The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-01-22

some heavily indebted to the firm of
Joe Miffiin, Others upon whom he had
depended for goods obtained upon
credit.
Day by day as the hard, trying win
ter wore away the two friends grew
faster, and so far from lessening his
work Charley found himself willingly
lifting some of his employers burdens
upon his own shoulders.
He gave more time to business, and
be was gaining an insight into it, of
which an opportunity had never been
given him.
And Mabel, at home, was bravely
taking her share of the diminished
loaf with a smiling face and cheerful
heart. As far as might be she kept
from Charlie a knowledge of her do
mestic economies, but some of them
were apparent.
The woman whose competent aid de-
manded high wages was discharged,
and a half-grown girl was engaged to
mind the babies while Mabel cooked
and washed and ironed and sewed,
meeting difficulties with a courageous
neart. She had never been drone in
the worlds hive, having been "a busy
little dressmaker before Charlie Cas-
Teton won her heart and took her to
preside over his pretty home.
But for three years of her married
life she had been much petted, and
there were many pleasures to be put
aside, many dollars well weighed be-
fore they We're spent.
1t was with heart full of pardon
able triumph that the young couple at
the end of the year of reduced pay
found they were still out of debt and
had not touched the nest egg in the
bank.
You see, Charlie, we made the half
loaf 90 round" said Mabel, as they
went carefully over the years expense
book.
There are no crumbs he said, with
rather weary face.
''Never mind that; it was a great
deal better than idleness."
You are right and there is more
than that, Mabel | have been able to
help Mr.. Mitfiin more than l could
have done in our old relations to each
other. His perplexities made him long
for some one to whom he could speak
contdentially, and when the ice was
once broken he took me fully into his
confidence. / could always suggest
way out of a difficulty that had not oc-
Cured to him, and even when | was
not of actual use to him it was relief
to pour out his troubles TO some one
who was in sympathy with him."
But YOU have worked very hard,
Charlie. l never saw you so 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..
Mitflin has managed to meet the obli-
cations he was afraid would ruin him,
and there is a good lookout for the
coming year"
will he give you a whole loaf yet,
Charliep'
Not yet, think. Never mind. We
will not despond yet"
'Despond! guess not lam going
to have some of these crumbs YOU
were speaking of next year. | have
learned some valuable lessons in saw
ing. which l mean to make use of"
The second year was certainly not an
easy one to Mabel. A wee baby, in
addition to the three-years-old twins,
kept the mothers hands busy, while
there was no decrease in the household
work. Many articles of clothing and
housekeeping, too, that lasted well one
year, were past service in the second,
and it was not easy to replace them
Often Mabel feared the savings for a
'rainy 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
be 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 literally
bread and milk six mornings out of the
seven. She never let him know that
the reason she suggested his lunch
Down town, to save the long walk
lOme, was really to save the price of
that meal toward ~the dinner, the dain-
" little parcel he carried never costing
she price Of a regular meal for them
all.
She did not tell him that she was cut
ting up her old dresses to clothe the
win girls, and sewing busily every
leisure moment to keep all the little
ones tidy.
And yet there came a day in June
when six months of the year were al
most gone, when she spent the last dol
lar of the weeks money while the week
was but half gone. Charlie had given
Ter, long before, some signed checks to
meet such an emergency, but it was her
pride to think that not one of them had
oeen presented at the bank.
She took one from the desk where
hey had lain so long and spread it out
before her, calculating with FUCKERS
IN her pretty face how small sum she
could stretch over the necessary ex-
)enseS.
Il hate to begin" she said half
aloud; IF once we break in upon that
money it will melt away like snow be-
tore the SUM-"
There was no alternative but debt,
md Mabel knew that Charlie would
ever be willing to owe any man a cent
while he had a cent with which he
could 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 step in the hall that was
not that of the nurse or her charges, a
voice ringing out full and clear, call
ing
Mabel! Where are you, May?"
Here in my room,' she answered.
"Oh, Charlie, what is it?''
For the face at the door was so radi-
ant 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 /
did not know him.
What are you talking about?"
Did you read this mornings pa
per?n
Yes
Ibid you notice the death of Amos