The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-05-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE LENT PAPER.

paper [" inquired Mrs. C, of her hus
band.
"Surely wife, l cannot tell; it wa.
brought from the office, | think"
"Yes: James brought it home on Satur
day evening; but neighbor " and
wife being here, he laid it on the parlol
table"
"Oh, u has got the paper; re-
member now, of lending it to him."
81 am very sorry for that think you
do very wrong, husband, in lending the
papers before we have read them. lie
who takes paper and pays for it, is Ger.
tainly entitled to the first perusal of it,
ayes, but N asked me to lend
it to him, and how could refuse so kind
and obliging a neighborl am sure he
would lend his, if he took one, and
should like to borrow it."
"Don't N take a paper?" inquired
Mrs. C, with surprise.
mo"
"Why not' He is, as he says, very
fond Of reading"
Yes; but he seems to think himself
uhapIo W ldhc OuS.
unable He is certainly as able as
we'are. He pays much larger tax, and
is al most always Dragging Of bis superior
cattle and"
"Hush, wife. it is wrong to speak Of
our neighbor's faults behind their back.
He promised to return the paper to-day"
81 hope he will. 1t contains an excel
lent article which l desired very much to
read"
Mrs. G was an excellent lady,
and probably possessed as liberal feelings
as her peace-loving husband; but she
could not believe it to- be their duty to
furnish free paper to her more wealthy,
yet covetous neighbor. =.
" had formerly taken paper !;
but, thinking it too expensive, to the no
small discontinue Of his wife and little
ones, he had ordered its discontinuance
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 borrowing old papers Of his
neighbors.
Mrs. C waited patiently through
the day, expecting to see little Joe com
ing with the paper; but the day pass
ed as likewise did the evening and no
paper come.
The next morning after breakfast, she
was heard to say:
"Well, John, the paper has not been
returned yet"
"Ah, indeed; I guess ncighbor N
has either forgotten his promise or is alb
sent from home," replied c..
81 think" she continued "we had bet
ter send James after t."
"Would it not be best, wife, to wait
until afternoon N may return it
before that time"
"As you think best" was the mild
reply.
They waitel until nearly dark, but no
paper made its appearance James, a
smart lad Of ten years, was now instruc-
ted to proceed to neighbor Us
and get the paper He soon arrived and
II ade known his errand. He was very
politely informed that it was lent TO r.,
the blacksmith, who lived half mile fur
ther on. James, unwilling to return home
without it notwithstanding the lateness
Of the hour, continued on to the black
smiths.
1t was quite dark when he arrived, but
he soon made his business known, and
was informed by Mrs. R, that "httle
sis got hold Of the paper and tore it up"
"l'Il take the fragments" said James,
who was for having nothing lost.
"The fragments, Jim 7" exclaimed Mrs.
R, "OlJ Donk, the pedlar, came
along here to-day, and sold 'em with
the rags"
James, somewhat dispirited by his un-
successful mission, and not being very
courageous in the silently dark beat has
ty retreat for home, where in due season
he arrived and reported the result Of his
errand.
"Ah," very composedly remarked Mr..
C, l suppose R asked neigh
Dor N to lend him the paper, and
he did not like to deny him. We cannot,
| think, accuse either Of doing Intentional
wrong; and one paper" continued he, "is
Of little value"
"You may argue Ms case as you
please" replied Mrs. C, "but be as
sured Of one thing"
"What is that p said Mr.. c.,
with evident fear.
Nothing, only noighbor " will
not long be at the inconvenience Of troub-
ling people for old papers"
In about three weeks from this oonver-
SETON, NJ was informed by the
postmaster, that he had paper in the Of
fee. he was highly pleased at this an.
nouncement, but he could not think who
was 80 very kind as TO send him paper
Alter many conjectures, however, he came
to the conclusion that il was from som'
friend whom he had assisted in formel
years.
One year had passed; the paper con
tinued to come, and N, was still ig
norant from whence It came; but on,
day ut hauling" he informed hi