The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-11-20
Gclcrtc0.
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
Il III INK VIC e.

III N IA Il w & Il.
Did Horner pay the bill p inquired
MIR. Gilbert of his clerk who had just come
in.
The young man shock his head.
Didn't pay it;'
mo, sir
What answer did he give =
: lie was angry, and said that he wished
you wouldn't send after the bill any more
that, when he was ready he would bring
you the money, and not before
: He said that did he = Mr.. Gilbert
spoke with considerable excitement of man
ner..
Yes, sir. l have never called on him
that he didn't get out of patience, and say
something unpleasant
Very WE'LL replied Mr.. Gilbert in
menaclng tone; give me the bill, Til col
lect it,
And taking up his hat he left the store.
Within two or three blocks was the office
of an Alderman and thither his steps
were turned.
Thank fortune there's short way
to deal with men in these cases. Thus
MIR. Gilbert talked to himself, as he moved
rapidly along. Not send my bill, indeed
W ny doesn't he come and pay it if he is SO
nice In these matters He doesn't mean
to pay; that's the true reason. But he
is dealing with the wrong man, and he will
find this out before he is twenty-four hours
older. He can bluff off clerk, but he will
find city bailitf different sort of a Gus
TONER
Such was the state of Mr.. Gilbert's mind
as he hurried on his way to the Alderman's
office.
Horner, the offender in this case, was a
poor tailor, who had become indebted to
Gilbert for groceries. The amount of his
bill was sixty-six dollars-a very large sum
tor him, and exceeding what he supposed
1t would be. Sickness, and the loss of a
child had some months previous lessened
his income, and also burdened him with
unusual expenses. But for this he would
not be indebted. Honest and sensitive,
the debt worried him. Instead, however,
of going to Mr.. Gilbert and asking him to
let the obligation stand for a short time
until he could pay it off gradually, he kept
from him, and frettcd himself thinking
over the unpleasant relation he bore to the
grocer. AS was to have been expected the
till came in The clerk by whose hands
1t was sent made his demand in style,
that Horncr thought rude if not insulting.
This Was more in imagination than in
reality.
Il can't pay this now,' was the tailor's
brief answer. He spoke with troubled
voice and countenance. The clerk inter-
preted his manner by the word 'anger
When will you settle it p he inquired
with something premptory in his voice.
can't tell said Horner, in short
quick tone of voice.
The clerk bowed and went away. His
report did not please the grocer, and in a
few days, sent again for the money. The
second demand came upon Horner while
he was thinking of the bill, and hopelessly
casting about in his mind for some means
of paying it. Not possessing great deal
vi SCli ContlOl hC ulWlScly utJcTcu all oX-
preston of impatiencc the moment he saw
the clerk of Gilbert.
well, sir; what about the bill p said
the clerk.
Its no use to keep calling on me- re-
piled Horner. AS soon as l have the
money will see Mr.. Gilbert
A third time his clerk called. Poor
Horner was in an unhappy state of mind
He had been thinking of little else besides
the grocer's bill on the morning; while in
his mind, was a nervous presentimcnt that
he should have visit from the collector.
He was not in error. Even as the thought
troubled him, open swung his door, and
the messenger of Gilbert cptered.
See here young man y exclaimed Horn
er, before the other had time to speak
just tell Gilbert not to send that bill here