"Why, my darling, is that all? I thought it was something terrible. What do we care for the loss of a little money? We have each other and our love. That is everything." Then in the sunshine of that love my naturally good spirits returned and my trouble was forgotten in the joy over this new insight into the character of my wife. With determination I resolved that I would devote myself closer than ever to my business, and set for myself the task of accumulating another five thousand dollars within a year. During 1872 I had made about seven thousand dollars, but now nearly five thousand dollars was represented by experience. The other fellow had the money. The holidays had come and gone. We enjoyed them in spite of our recent reverse. We did not spend very much money, though we had just as good a time as if we had done so. I had entirely recovered my mental equilibrium and had put out of my mind all thought of my financial loss. Life was moving on in the same delightful channel. Love was our bark, and we sailed smoothly, as on a summer sea. My business during the early months of the year was good, but in April signs were not wanting of a general falling off in the commerce of the entire country. My trade began to feel the effect of the approaching "hard times." This did not disturb me at first, for I did not think it would last long, and in any event thought I could safely count on at least as good a business as in the year previous. At this period it became evident to me that my father was breaking down, and that while he might accomplish a little toward the support of his family, it was not to be depended on, and the burden must rest on me. It came at a bad time, but I accepted it as a duty which it was my pleasure to perform so far as I was able. Under these conditions we decided to give up our apartment and take up our residence with my parents. They, as also my sisters, were very fond of my wife and she of them, while I was always, from infancy, accused of being the pet of the family. As the summer months progressed I realized that beyond a doubt the hard times were upon us. My customers were buying nothing and complaining there was not enough business doing to use up the stock of material they had on hand. My savings of the first quarter of the year began to dwindle, and in those days I thought often with regret of my lost five thousand dollars. My wife, always the same bright, cheerful, loving woman, encouraged me to keep up my spirits, and I did, for her sake as well as my own. CHAPTER VII THE COMING OF THE STORK. By the first of November I had exhausted all my savings, and from then on knew that if my monthly earnings were insufficient to pay my expenses, I should have to resort to borrowing money to tide me over until better times. A crisis was coming at home that demanded every effort of mine to have matters there pleasant and comfortable. Under no circumstances must my wife worry.