Miscellany: It's Only A Dollar

(Concíudcd.) 'Yon look a Hule pnle, lr. Jone?,' sai d a hon-e dealer to him one dny, bont a inoiiih after his second onleal . I am afraid you confine yourself to much. j 'JVrhaps I (!o.' j 'Yoti íhouicl takeagood deal of exericisr, i Mr Jones.' 'I know that. And I do walk for an hour every morning.' 'That ís no kind of éxercise! Yon ought to ride on Iiorseback, Mr. Jones. Tlierc s noíhing like t for men wlio e so closeiv confined in banks nnd stores.' 'I have no doubt but thnt I shoult' feel grenily the benefit uí riding for an hour or two each da}-.' 'Thai you wouW, Mr. Jones! It would make yp'u feel Jjke a new man; and would certainly acid ten years to your ufe.' I beüove 1 must try it at loast,' Mr. Jones said musmgly. 'I fell that I necd healthful exercisc in the open nir very mucli.' 'I hnvc a very spirited animal, that I think would just suit you,' rcmarked the liorse dealer. 'Suppose you come round in the morning nnd pive him a trial. I am sure you will be deliírhted vvith him.' 'Perhops I vvül.' Mr. Jones snid, In the mornipg, before brcakfust, surn e noug-l), he was at the stables of the horse dealer, and was soon mounted iipon a really noble animal, líe was so delighted witli his ride, &, plpased witli his horse, Ihat a desire to pos sess him at once sprong up in his mind. 'What do you ask for this horse?' he said on dismounüng at the stables. 'Only a hnndred and fifty dollars.' 'He is certainly worih tlint sum.' 'That he is. VVhy, it's almost giving Iiim awny.' lf I frlt able, I should rjally bc tempted to buy him.' 'Able! I know fifty men, who, f they were as able as you. would ench own his horse before night. There is CïunJner, whose saJary is only one f honsnnd dollars a year. He keeps n horse, nnd a beatitifuf creatnre it is, too. Dun'! t-ilk abonl being able, Mr. Jonrs! And thon jnst think what a benefit t would be to your heallh.' The tenpter provaüed, nnd the weak yonnir man resoried to tiic bank funds ngain. Ois mernoninduni was clann-ed from 'five hnndred dollars due cash' - to tix hundred and fifty dollnrs. 'I have bought me a horse, Julin,' he said, after lie had compl'tfid Mie ptircKase. 'I lave voii? VVell, do you know whal must come next?' No.' 'Wt:ll I can teil you Ihen.''Yon wil; have fo biiy rao a linrse too. I lia ve no idea of your riding out nlone cveiy morniiip-, and, perlmpp, pvcn evening.' 'I om sino I ehuld like your cornpany very ii'iicli. Julia. I didiL knoy joú weic íbiul ol rii injj.' 'Bnt I am - pnsnonulely fond pfll .' Seventy fivc tloll.-irs wrre paid ibr n !:orsc fot Mrs. Jones. And now, evety moiiiinr, and almost every eveninaf, this tliöijg'iïllesa mui imprudonf cotiple miglit be sceh Haáhfng onf nlo the country on iheir own liorseá. Büt time papsfd stcadily onuaid, ond soon brnught nroiind tlie next examinntion da y. - As it dre'v nrar,Mr. Jones bepan to foe' a riervou.s drnxl of its approach,for tbe Ünket in thc drnwer bore the ominouá svords - 'Ducdrawir #1000.' ít now became nrcr??ary to enter npon snmc rejr nía r systeni of borrowinp; and have it fo arranged as to prevent tbe possibilily of a failurp. 'Will yon havo two linndreddoll.-irs tosparn day after to monow?' he aaked of his friend Martin. 'Yes, and doublé llie aniounl, if you want it.' 