts. Her husband, with an
equally natural instinct, Was inclined to
resent this, for he only knew how hard
It was 70 collect money even after it was
earned.
IF you think You can collect better
than can," was his reply, '.juss try it.
SOu can take that bill for the balance
Colonel Randall ewes me and see il You
can get it. We have nothing to fall
back on exc,pt those little bills we
counted over last week, anyway"
The children had gathered around
and listened in silence and dismay to
the conversation. "Can't We have any
Christmas now p was their fearful
query and when their mother sharply
told them "No-' re-echoing in her
voice and manner tho anger of her
spirit, it vas but q few moments till
they, too. were inspired By the same
discordant feelings, and quarrelling and
angry words were heard where but an
hour before all was good temper and
| pleasurable excitement.
John Browning modify waited while
his wife placed the supper Of oatmeal
and milk on the table. She herself was
almost faint for a more substantial
meal, and Mr.. Browning, in the earlier
part Of the day, had said to her: We
will have a good steak for snpper this
eve hing working in the cold makes
fellow fearfully hungry" He was 90
full Of chagrin now that he ssoarcely
noticed what he ate, aud q gloomy 81
lence fell upon all a. they sat around
the table. When the meal was through
be said. az he put on his hat:
/ wish, Mary, YOU would take that
q step, and have to go clear to the 9th
OF side Of the village ~ see II can get
those other small bills. Perhaps he
will pay It to you even quicker than he
will to me. Tnen ] must call and zee
the grocer and butcher. Dear me, I'd
rather be dashed than meet them now"
| With this he handed her the account
aQainst Colonel Randall and went out.
The original account had been $33 30,
and there was only the balance of ~ 30
duo. Mrs. Browning washed up the tea
things, her mind filled with bitter and
complaining thoughts. She disliked to
70 to Colonel Randall with call for 90
small balance she feared he would
think them mean to ask for IL. Then
she fell back to her mood Of trying to
blame somebody. John was q kind
husband, bot he was too easy with peO-
pie. Il seemed to her If she were q man
that In some way or other she would
manage money matters better. They
would never get ahead at this rate Of
doing things.
The early moon was shining brightly
when she was ready TO 60 TO Col. Ran
dall's with the bill. Giving the elder
children directions {, put the younger
ones to bed, she muffled up warmly, for
it was bitter cold, and passed along the
short distance that lay between their
little home and Col. Randall's fine resi-
dence. Ringing the bell, she was
ushered into the hall, and ttsre left
waiting wnile the servant called the
gentleman out.
"Gsod evening; what can 1 do for
your" said that severe looking gentle
man. not recognizing her as q near
s..kl he. ss~Ax q h< hal
Mr.. Browning, my husband, wishes to
know II 1t would be convenient for you
to pay the small balance on the bill this
evening""
Col. Randall took the bill besitatingly,
turned IL over, and hemmed and cleared
his throat, and then said:
"l'ye paid $50 on this bill, and
should think Mr.. Browning need not
| trouble me for the balance on Christmas
eve.''
But he has been disappointed in
estsinG, pay for work, and needs the
$50 do / need money. People seem
to think I'm made Of money. really
cant spare this trifis this evening. Be-
sides, told Mr. Browning the last time
he asked mo for tue balance. and he has
b0shesed me about il great deal. that
when got ready and could spare the
money wsald pay him. Good evening,
mA'Am." And with this the Colonel
turned on his heel, and, while Mira
Browning waited for the servant 70 lot
her out, che heard Linn say 70 his wife
in the sitting room: IL IL one Of the
Auuoyanoes OF having work done BY
starving wo.kmen that they are always
Cumming one for the pay. ! am snrs
John Browning has bothered mo moro
for that little balance than the whole
bill ID worth"
And % that IL what poor John ha6
% stand when he triss 90 collect his
bills," eaid Nrs. Browning 20 herself -
she hurried hsme. "SeaSyinQ work
men. indeed. And then 10 think am
ready 70 blame him into The bargain."
Over and above al her feelings OF
disappointment nov roo the feeling Of
love and sympathy for her husband.
How did che regret her sharp words at
/ Ah~ vaAo~ ~ hs~ Pni1nea - 6nnk hSa vvansHAv