The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-05-21
Mtsceuamsnus.
The Lent Paper.

| DrOuSnt from the ONCE, L tnlnk.
Yes: James brought it home on Satur.
day evening; but neighbor N-and his
wife being here, he laid it onthe table,
oh, Mas got the paper; l remem-
Der now Of lending it TO him.
Il am very sorry for that; think you
do very wrong, husband, in lending the
papers before we have read them. He
who takes a paper and pays for it, ought
to have the first perusal of it,.
'Yes, but Masked me to lend it to
him and how could refuse so kind a
neighbour
l am sure he would lend me his, if he
took ore, and | shonld want to borrow.
Don't Make the paper?' inquired
Mrs. c., with surprise.
NO.
why not? He is as he says, always
very fond of reading!
'Yes; but he thinks himself unable to
pay for one
Unable! He is certainly as able as
we are. He pays much larger tax, and
he is almost always Dragging Of his su-
perior cattle, and
Hush. wife. 1t is wrong to speak of
our neighbors' faults behind their back
He promised to return the paper to-day
Il hope he will. 1t contains an excel
lent article that desire much to read
Mrs. c., was an excellent lady, and,
probably, possessed as liberal feelings as
her peace loving husband; but she could
not believe it to be her duty to furnish a
free paper for their more wealthy, yet
covetous neighbor,
N-had formerly taken paper; but
thinking it too expensive, to the no
small discontinue Of his wife and chill
dren, he had ordered its discontinuanee.
He, however. dearly loved to read, and
had, for year or more, been in the habit
of sending little joe on the disagreea-
BILE errand of borrowing old newspapers
of his neighbors.
Mrs. C-waited patiently during the
day, expecting soon to see little Joe COM
ing with the paper; but the day passed,
as likewise did the evening, and no pa
per came.
The next morning, after breakfast, she
was heard to say
We'll, John, the paper has not return
ed yet.'
'Ah, indeed; guess neighbor N-has
either forgotten his promise, or is absent
from home,' replied Mr.. G.
Il thiuk,' she continued, I'VE had bet
ter send James down after it,
Would it not be best, wife, to wait
till afternoon? N-may return it before
that time
AS you think BEST was the submis-
sive reply.
They waited until nearly dark, but no
paper made its appearance. James
smart lad of ten years, was now instruct
ed to proceed to neighbor Ms and get the
paper. He soon arrived, and made
known his errand. He was politely in
formed that it was lent to r., the black
smith, who lived about half mile fur
ther on. James unwilling to return
home without it, resolved, notwithstand
ing the lateness of the hour, to continue
on to the blacksmith's shop.
1T was quite dark when he arrived,
but he soon made his business known,
and was informed by Mr.. r. that little
sis had got hold of the paper and tore it
all up
'I'll take the fragments said James,
who was for having nothing lost.
The fragments Jimr exclaimed Mrs.
R. 'Old Dunk, the peddler, come along
here to-day and l sold 'em with the pa
per rags
James somewhat dispirited by his un-
successful mission, and not being very
couraSeous in the dark, silently beat
hasty retreat for home, where, in due sea-
son, he arrived. and reported the result
of his errand.
'Ah,' very composedly remarked Mr..
c., Il suppose r. asked neighbor N. to
lend his paper, and he did not like to de-
ny HIM. We cannot, | think, Justly ac-
cuse either of doing intentional wrong;
and one paper lis of little value
You may argue Ms case as you like
replied Mrs. c., but be assured of one
thing
! What is that?' asked Mr.. c., with ev-
ident fear.
Nothing, only neighbor N. will not
| long be at the inconvenience of troubling
people for old papers,
In about three weeks after this con-
versation, N. was informed by the Post
master. that he had paper in the Office
He was highly pleased at this announce
ment, but he could not think who was
so very kind as to send him the paper.
After many conjectures, however, he
came 20 the conclusion that it was some
friend whom he had assisted in former
years.
One year passed; the paper continued
to come, and N. was still ignorant from