'Thank you. But I don't care aboi.t more iban two hundrel. And you can have it n guiri in a day or two.' Two nlber friends were called upon, in likemanner, nn.i irom oucna nke ntnmint was pro mi;-ed: all oí which he received in duc time, and placed the funds of the bcnk, lo make lus amount jrood. But it s uecdless to traca the conrse of i f lonry Jones slep by step. Por f'till five years lie contintied tliis system, unsupnected by any one. Al ilie end of this timp, the memora n durn, whirl) lo prevent accident} v;:s carricd Í in his pocket bonk read llius. ' Díte cash, ,v5ti50.' And vet, during all this time, tincas!) of llie nstitution vns regularly coiinted every three months; and on eech' occasion, the defirnency Wis borro wed froni at leest twenry different porsoiiF, not one of ivhom harbored the least suppicion of tlie ailable nnd light hearted teller. But llenry ,T0IiGS u-as far from 'oeinrr hnppy Ile feil tlmt tl.e sworcl htïhg oVor lii.s iicid, suspended by a singló finir, and liable to fall by the apitation of a Pinffle bieath. Yet, o slrnnije wns the infalnaiipn into whieh lic had pune ed himself to fnH, ihnt. instrnd of endeavorinnr to como b::rk and live, below his inconie. he was incrensinp his f-.vpeñse every year. From the 'lts only a dollar,' principie ofoction - bolh he nnd his 'vife, now (hc mo . ther o two sweet bubf-P, had rifen into the. 'Il's only a hundred dollnr?,' principie, and ivére spêëdintr onvvard to thcirruin wiih daily increasiiifr velociiy. But nolliiiify of tbetrne condition of affairs did Mrs. Jones know.- She vaiuly iniao-ined, ihatfiftcen hundred dollars a year wcre snfficient to snpply all thej extravaganciep, for ersons ofthcir station in ■ lile, inio which ihey eñtértíd fo llionrrhllessly. ] Amon,ir oiher cis of Iblly, they h;id piv-n ip the nfat and cotnfortable dwrlling at two hiitv dred dollars a ycar, and now ocenpied nn j gant house, at five hundred dollars, - attached i to wliicii, was a small hot house, filled witli a most choice collection of plant?, mnny of which were rare exotics. They also had n carriage, f;f 1 Itf ir own, and a boy, of coursc, to altend to 1I10 horso. Uut, witli all ilièse appendages of hnppinesp as was bcforc taicï. Wr. Junes was Tur Irombeing happy. How could lic be? IIö was n the clianncd circle ot'lhc serpent's êye, ami possessed uo power of brenking the f peil, and ! rushing away froni ihe threatened dangei. - Iiut, stül, over all the onxiety anáfear wittiin, lie drew a veil, and assurned as ftir as pos:-ible, bol h at home and abroadj an citerior of apparent cheerfulness. I About this time began the commercial em; barraesmehrs that have been prtilongcd for so ! niany years_ Money became sciircer and j scarcer, and it was vvitli Ihe utmost difficulty tliatMr. Jones could oblaif Ihe n-quired Burp, even for a single doy, lo make good his account. 'I iiinst have four hundred dollars tn-morj row,' hè said on one of these periodicnl occasions, steppinc inlo the store of a friend. 'Most gïndly would I accomodate yoti. Mr. Jcnes - hut, to morrow I have two thousand dollars to pay, and have not yet received the ! first dollar. IIow I am to get tlirough, Heavcn only kno vs.' Therc was that in the earnesr, even onxTous tone of the merchanr, that Icft fio room for Mr. Jones to urge his suit. He turned away from the store ith a fceling offaintnesa. 'How inuch can you spare me to-morroy?' he iisked of another buêiness man, who hnd always, heretofore, occommodated him with the utmost cliPcrluluees. Not one dollar, Jones. And I urn sorrv for it. But I am in the tighest place that I ïiave known for the last ten years. I hnve heavy paymen'.s to ninke to-morrow, and no resources.' '1 am really sorry for it,1 Mr. Jones replied and in spite of his eíFurt to seem in tome degree nnconcerned about not receivirg the money for which he had nsked, the merchnnt could not help perceiving that hiöcountetiance feil, and apsuinod a very troubled aspect. 