The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-04-02

: she spoke, wandering TO the cradI
, where two curly heads were lynn!
"But when one hss had the who
loaf, May, one does not exactly re
ish the half rations you mention,
said Charlie. moodily. But his eye
; followed his wife's to the cosy uei
of the twin babies.
2 at is bad time of the year to b
ont Of a situatIon,' said Mabel, a
ter long silence, "and many whor
, we know are idle. 1t would not b
very easy to find EN- mPloyment now.
"You really think I had bette
remain with Mr.. Mitflinf''
Il do. Tell me what he said t
you"
''The substance Of what he salt
was simply this; Business is s.
very dull that he is obliged to cur
tail his expenses, and he must dis
charge some of his clerks. l haY
been with him ten years, and hr
was pleased to say that am very
useful to him and he is very unwill
ing to part with me. But he car
give me but half my present salary
though he promises TO raise it as
soon as business prospects brighten
l don't know what to do. We ara
none too rich at my present salary
''Yet you have saved something
each month. Besides, dear, We have
not tried to be economical. There
are many ways in which 1 could
save"
"And make a perfect slave of
yeurself?'
''Not a bit of it. have plenty of
leisure time, now that May and Bel
la could amuss each other. Come,
Charlie, accept Mr.. Mifflins 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 to we'll that it would
be useless to look for now situation
for the whole town was echeing Mr..
Miffiin's cry of hard times. The
small nest-egg in the bank wosld
soon melt away when it became the
sole support OF four, and so, kissing
Mabel, he promised to follow her
advice. But it cost his pride a very
sore wrench.
He had entered the employment
of his present employer at seventeen
and slowly, steadily gaining favor
by dint and faithfully performing
every duty, he had won his way to
the desk Of head clerk. Not until
he had acquired this position and
the handsome salary accompanying
it would he ask Mabel to become
his wife, furnishing a pretty cottags
home from his savings and giving
her a thoroughly comfortable in
come for household expenses. He
was not extravagant, but it pleased
him to see his wife well dressed, to
give her an efficient servant, to have
her twin girls ever presentable, his
table we'll appointed. All this had
been easy enough upon his salary,
and there had been something add
ed for three years tc the little bank
fund.
But to do all this on the present
income was simply impossible.
House rent must be paid, and the
sum remaining each month would
have to be carefully calculated TO
meet all expenses, leaving but little
for pleasure and extravaganza in
dress.
Then what would Will say"
Will Castleton was Charles cous-
in, who had been his life long com
panion. Together they had 2eft the
school room for business position,
Will entering the grain store of
Harvey q Russell at the same time
Charlie had taken the place in Mr..
Mifiin's dry goods store. Shoulder
to shoulder the young mon had
worked their way till this financial
crisis had brought all business men
into temporary difficulties of great
er or less magnitude.
VIII had expressed the warmest
indignation at the proposal made
his cousin, strongly advising him to
throw up his situation and "see
how old Mifflin would get along
without him." And Charlie, before
seeing Mabel, was quite ready to
follow his advice.
He knew that Will would think
him mean to remain upon half sala-
ry, and yet Mabel was right. Half
a loaf was better than no bread.
And while Charlie Castletou was
thus weighing the pros and cons of
his decision, AIr. Mifflin was listen
ing to the counsel Of his old friend
and chum, the senior partner Of the
firm that had been Gardner & Mif-
fin, and who, though he had retir-
ell years before, was still the friend
and frequent adviser of his former
partner.
cit is a mistake, Mifflin," he said.
You had better send young Castle
ton about his business and engage
an entirely new book keeper. You
will end that half pay means half
service, mark my word"
But l might search c. from
end to end and not find a clerk COM
petent to take his place"
Then pay him full salary"
81 cannot do it unless l reduce
the number of saIesmen, and then
am short-handed now. There is but
one way to keep my head above
water. You see Clark's failure in
wolves me very heavily, and"
And the worried man of business
entered into explanations of his
difficulties not necessary to men
tiOu here.
1t touched Charlie Castleton very
deeply, when entering the counting
house to announce his determine
tion to remain in his old position,
to see the face OF his employer
brighten. And as Charlie spoke
the large eyes grew brighter, and be
smiled pleasantly as he said:
Thank you, Charlie. It would
have caused ne serious embarrass
ment TO lose you and l am heartily