The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1897-12-29

Ol DlIlS, HIS >
salary, and laid it on the table.
Il think we had better pay up the
rent before any of the other bills" he
said. Gray stopped me on the street
to-day to speak about it. Says there are
three months owing, and he needs the
money badly"
Dear me! that will take nearly half
of it, said Mrs. Ncwbury, with har-
Iasscd expression, "and / promised
would pay the coal man and the gro
Gerry man. They were both here to-
day, and they need the money, too"
u wish you could pay for makingmy
dress" said Maud Newbury, in an ag-
grieved and anxious tone. Il know
Mrs Peters needs the pay, for Nellie
Peters comes to school in dress that
is perfectly dreadful, and feel so mean
every time | look at her that | want
10 90 somewhere and hide"
Mrs. Newbury's face flushed.
81 had forgotten that BILL" she said,
remorsefully. Mrs. Peters must GER
tainly be paid"
81 sh'd think the milk bill better be
paid spoke up Bob Newbury. I'm
dead tired of telling Mrs. Dale that
Mother thinks she can pay you some
thing on the bill next week. She's
got so she smiles n queer smile every
time get off that old gag. Guess she
thinks next week never comes"
Mrs. Newbury's face flushed more
deeply.
u owe Norah three weeks wages, too.
and she's getting impatient" she said.
There are two pairs of hose and
necktie that ! got trusted for at the
corner store," said Mr.. Newbury.
"And I'm behind with the butcher,
and there's little owing the baker,"
said Mrs. Newbury.
For heavens sake, how much do
we owe, and whom don't we owe?" ex-
claimed Mr.. Newbury, wrinkling his
forehead in disgust.
I'll get paper and pencil and reckon
1t up" said Mrs. Newbury.
After setting down a column of fig
ures, she added them, then, with a
deep sigh, passed the paper to her hus-
band
The amount was exactly the same az
the roll of bills ON the table.
They looked at each other for a full
minute in silence. Then Mrs. New
bury burst forth impetuously:
Il hate this way of living"
so do l." said Mr.. Newbury, but
what can we do about it?"
u think it's time we did something"
said his wife. 81 despise and abomi-
nate debt more and more every day /
live. 'Tis like being in the clutches
OF one of those horrible marine mon
sters we read about-the octopus, is it?
You get free of two or three of its
horrid arms or tentacles, and while you
20 that the others tighten about you.
Then you get out of the grasp of these
stronger ones, only to find that the first
have got another hold, and that three
or four that have been waving about in
The water are beginning to wind around
YOU"
Just So" assented Mr.. Newbury.
i don't see why we can't be even,
Just as well as be month behind all
the fime," continued Mrs. Newbury.
But being a month behind, how are
we to get even?" queried Mr.. Newbury.
We might pay everything we owe,
and then not buy thing till your next
pay day."
Rather a heroic measure, wouldn't
mat be?" said Mr.. Newbury, doubt
fully.
I'm ready for heroic measures" re-
turned Mrs. Newbury. defiantly.
Well-l'll agree to it. II you want to
NY that plan. 1t is worth some trouble
10 get out of the grip of the octopus"
Oil" cried Maud. would you really
10 1t? l think it would be lovely not
10 be owing anybody"
Twould be jolly fun" agreed Rob
with enthusiasm. Say! let's sign a
Paper-will you. mother?"
Mrs. Newbury meditated.
~ think" she said, after pause
That We could get along for a month
We are quite well supplied with every
thing"
Maud had been scribbling on the
piece OF paper which her mother hac
used for figuring.
Hear this" she said.