'SoatnI. But 1 must meet the difficulty like a man, and do rny best to overeóme it.' 'Can yon let me have a few hundred dollars to-morrow?' Mr. Jones next n'ék'éd of a frieuJ who had never hesitated to lean him any sum tha: he wanted. 'Indeed, Mr. Jonrs, icannot. These are dreadful hard times. And I am eure tliat I cannot teil how 1 shall gei throuh to-morrow. But, in a few days, you caa have as much us you want.' Thus, wherever the teller went, he found i t!ie same complaint of scarcity and want of I money. Not even ono thousand dollars was tendered him, and that wonld he of no hsh, for it would require nearly six thousand to make good his account . 'What must I do?' was a question more easily asked than ansered. Am1 it was aikëd over and over again witli n vain looking for soine glimmering oflight in the distante. But all was darkness and uncertainty, with a dist net knowledge that destruction looked in 'ïis palh. The morrow at length carne, after a night sucli as no honesr, or even dishonest man could wit--h topaas- a night of wakefulness .ind feorfól fcrebodings. Sweetly by hiw i-ide slept (u's unconscious wiíe. ana his still happier nmi innocent children. How his heart ached for ("hém as he thought of the di?grace that woiilil .it!nc!i ti-, his name, if a discovery of hiserror were made, of the chango in all of lus exterual citctimsiances that must bc the inevitable coneequenc'e. The hoor fot (pening the bank nt lengt!) carne; and ÍVf r. Jones Vvdfc at Iiis post witii the j me checrful nir aml kind manner that had gain'èü for liim therespeot and regard of both the officers and ensiomers of the institución. And vet with all Ui' assiuncd exterior, ihore was a (ert rb!o í'ceYwg within, fur there bad oci currod to bis mind no dovicü by wJiich Ie j could put. oiVlhe evil day. Once the tlionijht ■ occurred to his míftd lo state openly nnd fnlly I his Ciiïe !o the committce of examination, beforo ihe proceís of cuimtirg the cash tlumUt bc eniered upen. Uut this was instanrly rejeciV1 wiih the mental ejacnlation - 'Tt c.'inmt; it must not be known!' A'l throngh ïhe dny, wlnle Iiis hands were büsy in reccivintr umi pnying out moncy, his niind was nitont on cTevising pome plan óf rclicl' from the dreadful düemmi into which he luid füllei). Ünco n. rleam of hope shot suddenly nernss Iiis miiul, but it quickly taded nway, and lef t Ibe dBTlOHSPS et UI more yloomy and intenso. Like 'he daiknrss of Evpt- it could be lelt. 'l'iiut hope caiuc ihiis. A check for six thousamJ lúüUurs was prpsented. and he paid out in mistnke, tix liniidicd. The IHd who offered the c.heckj ioIíoí! Öp the itkiiipv wiihoiit countin it, hik.' gflided quickly l'rodi the bank. As Hm teller wts d.r Wlg the check into one of the cömjjaitineiïts of' lus money drawer, his pye detecied the error. His rccollcctipti of pn ving but six liundtcd dollars was clear and di.slinct.'Now I'm safe;' was the sudden inward ex clnniation. while 11 lluül of' py run ihiouüh every ncrvè and fihro of Jii body. ''i'hnt woiilfl bo wüful and pmnedilatcd d ís - j honeíty,1 n voice scemed lo whisper in his car. 'Uut I can mnke it good liere.if'ter, in a woy ilmt nced involve no (Ifcclosure. And the firm is licli nnd wil] not b'e put to Jiconvenicnce in consequenco.' 'Don't lo it,' ufged the opposing and beUcr Kpint witliin liim. 'But I Esliall bc niiiicd if ]o nol.' 'And niintd tenfoJd ifyou do,; was the inlornal carncst objectinn. 