The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-01-02
Half A Loaf.

Charlie" Little Mabel Castleton said
this wistfully, ler eyes, as she spoke,
wandering to the cradle where two curly
heads were lying.
But when one has Lad the whole loaf,
May, one does not exactly relish the
half rations you MENTION" said Charlie.
moodily. But his eyes followed his
wife's to the cosy nest of the twin babies.
" 1t is bad time Of the year to be out
OF a situation" said Mabel, after a long
silence land many whom we know are
idle. 1t would not he very easy to find
employment now."
You really think had better remain
with Mr.. Mifflin?"
81 do. Tell me what Mr.. Mifflin said
to You"
The 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 heen with him ten years, and he
was pleased to say that am very useful
to him, and he is very unwilling to patr
with me. But he Can give me but half
my present salary, though he promises
to raise it when business prospects,
brighten. l don't know what to do. We
are none too rich at my present salary"
Yet you have saved something each
month. Beside, dear, we have not tried
to be economical. There are many WAYS
in which l could save"
"And make n perfect slave of your.
| self"
Not a bit of it. 1 have plenty of
leisure time, now that May and Bella
can amuse each other. Come Charlie
accept MIR. Mifflin'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 useless to
look for new situation, for the whole
town was echoing Mr.. Mifflin's CRY of
hard times. The small nest egg in the
bini would soon melt away when it
became the sole support of four, and so,
Kissing Mabel, lie promised to follow
her advice. But it cost her pride very
sore wrench.
He had entered the employment of his
present employer at seventeen, and
slowly, steadily gaining favor by dint of
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 pretty cottage home
from his savings and giving her thor
oughly comfortable income for house.
hold expenses. He was not extrayapant
but it pleased him to see his wife we'll.
dressed, to give her an efficient servant
to have his twin girls ever presentable
his table we'll appointed. All this had
been easy enough upon his salary, and
there had been something added for
three years to the little bank fund
But to do this upon half the present
income was simply impossible. House
rent must be paid, and the sum remain
ing each month would have to be care.
fully calculated to meet nll the expenses
leaving but little for pleasure or extrav'
agance in dress.
"Then what would Will sayf"
Will Castleton was Charles cousin
who had been his life long companion
Together they had left the schoolroom
for business position, Will entering
the grain store of Harvey & Russell at
the same time Charlie had taken the
place in MIR. Miflins dry goods store
Shoulder to shoulder the young men
had worked their way till this financial
crisis had brought all business men into
temporary difficulties of greater or less
magnitude.
Will had expressed the wnrmeSt indig-
nation at the proposal made his cousin,
strongly advising him to throw up his
situation and "see how old NJ flu would
get along without him." Aud Charlie,
before seeing Mabel, was ready to follow
his advice.
He knew that Will would think him
mean TO remain upon half salnry, and
yet Mabel was right. Half loaf was
better than no brea ad.
And while Charlie Castleton was thus
weighing the pros and cons of his decis-
ion, Mr.. Mitiin was listening to the
counsel of his old friend and chum, the
senior partner of the f:m that had been
Gardner & Mifliin, aud who, though lie
had retired years before, was still the
friend and frequent ADVISOR of his former
partner.
at is mistake, Mifllin," lie said.
"You had better send young Castleton
about his business and engage an en-
tirely new book-keeper You will find
that half pay means half service, mark
my word"
But / might search c. from end
to end and not find clerk competent to
take his place"
"Then pay him full salary"
81 cannot " it unless l reduce the
number of statesmen, and then l am short
handed now. There is but one way to
keep my head above water. You see
Clark's failure involves me very heavily,
and"
And the worried man of business
entered into explanations of his difficult,
ties not necessary to repeat here
1t touched Caarhe Casteton very
deeply when entering the counting
house to announce his discrimination to
remain in his old position to see the
face of his employer brighten, And as