Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-02-12

from the office, ! lhnk.'~
"Yes James brought ii home on Satur-
day evening; but neighbor N and wife
being here he laid it on the parlor table,"
"Oh, n has got the paper; remem-
ber now Of lending it 10 him.''
81 am very sorry for that; think you
do very wrong, husband, in lending the pa
pers before we have read them. He who
takes paper and pays for it, is entitled TO
the frs. perusal of il"
''Y es +; bu, N asked me to lend it to
him, and how could refuse so kind and
"biging a neighbor? ! am sure he would
lend me his, if he took one, and should
want to borrow.'
'Don'! N take paper? - inquired
Mrs. c., with surprise.
mo"
why not? He is, as he says, always very
| fond Of reading!'
eyes but he seems to think himself un-
able TO pay for one"
| 'Unable! He is certainly as able as we
are. He pays a much larger tax, and he is
almost always Dragging of his superior cattle,
and''-
''Hush, wife! 1t is wrong to speak of our
ne ghbors' faults behind their backs. He
promised to return the paper to-day"
81 hope he will. II contains an excellent
article, that desire much to read"
Mrs. c. was was an excellent lady,
and, probably, possessed as liberal feeling as
her peace-lovng husband; but she could
not believe i! to be their duty to furnish a
free paper for their more wealthy, yet cove
tous neighbor.
N had formerly taken paper but
thinking 1t too expensive, TO the no small
discontinue Of his wife and children, he had
ordered lis discon,inuance. lie, however,
dearly loved to read, and had for year or
more, been in the habit of sending ':little
Joe'' on The disagreeable errand of borrow
ing old papers of his neighbors.
Mrs. c. waited patiently during the
day, expecting soon to see lilIe Joe coming
with the paper but the day passed, as like
wise did The evening, and no paper came.
The next morning, after breakfast, she
was heard to say
"Well, John, the paper has not re turned
yet"
"Ah, indeed | guess neighbor N has
either forgotten his promise, or is absen.
from home,' replied Mr.. c..
81 Think" she continued, "we had better
send James down after il''
"Would it not be best, wife, to wait until
afternoon N may return ii before
lha. time"
GAS you think best" was the submissive
reply.
They waited until nearly dark, but no pa
per made lis appearance. James, smart
lad OF ten years, was now instructed to pro-
ceed 10 neighbor Ms, and get the pa
per. He soon arrived, and made known his
Grand He was very politely informed that
II was lent 10 R, the Blacksmith, who
lived about half mile further on. James
unwilling to return home withou, it. resolv-
'ed notwithstanding the lateness oflhe hour,
10 continue on 10 the blacksmi,h's
1t was quite dark when he arrived, but he
soon made his business known, and was in
formed by Mrs. R, tha, "'i,lle sis got
hold Of The paper, and tore it all up"
''Ill take The Fragments" said James who
was for having nothing lost.
"The fragments, Jim ~ exclaimed Mis-
R, "Od Donk, the peddIer, come a.
long here to-day, and sold 'em with the
paper rags"
James somewhat dispried by his unsuc-
cessful mission, and not being very courage
Gus in the dark, silently beat bas,y retreat
for home, where, in due season he arrived
and reported the result Of his errand.
'Ab," very composedly remarked Mr..
c., 81 suppose R asked neighbor
N 10 lend him the paper, and he did
not like to deny him. We cannot, think,
justly accuse either Of doing intentional
wrong; and one paper" continued he, sis of
little value''
"You may argue Ms case as you
please" replied Mrs. c., ''bu. be assur-
ed of one thing"
"What is that - asked Mr.. c., with
evident fear.
"No.hing, only neighbor n will not
people for old papers.'
In abou. three weeks after this conversa-
ton, n was informed by the postmas-
ter, that he had paper in the office. He
was highly pleased at the announcement.
but he could not think who was so very
kind as to send him the paper. After many
conJectures, however, he came to the con-
clusion that it was some friend whom he
he had assisted in former years.
One year had passed; The paper con.inu
ed to came, and n was sill ionoran,
from whence they came but being one day
at "hauIing," he informed his nei ghbors of
his good fortune, and expressed some fear
tina. he should have to do without a paper
soon.
'No, you won'l," said James c., in