'Wlint sltali I do!' ihc poor man nttercd mor;; hBQJoly. And ilion stnited test liis wordö I hnd passed to the eur of some one stünding by. 'Acl honeslly ns ílir yr.u can, nnd ownit tlio ' resült ofyoiir culpable lolly,' said the Fmvè'rd yvlnsper. 'Vou hove made a niistnkp,' Fid th? principie of the li;in yvIigsc clieck of ax thousaniJ dclhirs had been pai'l witli six hundred, cominrr up to tlie counlor, whilc the struggle in j the yóuiig man's mind was undecided. 'J'hnt i was the Irying moment, and the decisión had io bc mude instnntly. The struggrlfl was, as it had of nccessity to bc, brief - 'I discovered t!ic misto kr, sir, n.s,soon ns Í your lad left,' ihp teller replied with i Ptnile, i as he counted out the balance of the check. j' 'I am greatly oblioil to you, &ir.' the i chant said, as he roceived the nioney. 'Some j tellers correct no mittakes.' 'Riglit is righ't,' íespbndcd !Ir. Jones 1 1 ch;iiuca!ly. w hile Jiih uun vuicc eutinik'd lo j Hís car, holk'W nnd dcPi'airinjj. JTlie merchant boived and left the counter, and hoje, thut had glimmered for a inomeut wich a lurid'Iight, %'ed away into darkness. j Stoadily the hours rolled awav, and at last Ihc clock struck ilireo, and the'doors of the bank werc closed. The committce werc alreudy in waitinr to truke tlieir periodical examinalion. All ihat remained was for Mr. Jones lo enter tip his cl.eeks and notes, strike j Iris balance and present his accotin-. As he proceeded to do this, ho seetned lo bc reding jobout insload of standing still, and had it not i been for the mcchnnical habif. tlial fio had ac; quired, it would hnve boon impossible for hiin j to havo procecded wilh any dugree of correct! ness. He had not proceet'ed far in the labor before Iris eye rcáted ujion the bix thousand dollar check. 'This inight have savcd me,' he murmured, pausing in nis work. 'And it shali save me!' he added with inward velipmence. 'lt shall sac mei' Ilis balance was at lengtli struclc, nnd the periódica! co'üiitihg took placp. AI! appeared ripjlit, and the committce separated. 'Mr. jones,' said the cashier to the teller, afier the president and the two clirectorp. wlio had formed, wilh the casliier, the conimittpp, liad withdrawn. 'There èeenis to be u liitle error here,' laying hi? hand upon the' entries of the dny. The heart of Mr. Jones gave a strong bound and then its inotion sunk into lou' and treinulolis pulsations, svhile his face rrew i;istanl]y pale. 'Wherp, sir?" he asked in a low tone, scarce]y above a w hipper. 'Hore'- said the cashier, laying his fmger first upon the charge of a check for SCOoo - and then upon a similar charge, in another part of tho day's operation - 'Mehvyn and his check appeas to be charged twlce. for 1 only observed, in running my eye over the checks, but dnë drawn by ihern.'" And the cashier looked Jones steadily in the face. The eyes of the lalter ffill under the seaiching expression; nnd as they did so, his face grew deadly pale, for he feit conscions that his defalcation wouhi now come to Jiglit. A brief pause followed, when the cashier soul in a tone that had something of kindnessin it - 'Come into my ro' ni, in a few minutes, Mr. Jonn.-,' and then, himself rctired to the place he had indicated. TJiither he was soon followed by the teller. 'Sit down Mr. Jones,' the cashicr taid. And the teller sat down. But the very chair in which he seated himself seetned as if on fire. I am afraíd Mr. Jones, that all is not rigïit' - the cashier began. 