Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-11-26
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
o sMALL DEBTS; Or what Five Dollars
Paid.
ny t, ). ARTHUR,

him small slip of paper. 1t was bill
for five dollars, due to his shoemaker, a
poor man who lived in the next square,
0 "Tell Mr.. Grant that l will settle this
soon. 1t isn't Just convenient to-day
The boy retired,
Now Mr.. Herriot had five dollar bill
On his pocket, but he felt as if he couldn't
part with it. He didn't like to be entire
1y out of money, So acting from this i'm
pulse, he had sent the boy away. Very
still sat Mr. Herriot for the next five min
utes; yet his thoughts were busy. He
was not altogether satisfied with himself,
The shoemaker was poor man, and nee
ded his money as soon as earned-he was
not uuadvised of this fact.
al almost wish had sent him the five
dollars" said Mr.. Herriot, at length, half
audibly. "He wants it worse than dc"
He unused still farther,
"The fact is" he at length exclaimed,
starting up, cts Grants money, and not
mine and what is more, he shall have
it," a.a,I
. SO saying, .Herriot took up his hat and
left his office.
"Did you get the money, Charles ?"
said Grant, as the boy entered the shop,
There was good deal of earnestness in
the shoemaker's tones.
ono SIR" replied the lad.
Didn't get the money!"
"No SIR"
"Wasn't Mr.. Herriot imp"
-" Yes sir; but he said it wasn't con-
Senient to-day"
"Oh, dearl Pm sorry p came from
the shoemaker in a depressed voice.
a woman was setting in Grants shop
when the boy came in; she had now
risen, and was leaning on the counter; n
look of disappointment was in her face.
II can't be helped, Mrs, Lee" said
Grant. ~ was sure of getting the mon
ey from him He never disappointed me
before. Call in, tomorrow, and will
try and have it for your
The 'raman looked troubled as we'll as
disappointed. Slowly che turned away and
hft the shop, A few minutes attUr 'hor
departure Herriot came in, and after some
words of apology, paid the bill
"Run and get this bill changed into
silver for me-" said the shoemaker, to his
boy, the moment the customer had de-
parted,
"Now," said he as soon as the silver
was placed in his. hands, "take two dol
lars to Mrs. Lee, and three to Mr.. Wea-
yer Gcros0 tie street. Tell Mr.. Weaver
that lam obliged to him for having loan
ed it to me this mofaling, and that had
mt as much in the house when he sent for
it an honr ago."
-. &" 1 wish had it, Mrs, Eden. But, 1
assure you that have not" said Mr..
Weaver, the tailor, Gel paid out Che last
dollar just before you came in, But call
in tomorrow and you shall have the mon
ey to certainty"
"B But what am to do to-day? hav-
MT cent to bless myself with !; and l
owe so much at the grocer's, where l
deal, that he won't trust me for anything
more"
Che tailor looked troubled, and the wo-
man fingered. Just at this moment the
shoemaker's boy entered.
"Here are the three dollars Mr.. Grant
borrowed of you this morning." said the
lad, "IIe says he's sorry he hadn't the
money when you sent for it while ago"
How the face of the tailor and his nee
dlewoman frightened instantly, as if
CLEAN of sunshine had penetrated the
room.
"Itere is Just the money owe you,"
said the former, in cheerful voice, and
he handed the woman the three dollars he
had received, A moment after and he
was alone, but with the glad face of the
poor woman, whose need he had been able
to supply, distinct before him.
OF the three dollars received by the
ncedle:woman, two went to the grocer, on
account Of her debt to him, half dollar
was paid to an old and needy colored wo-
man who had earned it by scrubbing, and
who was waiting for Mrs. Weaver's re-
turn from the tailor's to get her due, and
thus be able to provide an evening and
mornings meal for herself and children,
The other half was paid to the bakerwhen
he called towards evening to leave the
accustomed loaf, Thus the poor needle
woman had been able TO discharge four
debts, and, at the same time re-establish
her credit with the grocerand baker, from
whom came the largest portion of the
food consumed in her little family.
And now let us follow Mrs. Lee. On
her arrival at home, empty handed, from
her visit to the shoemaker, who owed her
two dollars for work, she found young
girl, in whose pale face were many marks
Of suffering and care, awaiting her re-
turn.
The girls countenance frightened as
she came in but there was no answer
ing brightness in the countenance of Mrs.
Lee, who Immediately said
"I'm very sorry Harriet but Mr.,
Grant put me off until tomorrow, He
said he hadn't dollar in the house,"
The girls disappointment was very
GREAT for the smile that she had forced