Middletown transcript., 1903-12-26
THE NEWBURYS' NEW LEAF
BY ELIZABETH ROBBINS.

Iii, last day of the year, ana
Mr.. Newbury had taken
81 from his vest pocket a roll
of bills, his months sal
ary, and laid it on the table,
I think we had better pay up
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. Newbury,
with a harrassed expression, and
promised I would pay the coal
man and the grocery man. They
were both here to-day, and they
need the money, too.
Iwish you could pay for max
ing my dress, said Maud New
bury, in an aggrieved and anx-
ious tone. I know Mrs. Peters
needs the pay, for Nellie Peters
comes to school in a dress that is
perfectly dreadful, and l feel so
mean every time I look at her
that I want to go somewhere and
hide.
Mrs. Newbury's face flushed.
1 had forgotten that bill, she
said remorsefully. Mrs. Peters
must certainly be paid.
I sh'd think the milk bill better
be paid, spoke up Rob Newbury.
I'm dead tired of telling Mrs.
Dale that "Mother thinks she can
pay you something on the bill
next week" She's got so she
smiles a queer smile every time
7 get off that old gag. Guess
she thinks next week never
comes.
Mrs. Newbury's face flushed
more deeply.
lowe Norah three weeks wag-
es too, and she getting impatient,
she said.
There are two pairs of hose
and a necktie that I got trusted
for at the corner store, said Mr..
Newbury.
And I am behind with the
butcher, and there's a little ow-
ing the baker, said Mrs. Newbury.
For Heavens sake, how much
do we owe, and whom don't we
owe? exclaimed her husband,
wrinklinghis foreheadin disgust.
I'll get pencil and paper and
reckon it up, said his wife.
After setting down column
of figures, she added them, then
with a deep sigh passed the paper
to her husband.
The amount was exactly the
same as the roll of bills on the
table.
They looked at each other for
full minute in SILENCE. Then his
wife burst forth impetuously:
I hate this way of living.
So do I, said he, but what can
we do about it?
I think it's time we did some
thing, said his wife. I despise
and abominate debt more and
more every day I live. Tis like
being in the clutches of one of
those horrible marine monsters
we read about-the octopus, is
it? You get free of two or three
of it's horrid arms or tentacles,
and while you do 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 wav-
ing about in the water are begin
ming to wind around you.
Just so, assented he.
I don't see why we can't be
even, just as we'll as to be month
behind all the time, continued his
wife.
But, being a month behind, how
are we to get even? queried he.
We might pay everything we
owe, and then not buy thing till
your next pay day.
Rather a heroic measure that
would be, wouldn't it? said her
husband doubtfully. Il
I'm ready for heroic measures,
returned she defiantly.
Well-I1l agree to it, if you
wantto try that plan. It is worth
some trouble to get out of the
grip of the octopus.
Oh! cried Maud, Would you
really do it? l think it would be
lovely not to be owing anybody.
'Twould be jolly fun, agreed
Rob, with enthusiasm. Say!let's
sign a paper-will you, mother?
His mother meditated.
think, she said after a pause,
that we could get along for a