'and I atn exceedinglv poined to find inysclf obliged to expresa .such a thotigbt.' Theve was of kindneps andcení n tlie iones of the cashier's voice, and as the heart of the latler melted down, a glenin of bopeseem to glance before him. 'AJI ís not r:Vit, sir!' he f-aid, wifh ono appealing- glance, nnd covering Ma face with his hands, gave woy to fra-s. To this succcrded a full confes. on, by the tel, er, of his diffiulties, nnd the nature and extent ot liis defnlcati'n. 'Bilt liow is it posible, Mr. Jone?, thnt yon cotjJd become so embarrassed?1 the caííiier said. 'I cnn hnrdly answer that questinn to myj seltj' the teller replied - 'I have not gambiet!, nor bonglit lotlpry tickets. AH has gone in I Hip muintenancn of my (an)ily.' ♦Tlicn yon must have Üved vory exlravaI renlly, Mr. Jones, for witli a l:iro-cr family tlüin ynirp, my expenses are not over twche hundred dollarp n year.' 'Í believe I have fir - and therp, no doubt, is the secret of my enibnrrnsmcnt. I ïntended never to wroncr tbf bank. But I wíis thoughtIpss and exiravagant.. But, do nolexpcse me! I was not dishonest in my in'entions - nnd wil] not abusé yoiír confklcncc if yóxi will ag-nin favor me with it.' 'But liow can I help exposiftg yon, Mr. Jones, r.re yon not a defnulter to the ainount of six llionsnnd dol!nrs?? 'True, sir! But I v.-ill rp.y tliat. nfnitiimlly. I will live on half of my salary, n ut il the oiher half mr.kcs good i he lots. Oh, t-:ii ! ihink of my wife aiiil children, Biid spnre us i!ie dif-grace nnd ruin!' And the teller cluspod his hnnds, nnd löoked up, implüriugly, into liie ' enshiers fr.co. The lattcr. was rpoyed. But liis posiüon i involvf'd ciuiics Unit couid nol be sacriíiced to ; feëliiig?. 'How can I dopend unon yon, Mr. Jones?' : lie eaid, aftera lonjr silence. 'Once yon have i dpceived me - how can I trhst you ngain? - ; Wliat security have I that you Will notagain i be le.i astray?' 'Oh, sir, the reflections of this drendfu] honr i will be your st'cunty - this dreodful hour, in which I stand, trembling on tlie brink of infüinv and nitor ruin!''Go lioino, Mr. Jones1 - the casbicr Fnitl, nf Ier a silence of fn!l five minute?, in wliich lic slrove in voin to docide his rouoe of oc ion. j Go home, umi eive me time lo ihink. ]Jy to inurrow mornipg 1 vi]J decido what it ís nght for nieto do.' 'Oh, sir, do not kerp nie so long in eiisprnpc! It wil! kill me!' 'I conriüt decide lieíbre' - the cathirr ?a:d , pravely. 'And now g liane, t-ir, nnd be ! pared for the worst, for I ennnot teil wliat wiJl bo the rosoh ofm)1 delibemtion.' We will not atlompt to porirny the feclinirs of Mr. Jones durinsf tl'o droadfuj njght tlml Iblloued - nor tiiose ofhis wifc, to wlioin hc toM ill as foon as lie n turncd hemc. Onthcncxt morninp he went enrly to the bank, in n sfïite of' intense nuxiety. Tlm onshier met him r.a Boon ns lm rnfered. nnd ; llien the Uvo reïired to the rashier's private room. Poor Jo:;es feit lile n criminal on his svay to the enliowpj with one faint Impc in I i-; n.ind of a reprieve - a liopo nore truly j ai f,1 ' thnn tho cortainty thnt there was no escape, 'It s.donC] Mr. Jone?,' the cashier said ; citimIv, nnd Mr. Junes satdown. A tilonce of seme moments ensued. The j cnslner's brow wns clouded, and it was evident ( that he was yet luideteniuned iiow to act. - ' His duty as a public officcf proniplrd one i con ree, nnd linnnnity nnother. Al Jast lic ! said, in an cnrnest voicc - 'Jones! - corl 1, time trusf. you?" 'Oh, sir, do nol licsila'.c. 'J'his huur of jtense, nlmo.st hopclrss agony, is the guaranteo lor my future f;iitiilulnest. 'Trust me, íir, and I will be true to your onfulence.' 