Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-01-08

a way OUT Of difficulty that had not oc
cured to him, and even when | was with
out actual use to him it was a relief TO
pour out his troubles to some one who
was in full sympathy with him."
"But you haye worked very hard,
| Charlie. never saw you 50 tired as
you often have been this year, and
your face is more careworn than it has
ever been before"
"Well, it is some comfort to know
that business prospects are growing
brighter. By closest economy Mr..
Miflln has managed to meet the obliga-
lions he was afraid would ruin him,
and there is good lookout for the
coming year."
"Will he give you whole loaf yet,
Charlie -
"Not yet, think. Never mind.
We will not despond yet"
'Despond guess not. am 60
ing to have some OF these crumbs you
were speaking of next year. l have
learned some valuable lessons in saving
which / mean to make use of"
The second year was certainly not an
easy one to Mabel. A wee baby, in ad
dition to three -years-old twins, kept
the mothers hands busy, while there
was no decrease in the household work.
Many articles of clothing and house
keeping, too, that lasted we'll one year,
were past service in the second, and it
was not easy to replace them.
Often Mabel feared the saving for a
"raiDy day" must be broken in upon,
but she kept all such fears shut up in
her own heart and always had bright
word of cheer for tired Charlie when lie
came home at night.
She never told him that the late
breakfast that she had planned to let
the babies sleep while he ate his early
one, comprised none Of the tempting
dishes of his own meal. but Was litter
ly bread and milk six mornings ont Of
the seven. She never let him know
that the reason she suggested his lunch
down town, 70 save the long walk
home, was really to save the price of
that meal toward the dinner, the dain-
ty little parcel he carried never cost
the price of regular meal for them
all.
She did not tell him that she was
cutting up her old dresses to clothe the
twin girls, and sewing busily every
leisure moment to keep all the little
ones tidy.
And yet there came day in June,
when six months of the second year
were almost gone, when she spent the
last dollar of the weeks money while
the week was but half gone. Charlie
had given her, long before, some sign
ed checks to meet such an emeI gency,
but it was her pride to think that not
one of .hem had been presented at the
bank.
She took one from the desk where
they had lain so long and spread it be-
fore her, calculating with FUCKERS on
her pretty face how small a sum she
could stretch over the necessary eXpen-
ses.
Il hate to begin" she said, half a
loud "if once we break in upon that
money it will melt away like snow be-
fore the SUM-"
There was no alternative but debt,
and Mabel knew that Charlie would
never lie willing to owe any man cent
while he had cent with which to pay
HIM. So, with great sigh, she dipped
| the pen in the ink to fill out the blank
check. Before it touched the paper,
however, she paused, listening. There
was a step in the hall that was not that
of the nurse or her charges, voice
ringing out full and clear, calling
"Mabel Where are you, May ?'
"Here IN my room," she answered.
"Oh, Charlie, what is it 20
For the face at the door was so Ia
diant that all traces of care seemed to
have slipped from it forever.
"Good news, May ! And yet-per-
haps l should feel sorrow, too, only l
did nof know him."
"What are you talking about ?"
Ibid you read this mornings pa
per ?"
Eyes"
"Dd you notice the death of Amos
Gardner ?''
"No; is that the Mr.. Gardner who
used to be Mr.. Mifflin's partner before
you went into the store 20
"Yes he was batchelor, and he
has left his whole estate to Mr.. Mifilin,
except a few legacies. The store will
be closed till after the funeral so we
have three days holiday May"
81 am glad you will be able to rest. :"
"But that is not all. Do you guess
the rest ?"
"You are to have your old salary ID
gain"