The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-02-06
PAY AS YOU GO.

not exactly in keeping with his posi-
ton, and especially not with his salary
which was only three hundred year.
Dollars and cents were the most
unmanageable commodities he was
called upon to handle. They were slip
perry, and would not stay between his
fingers, all he could do. He had not
devoted much attention to the subject
of finance, and in consequence 1t be-
came one of the trials Of his life. 49,.
"What is the matter, WllllamT
asked his wife, touched by his deep
sigh.
"This is payday" replied the hus-
band, with another deep sigh.
"What of it? You look as though
you had not friend in the world.
| 81 am miserable, Helen.
| "Miserable?'
| 81 am indeed
"What, because it is pay day?'
| "Yes.'
people generally feel rejoiced at
| such times
| 81 don't know have laid awake
half the night thinking of it..
| "Why, William! Why should you
feel so unhappy
Il owe more than can pay.
| "You do?"
Helen. who was no financier, any
! more than her husband. had never
given the subject a thought. She was
not little surprised at the abrupt
announcement.
| Il do, Helen; and | am fearful that L
shall have trouble with it.
"What sort of trouble?" asked Helen
( frightened, but having no very dehmte
| idea of what to dread.
"Perhaps some one will sue me,
trustee my salary, or something OF 'he
kind
"Why didn't you tell me of this be-
fore, William? | would rather live on
a crust of bread, and wear calico to
church, than make you unhappy, or
have you sued or trusted. Will they
put you in jail?" and the young wife
actually trembled at the thought OF
such a catastrophe.
81 think not; but they may put me
to great deal of trouble
"Why didn't you tell me before?''
81 didn't know it myself, Last
Tuesday | made few figures. ana
found that | owed about hundred and
fifty dollars. My quarters salary is
only seventy live.
But sonic of them will wait. We
| VIII lttTtDcil.
81 went to see Spike but he refused
to wait beyond the first OF January:
eve have been extravagant, WI
liam
81 am afraid we have"
"How much do you owe Spikt?'
about thirty dollars
'My stars! Thirty doliars?'
"Yes; such bills count up fast
eve ought not to owe him cent
We ought not to ride at all, though
| enjoy riding very much.
$50 do |; and Spike was always Will
ling to trust me-
Spike kept the livery stable in the
village, and was generally Wiling &c
run up long bills with those OF whom
there was any chance of getting his
pay:
II am so sorryr'
Il had no idea the bill was so much
till he sent it IN about three weeks
ago.
I'VE must stop riding"
at Will be hard to do so. After
get done at the office, it is so pleasant
! to drive out half-a-doZen miles; but
didn't think had ridden so much.
"Perhaps he will wait"
NO; he said he would not
''What shall be done?'
Il don't know"
Cant you borrow some money!
"Perhaps | can"
Wont Mr.. Mason lend you sonnet
He has been very kind to you, and
seems to be very much interested III
you"
81 shouldn't like to ask him."
"Why not?"
tn
to him."
'I'! I'm tel! you what will do.
"WhatT
81 will write aunt Hannah. You
know how fond she is of me. l will
ask her to lend me hundred dollars
She is rich, and perhaps she will give it
to me-"
William did not like to have her do
so, but the perils in his path finally in
duced him to consent. On the strength
of the letter, he could put Spike off for
a week or two.
There was something to hope for, at
least, and William ate his breakfast,
and felt much easier. He did not CON
slider that borrowing the money to pay
a debt, was only. transferring, not can
ceiling it. But he looked only to the
present. If he could escape his import
innate creditors this time, he did not
fear for the future.
1t was quarter of eight by the clock,
and he was required to be in the office
as soon as the porter opened the gate.
| Mr.. Mason was the agent OF the Bagg
Corporation, and a man of large and
excellent feeling He was not a little
eccentric in some of his ways. He had
views and opinions of his own; he did
his own thinking; and perhaps this is
what made him odd to some people.
He had found William Taylor in a
store, tying up bundles for twenty
dollars a month. He had taken fancy
to him, and knowing him to be a
prompt and correct accountant, indus
triuus and attentive to business, and of
excellent character, he had given him
hls present situation. William had
been married over a year then, and
was the father of little boy.
Three hundred dollars looked like
great wages to William. So he took a
better house, put few articles of new
| furniture into it, opened accounts with
II, cab, \ b.,f, h.lly and