Year: 1866

When, in the evening, l told my wife
of our good fortune, she was completely
overwhelmed by it, and for some time
could hardly realize it, but when | told
her that the head partner had called me
"Alr. c." she was even more pleased at
that than | had been myself


"And why should you not be called
Mr. C.l" she said. 81 am sure you make
as good gentleman as the best of them"


"Fair and softly, my dear" said l..
'Ict Us first feel our feet, and then VIC
will talk of that afterwards"


My duties were not more severe than
, formerly, but far more responsible for
was entrusted with considerable sums of
money to pay the workmen. Once a
week my books were audited by the firm,
and was frequently compimented, not
only for my exaclitudr, but also, as | was
good penman, on the neat manner in
which they were kept.


Although my income was now two
hundred year, it had not increased much
in reality, for it had been suggested to me
that, now | was in situation of trust
and responsibility, it was hardly just that
should allow my wife TO drud re like
common weaver. ], without hesitation,
admitted the justice of the remark, but |
hardly thought my wife would agree to it
however, was determined t. try her, so
| told her when | went home in the even
ing that ! hardly thought i; right she shoull
continue at the loom, considering the po-
siiion i'll life we were now in. To my
great surprise, my wife not only m lde no
objection, but positively told me that she
wished to speak TO me on the subject, but
did not like to, us she was afraid should
think her lazy.


After had been few months in my
new position, my wife one night said to
me, sour landlord called today, and
paid him for the quarter. He talks about
increasing our rent. He says you have
had the house foo cheap for some time
past, considering the rate Of rents in the
ncighborhood."


al shall not pay any more than do
now" l replied, land it is "A shameful
thing for him to want it, con-idering how
long l have been his tenant. would
rather look for another house than pay a
shilling more than do at present"


"Wcll, DEAR said my wife, Il hink
you are righ'. Besides, there is another
thing strikes me. We are living here
with common weavcrs, and mixing with
them, which is not quite right con,idtt-
/


the snT s1r.s GSyS aTe Srox,ns % 9pr p Go.'ton And
to do something better than marry weav-
ers -"


was struck with the justice of my
wifes remark and requested her to look
out for another lodging or house, which
she promised to do.


The next day when returned home
found my wife had busted hers If in find
ing a new dwelling for us. She had set
her mind on the one in the lloxton road.
1t was certainly much larger than our
own and much more expensive. We
were paying twenty-five pounds year,
and this was forty without taxes. 1t
was, however, far mofesrespectable, NV
wife said, than the one we were then
living in, in Fleur de Lis street, and she
had hit upon plan to make it less cx-
pcnSive than it appeared at first sight 1t
was to let off the first floor to some single
gentleman who was employed in the city
in the day time, so that in fact we should
have all the credit for the appearance OF
the house and not be at any higher rent
than we then were.


81 compl.men.ed my wife on her excel
lent arrangements the house was taken,
and in Il few weeks we were in possession


But although the rent of the house
would not be more than our old one when
we had let off the first floor, and the
appearance we should create would be
far greater, there was the expense of fur
ni'hing to be taken into consideration
This somewhat crippled us for the moment
but my wife said in II short time she
would make up the amount by the rent oI
the rooms.


We found without difficulty a tenant
for our frs floor, young man clerk in
an insurance office. lie was quiet,
orderly young fellow enough, paying reg
ularly his rent every week. now pro-
posed that we should begin ecOnomi'ing
the. money we had paid for the extra fur
niIure, but my wife objected TO do so til
later, as she had other expenses to meet
at the moment. l inquired what they
might be.


"Why, my dear" said my wife, "it il
utterly impossible that the glrls and car
dress now in the manner we did in Fleul
de Lis street, when we were living among
weavers. The people about here ar,
very gentecl, and | don't like to dress diff
ferent from our neighbors. We are now
IN good position, and we ought to make
"a better appearance.


| foolishly admitted her arguments, anC
we lot only put off raising money for thC
furniture, but we got somewhat into deb
Tor the purchase OF new clothes as well
When my wife had obtained the new
dresses for herself and children, they Ger
/ tainly looked very well in them, and
was, | admit, very proud of my family
: but unfortunately, after the purchase haC
been made, we did not save the none,
/ we had expended on the furniture w,