The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-01-16


and not as we would like them TO be-
That's fiue."
Vow, John, we're running behind
hand. Notwithstanding / try to econo-
mize in every way possible, and ! see
10 way out but that Of my resuming
/ nv trade. | cannot earn much, but
every little viii help"
You're a jewel" said John, but
there is no need Of your making slave
Of Yourself For once we have struck
luck; that is. Aunt Lucy, who died re-
Gently. eft me $1,000, which am to re-
eeise IN a few days; at least, 50 her
attorney has written me. When it
comes viii set up IN business for my
self and that will end all our troubles. :"
Of course Mrs. Smith was pleased at
| tie announcement of this good fortune.
but she was not certain about the bust
| ness project. BY close observation of
johns business calculations, she had
eo;ne 10 the conclusion that he was not
always considerable Of his ability TO pay
before purchasing, and she considered
! It's very serious defect in business
man. Hence she questioned the wis.
| dom Of his starting out into business
T. himself. and thought 1t safer TO put
/ thfir little inheritance at interest, and
seek TO increase it by their united ear
Mugs. She so stated the case to her
husband, and was laughed at for her
lack Of business knowledge. and as
sared that the way to increase money
is to invest it in profitable business en-
terprise.
"No, no, my DEAR said Mr.. Smith,
''the way to raise brood of chickens is
to put the eggs through the process Of
incubation"
THAT is true" replied Mrs Smith,
s.but it IS not safe to count the chickens
before they are Matched. Eggs often
/ spoil during the period of incubation;
rats, cats and the pip sometimes deci-
mate the brood; and it is only when the
chickens are sufficiently grown to be
i preitably fricasseed that the success Of
ehieken-raising can be positively esti-
mated
I'll risk our eggs" said Mr.. Smith.
I've been selling goods long enough TO
know all the ms and outs of the grocery
business. and that's what l purpose to
start in Don't you worry; our $1,000
legacy will give us a competency for
our old age"
II hope it will" replied Mrs. Smith,
but somehow | fear"
I" Away with doubts. away with fears:
/ Our day Of fortune now appears.
/ Well spread our sails TO fav'ring breeze,
/ And catch our fortune ere 1t fees"
t OF course Mr.. Smith had his own way.
Ills wife had not as yet asserted her.
self. In fact, she had not yet outgrown
/ the old idea that the wife should "obey"
the husband, or, at least, yield to his
! opinion where there is a difference of
opinion. Hence, though not convinced,
she acquieseed.
When the legacy came into possession
as it did a few weeks after-Mr. Smith
stocked a small grocery store, and set
up in business for himself lie was
widely known, was well liked, had hosts
i of friends who gave him their patron
age, and his sales started off briskly.
lis goods were new and fresh, his
treatment of customers was kind and
+ obliging, his trade increased rapidly;
a larger stock was needed, and be
launched out as the demand seemed TO
require Congratulations came in from
all quarters, and John Smith was looked
upon as the coming groceryman Of the
place.
At the end of the year Mr.. Smith took
account of stock, struck balance OF
I loss and gain, and found, to his utter
amazement, that he was helplessly and
| hopclessly in debt. lie had given a
/ large amount of uncollectabe, in fact,
worthless credits; he had purchased
/ lavishly on time; there had been unac-
/ countable leakages; the demands
( against him could not be met; an as
signment was inevitable. He found
himself bankrupt at the end of the
first ycar-not through lack of hard
work, but through lack of shrewd bust
ness management. He failed just where
his wife feared he might-in not con-
sidering in the present how he would
be able to meet the demands of the
I future. He bought lavishly on credit,
paid little attention to collecting, good
naturally trusted everybody who asked
credit, and in the iooseness Of his bust
ness methods he came to grief.
So John Smith was stranded on the
tidal wave OF a two-thousand legacy.
Nor was there another tidal wave o set
him ahoat again. He was out Of work
and out of money. Everybody knew
this. Hence his credit was gone. He
had 40 means Of supplying the daily
wants Of his family. He was willing to
work. TO do anything that would bring
wages, but no work was at hand or
prospectiyely near.
Mrs. Smith again made the sugges-
ton that she try her hand at wage
earning, and this time she made it with
self-assertion. What could her husband
say against the proposition now? Moth
ing; absolutely nothing; for he was
stranded, helplessly, hopelessy, with
out money,without work, without cred
it. without any glimmering prospect OF
relief from any other quarter.
Mr., Smith sat for a time in deep med
itation and then said. slowly; at will
be necessary for YOU to hire a girl to
do the work and care for baby"
"Oh, no, il won't, ," she replied.
"Why, you can't do the houseworsS,
care for baby and dressmake, too"
Il am fully aware Of that"
"Nho, then, will do the homework p
you"
"I?"
Eyes, YOU"
"Neyer.n