Chapter II

Business prospered with the young men. By prudent and careful management, each had not only made a living, but had been able to pay a small portion of the mortgage on the stock, at the end of the first year.

Joseph had the advantage of his friend in possessing a better location, and though his rent was somewhat higher, the difference was more than compensated by the increased facilities it afforded him. The prospect was decidedly bright to him. If his business increased as it had done, he would be enabled to clear himself of debt in another year.

Under this encouraging aspect he ventured to expend a hundred dollars in additions to his furniture, which his wife insisted was absolutely necessary for their comfort and happiness. The house had been furnished altogether too plain for this progressive age in her estimation. She was behind some of her friends who, she was sure, were doing no better than her husband.

Joseph was a little obstinate at first; but then there was something so decidedly comfortable in a set of stuffed chairs and a lounge, that he did not hold out in his opposition. He was doing well, and the expenditure would not seriously embarrass him.

With a nice new Brussels carpet and the new furniture, Mrs. Weston’s little parlor looked exceedingly pleasant and comfortable. Besides, it looked as though her husband was prospering in his business.

It was so very nice that the young wife could not bear the idea of having the parlor shut up, so that no one should see it till the furniture had grown rusty; consequently she made up her mind that they must have a party.

Their friends had parties; why shouldn’t they? It looked stingy not to have one. Mrs. Weston was an eloquent debater, and she gained the day in this matter. It is true the party was not a very extravagant affair; but it cost Joe some fifty dollars. In the meantime Benjamin had paid quite as much for advertising as his friend had for new furniture and the party. Joseph laughed at him, and finally came to believe that he was insane, and would certainly come to ruin in another year.

Mrs. Ben Weston, too, felt decidedly unpleasant about the improvements which had been going on in her sister’s house.

“Why can’t we have a rosewood table and a set of stuffed chairs, Benjamin?” asked she, pouting her pretty lips into a very unamiable position.

“Simply, my dear, because I cannot afford it,” replied the philosophical merchant.

“How can Joe afford it?”

“I presume he knows his business best.”

“He has put over a hundred dollars into his house.”

Ben whistled “T’other side of Jordan,” and made no reply.

“Do, Ben, buy some new chairs.”

“Can’t afford it.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No, I can’t.”

“You can afford it as well as Joe.”

“Perhaps I can.”

“Do buy some.”

“I should be very glad to gratify you, but I cannot take the money from my business. A year hence, if business prospers with me, you shall have them.”

“A year hence,” pouted the wife.

“I must spend a hundred dollars in advertising the next quarter.”

“How foolish!”

“Very foolish, my dear; but it must be done.”

“That’s the way you throw your money away. You don’t catch Joe to do such a trick as that.”

“True; but though he has the advantage of having a corner store, I paid three hundred dollars more on my mortgage note than he did.”

“Then you can afford the table and chairs.”

“Nay, my dear, I will not spend a dollar for superfluities while I am in debt.”

Mrs. Ben Weston felt very bad about it, but her husband was firm, and she was forced to content herself with the plain furniture.

Mrs. Joe Weston enjoyed her nice parlor till the novelty wore away, and then she discovered that there were a great many other articles wanted to make things look uniform. The two windows must have drapery curtains, a pier glass was needed, and some pictures were wanted to relieve the walls. Her husband, who had once exceeded the limits of his means, found no great difficulty in doing so again, and the things were bought.

But Joe had some scruples about it. His notes began to be troublesome, and every day he was in the street borrowing money. His business, too, had not met his expectations. Instead of increasing in the ratio of his first year’s experience, it hardly held its own, and the poor fellow began to have some serious misgivings about the future.

Before the year had half expired, he was obliged to introduce a rigid system of retrenchment into his family and business affairs, in order to keep his expenses within his means.