'But how wil] you tnakc goud the deficiency n your acconnt?' I uill rcqoiie time, ?ir; but I helieve I enn do t. My truc deíiciency ís $5,600. There was diie yosterday, and vet umirawu. a qnarter's sal.iry. I hovea cárriage and n jkmt of horses, wliich will bring, not Icss tlian seven hundred dollars - ihey cost a tliousand. My wife's j.uvt h v, ;m:l my uwn, including watches and gold cliainp, we esíimated ast niht, al'jríot Jess ihán'six I undred dollar?. We have been thóiightléssly ox'.ravngant in these inatters. How we ever accutmii.ited so much really worthless stuff, I can liardly lell. Bi:t we were nlways buyiiig tomethiiig. And then our plañís and flowers, would certainly bring a hundred dollars. Tliere are among tl.om many that are rare and beautiful. Besides these tliings, we Jiuve a great deal of costJy furniture, an I ornamenta, wliich we will let go. In all, I feel sanguine that í can reduce my debt I owe the baulc to three tlionsand dollars. ] have told my wifo all abont my present (ireadñil cornudo, und l,e saye - "let all go" - Slie is wiHina t" couíg down to the poorest condition, ro that I rn'oy not be exposcd and ruined. Six Imndred 'dollars a year she is conlident will be enoiijrij for vk, ! and hhe proposes that we move intcTihe ! urb.sof Jhe ciiy, where rent will be lenv, and I thpcliange in onr nppparance not be so i uch noliccd. In fbur yeare, at tlie longcbt, I will be nb!e to muke all straight again." For more tiiun a minute the enshier muscd in silencc - then exlending his hand he said ' Mr. Jone?, I will trjst you. The teller bursl into tears and stink hito a cha ir. 'What n gulph oP min I have escapsd?' he eaid, af Jength riöiug, and again grasping the cashier's hand. It was on a calm pnmmer evening, about four years after, that Mr. and Mrs. Junes sat near a windo.w oftheirneat little dweiling, far in the Bubur'ha of'ihe large city of which theV were residen's. Everything around them was Heat, plain. and comfortablc. 'This day Icm a freo man!' Mr. Jones said, after a brief pause in tlieir con versal ion. I draw my quarter's talary Ibis morning, mul afler paying off the balance ormy debí j to the bank, havo just one lmndred dollars ] lelt. How narrow an escape 1 have made? It makes me tremble whenever I think of it.' 'Üh Henry' - and his wife leaned upon his arm and looked him tenderly in the fn'cr, while the moisture dimmed her oyes - 'Ilow glad arnl {osee this ho-ir thatlhave scarcely dared to hope for. We have had a hard les'son to learn, but I feel that it has bren a 6alutary one. Weehall ngain be happy.' 'Yes-, far happier ihnn witlj our foi'mef views and íccling.s we cotild even have boen undir cirenmstances ihe most prosuerous. I could not have believed, once, in ihe pogsibüity ofj our being couteníed, wjlh everythiiiir around ' us so plain as we nov have it. But I fmd Ihat it is not so mueh tlie externa] circumstances iKnt make hoppiness as ihe interna! condifion of the muid, lfwo look oiU of ourserves for happinessas sad e.vperince has ved, ne meet only disappointmcnt, and are in -; danger ofbnroming in circums.t,u)crs ihat may saddcn every moment of our ader live?. Let us, then, never forgel tiie past four year. - ; They are full of lessons.' Nor wrre íhose troubled years ever forgottcn. Thnr lessons of 'pradebee and ecorfomy their thoughts - exiting incidrnlt - (íicir seasons of sad reflortion made an impresión ' thnt never wore off. Mr. Joños oceupied a ; posilion of trust in the communily, and none ! fc-usnecied that once his feot well nigh slipprd, ' while he tolleied on the brink of ruin and : 'amy.