lis came in,
looking quite sober.

"I know you've been pretty hard run for the last week or ten days,"
said he, "but can't you strain a point and help me a little? I've been
running about all the morning, and am still two hundred dollars short
of the amount to be paid in bank to-day."

"Fortunately," replied Wilkinson, "I have just the sum you need."

"How long can you spare it?"

"Until day after to-morrow."

"You shall have it then, without fail."

The money was counted out and handed to Ellis, who, as he received it,
said in a desponding voice--

"Unless a man is so fortunate as to be born with a silver spoon in his
mouth, he finds nothing but up-hill work in this troublesome world. I
declare! I'm almost discouraged. I can feel myself going behindhand,
instead of advancing."

"Don't say that. You're only in a desponding mood," replied Wilkinson,
repressing his own gloomy feelings, and trying to speak encouragingly.

"I wish it were only imagination. It is now nearly ten years since I
was married, and though my business, at the time, was good, and paying
a fair profit on the light capital invested, it has, instead of getting
more prosperous, become, little and by little, embarrassed, until
now--I speak this confidently, and to one whom I know to be a
friend--were every thing closed up, I doubt if I should be worth five
hundred dollars."

"Not so bad as that. You are only in a gloomy state of mind."

"I wish it were only nervous despondency, my friend. But it is not so.
All the while I am conscious of a retrograde instead of an advance
movement."

"There must be a cause for this," said Wilkinson.

"Of course. There is no effect without a cause."

"Do you know what it is?"

"Yes."

"A knowledge of our disease is said to be half the cure."

"It has not proved so in my case."

"What is the difficulty?"

"My expenses are too high."

"Your store expenses?"

"No, my family expenses."

"Then you ought to reduce them."

"That is easily said; but, in my case, not so easily done. I cannot
make my wife comprehend the necessity of retrenchment."

"If you were to explain the whole matter to her, calmly and clearly, I
am certain you would not find her unreasonable. Her stake in this
matter is equal to yours."

"Oh, dear! Haven't I tried, over and over again?"

"If Cara will not hear reason, and join with you in prudent reforms,
then it is your duty to make them yourself. What are your annual
expe