The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-11-07
OF DICKS FINANCES.


slipped a five-dollar gold piece into his
nephew's hand.
Don't spend your money for candy"
continued Uncle Joseph, "or buy lot OF
useless toys. You'll find your money go
soon enough without that; won't he, Tom -
Tom, Dicks elder brother, readily re.
piled:
"No mistake about that uncle, He won't I
bring much back, I'll be bound
Now, I'll tell you what I'll do" said
Uncle Joseph, Just to encourage you to be
careful with your cash; whatever sum you
bring back with you, I'll double it."
"Oh, thank you, uncls!" exclaimed Dick,
seeing himself the future possessor of still
more wealth; for how could he spend five
dollars in three months, when Tom had
given him two dollars and his Aunt Mary
had presented him with like amount
There is no doubt, however, that Uncle
Joseph's promise did great deal to check
undue expenditure on Dicks part. Still,
the money melted away somehow, a great
deal more quickly than he could have be-
lieved possible, and when the weeks had
flown by and only five days more remained
before the holiday began, Dick was more
grieved than astonishcd to find that his
total assets amounted to one dollar, nickel
and two-cent postage stamp.
That isn't much to ge. doubled he said
TO himself Its lucky they pay our fare
home for us.
named Brand passed by. Brand was older
than Dick, and was reputed to be a singu-
larly good hand at a bargain. He had tried
to sell various articles to Dick during the
last few weeks, but hitherto without sue
cess. But he was now the possessor of a
treasure which raised Dicks envy to high
degree.
This was baseball and bat with which
its owner had twice made home runs in
school matches. Dicks bat showed signs
Of splitting, and he very much wanted a
new one.
"Hullo, Dick" exclaimed Brand. Count
ing over your riches"
Not much of them,' replied Dick, eying
the bat
That's a pity, for thought you might
like to buy my bat and ball. Simkin told
me you wanted them"
80 | do, but can't afford it,
"IIow much have you got" asked Brand.
"Only dollar" was the desponding re-
ply.
We'll can't let them go under one and
a quarter, and that's very cheap. But look
here; give me the dollar now, and III trust
you till next term for the quarter. That's
fair enough, isn't it,"
"No, can't do it," said Dick. 81 want
TO take the money home"
Take it home? What a queer idea,
Can't you get some more given you when
you get homes"
Dick explained how he was situated
Brands face lightened considerably when
Sc heard the difficulty.
"Why didn't you tell me beforc% he
asked. "Look here. III show you the way
to work it. You give me the dollar, and III
lend you three dollars for you to take bacl;
and get doubled; then YOU can send me the
three and quarter back, and still have two
seventy-fve OF your own, as well as the bat
and ball"
Dick hesitated. 1t struck him that the
offer, though tempting, had something
about it which was not quite straightfor-
ward. But there was the bat and ball only
waiting for him to take them, and Brand
was eager to persuade him to close the bar
gain. In few minutes 1t was all settled,
and Dick was the possessor of the envied
articles.
Now that he had so much money in hand,
he could not resist a final visit to the vii
lage, where he spent so cents more than he
intended. However, he reacIed home with
two dollars in his pocket, so he felt he was
all right.
\ shock awaited him. Uncle Joseph had
gone to New York, and would not be back
ior week.
He waited a couple OF days, and then a
letter came from Brand, asking him why he
had not sent the money.
Dick did not like to write and ask him to
wait, so he took the unwise course of not
answering the letter.
He spent the next day or two very UNI
easily. and then came the bad news that
Uncle Joseph would not return for another
week. Worse than that, at dinner time a
telegram came for Dick, and Tom naturally
wanted TO know who on earth could be tel.
egraphing to him.
ITS from Brand" said Dick, who now
telt frightened, and saw he must make a
confession.
From Brand" exclaimed Tom. "Do you
owe him any money!?
'No; but / promised to lend him three
dollars and quarter"
But YOU told me you had brought bacl,
two dollars" said Tom. "Send him that,
and here's dollar and quarter to max
it up"
Dick was delighted, and tried to turn the
conversation; but Toms suspicious were
aroused, and he began to ask awkward ques-
| tions.
The upshot OF it was that Dick had to con-
Tess, by degrees, how much he had spent
during the term for one thing and another.
Tom mentally calculated the total, and
saw that it was impossible that Dick could
have brought back two dollars. He began
to look grave.
'I'm afraid there's something wrong,
Dick" he said. whats been going on?
Make clean breast of it,"
There was no help for it, and Dick had
to confess the whole truth. As he did, he
saw what dishonest trick he had been
playing.
"Why. Dick, I should never have be-
lieved it of you," exclaimed Tom. Don't
you see that you've tried to cheat uncle out
of his money? And SO you told me that you
nou prom.seu TO lend Brand some money,