Smyrna times., 1885-02-04

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wore away the two friends grew faster,
and so far from lesseniug his work
Charlie found himself willingly lifting
some Of his employers burdens upon
his own shoulders.
He gave more tin. o business, and he
was gaining an insigI., into it, of which
an opportunity had never been given
him.
And Mabel, at home, was bravely taxi
ing her share Of the diminished loaf with
a smiling face and IL cheerful heart. AS
far as might be she kept from Charlie a
knowledge of her domestic economies,
but some of them were apparent.
The woman whose competent aid de-
manded high wages was dismissed, and
a half-grown girl was engaged to mind
the babies while Mabel cooked and
washed and ironed and sewed, meeting
difficulties with Il courageous heart.
She had never been drone in the
worlds hive having been Il busy little
dressmaker before Charlie Castleton
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 before
they were spent.
it was with heart full of pardonable
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 go round, said Mabel, as they went
carefully over the years expense book.
"There are no crumbs, he said, with
q rather weary face.
Never mind that; it was a great deal
better than idleness.'
"You are right; aud there was more
than that, Mabel have been able TO
help MI Nliffiin more than could bave
done in our old relations to each other
His perplexities made him long for some
one to whom he could speak confden-
TALLY, and when the ice was once broken
he took me fully into his confidence.
could often suggest a way out of diff
Guilty that had not occurred TO him. and
even when l was out of actual use to
him it was a relief to pom out his
troubles to some one who was in full
sympathy with him."
but you have worked very hard.
Charlie. Inever 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..
NJ filiu has managed to meet the obGga-
tions he was afraid would ruin him, and
there is a good lookout for the coming
year"
"Will he give you whole loaf vet
Charlie?"
Not yet, think. Never mind. We
will not despond yet"
"Despond! 1 guess not. 1 am go
ing to have some of these crumbs YOU
We're speaking of next year. 1 have
learned some valuable lessons in saving
which 1 mean to make use of"
The second year was certainly not an
easy one to Mabel. A wee baby, in adj
ditiou TO throe-years-old twins. kept the
mothers hands busy, while there was no
decrease i'll the household work. Many
articles of clothing and housekeeping,
too, that lasted we'll one year, were pas
service i'll the second und it was not easy
to replace them.
Often Mabel feared the saving for {
rainy day" must be broken in upon
but she kept all such fears shut up il
her own heart and always had brigh
word of cheer for tired Charlie when Ii,
came home at night
She never told him that the late break
fast that she had planned to let tn,
babies sleep while he ate his early one
comprised none of the tempting dishe
of his own meal, but was Utterly brea,
and milk six mornings ont of the seven
She snever let him know that til,
reason she suggested his lunch dow
town, to save the long walk home, wa
really to save the price of that mea
toward the dinner, the dainty little pur
Gel he carried never cost the price of
regular meal for them all.
She did not tell him that she was cut
ting up her old dresses to clothe tin
twin girls, and sewing busily ever,
leisure moment to keep all the littl
ones tidy.
And yet there came a day in June
when six months of the second yea
were almost gone, when she spent ms
dollar of the weeks money while tn
week was but half gone Charlie ha,
given her, long before, some signo,
checks to meet such an emergency, bu
it was her pride to think that not one o
them had been presented ut the bank.
She took one from the desk where the,
hld lain so Icing and spread it befor
her, calculating with puokers ON he
pretty face how small sum she ooul,
stretch over the necessary expenses
81 hato to begin, she said, half aloud
"if once we break in upon that mono,
it will melt away like snow before tin
sun.
There was no alternative but debt
md Mabel know that Charlie woul
never bo willing to owe any mau a cen
while ho had cent with which to pa
him. SO, with II great sigh, she dippe
the pen in the ink to iii out the blan
check. Before it touched the paper
however, she paused, listening. Their
was step in the hall that wus not that G
thenurse or her charges, voice ringin
out full and clear calling,
Mabel Where arc you. Mayl"
Here in my room, sho answered
"Oh, Charlie, what is itl"
For the face at the door was so radiau
that all traces of oare seemed 10 hav
slipped from il forever
"0ood news MaYl Aud yet-peI