Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-15

surnrised and rebuked al what he heard.
.'He has family Of six children to feed
cIo,he and educate. and he has il to do by
his unasss,ed labor. Since he was broken
| up in business some years ago. he has hat
great difficulties to contend with, and only
by pinching himself and family, and dePrl
wing both OF nearly every comfort, has h'
been able TO reduce the old claims which
have been standing against him. But he
has shortened his own life ten years thereby
and has deprived his children OF the benefits
Of education, except in an extremely hml'
ted degree-wrongs that are irreParabe
honor his stern integrity Of character. bu
think that he has carried his ideas Of hon
esty TOO far. God gave him these children
and they have claims upon him for earthly
comforts and blessings 10 the extent Of bis
ability to provide. His misfortunes he
could not prevent, and they were sent as
much for the chasisement Of those who
lost by him. as they were for his own. II,
subsequently, bis greatest exertion was moi
sufficien, to provide more than ordinary
comforts for The family, still dependent upon
him, his first duty was to see that they did
not want. II he could no, pay his old debts
without injury TO his health or wrong to his
family, he was under no obligation to pay
them for it is clear, that Go claims upon Us
are so imperative as TO require US to wrong
others in order to satisfy them"
Here was another new doctrine for the
ears OF the merchant-doclrne strange, as
we'll as new. He did not feel quite so COM
Portable as before about the recovered debt
Of fifty dollars. The money still lay upon
his desk. He had not yet entererd it upon
his cash book, and he felt now less inclined
to do SO than ever. The claims of humanity
in the abstract, pressed themselves upon
him ic- consideration, and he saw that they
we're not to be thrust aside.
In order 10 pay the fifty dollars which
had been long due to the merchant. Mr.
Moale had, as alleged, denied himself and
family at every point, ard over-worked
himself TO a degree seriously injurious to
his health. But his heart felt lighter after
the sense Of obligation was removed.
There was little at home, however, To
make him feel cheerful. His wife. no, be-
ing able to hire domestic, was worn down
with the care and labor OF her large fami
Iy. The children were, as a necessary
consequence. neglected both in minds and
bodies. Alas there was no sunshine in
the poor mans dwelling.
"WelI, Alice" said Mr.. Monlc, as HE
wife came and stood by the board upon
which he was at work, holding her babe in
her arms. IL have paid of another debt,
thank Heaven
Nv Whose?'
"Petron's He believed me q rogue and
treated me as such. hope he thinks dii-
ferent now."
IL wish all men were as honest in thei.
intentions as you are"
$50 do !, Alice. The world would be a
much better one than ii is, I'm thinking"
"And yet, William" said his wife, 81
sometimes think we do wrong 10 sacrifice
so much to get out Of debt. Our chill
dren-"
"Alice!" spoke up the tailor, quickly, 81
would almost sell my body into slavery to
get free from debt. When think Of wha,
| still owe. feel as il ! would suf1oca,e."
Il know how badly you feel about it,
William; but then your heart is honest.
and should not that reflection bear you
up?"
"What is an honest heart without an hon.
est hand, Alice!' replied the the tailor, ben
ding still TO his work.
"The homes, heart is the main thing,
William. God looks at that. Man judges
only of the action, but God sees the heart
and its purposes"
But what is the purpose without the
&C 2"
1T is all that is required. where no abil-
ity TO act is given. William God does
not demand Of any one impossib'lities."
Though man often does," said the tai
Ior, bitterly.
There was pause. broken. at length. by
the wife, who said
"And have you really determined TO pu,
John and Henry ou. 10 trades? They are
so young"
81 know they are, Alice, too young to
leave home. But-"
The tailor's voice became unsteady. He
broke off 10 the middle of the sentence.
Necessity requires it TO be done," he
said. recovering himself. "And I. is Of no
avail to give way to unmanly weakness.
Bu, for this old debt we might have been
comfortable enough. and able to keep ou'
children around US until they were Of a