The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-10-20

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Susan handed me some bills, one day
that she said had been handed her by
collector, including one for our rent, ant
one for the last suit of clothes that / hae
been reluctantly compelled to purchase il
order 80 keep up respectable appearance
My countenance fell some degrees, fancy
for had no money TO pay them.
Mrs. Jones was bustling round the din
ner table, and she said, rather sadly, thai
she felt that she ought not to be living up
on us, and perhaps she had better go
away.
Never, my good friend said /, and
Never echoed Susy.
L assured her that would not listen to
such thing as her leaving us-that ]
trusted very soon to get business, and that
come what would she should share our last
loaf. The gool old soul hugged us both
at once, and settling her cap and wiping
her eyes, she went quietly back to her
work. After dinner she went out, but we
reiterated our injunctions that she should
not seek another homo as long as she wo'd
put up with ours.
called round in the evening at tho va
rous places from which received the bills.
To my surprise, the answer was that they
had all been settled. inquired by whom,
but none could recollect They were all
Cancelled on the various books. was thor
oughly amazed, for knew of no one but
Mr.. Russell who could do it for me, and |
hardly believed it of him.
Susy was as surprised as myself, but
was rather inclined to think that it was her
father, so l quietly let her indulge in her
pleasant belief.
We got through the summer, but win
ter was coming on, and l actually trembled
at its approach. Industrious as ..was-
prudent as Sysy ever had been-we could
not hope to get through the cold season,
without suffering and toll, and with debts
superadded.
had been at the office all day, one
gloomy time in November, anxously de-
batting whether should 90 back to print
ing again. considered all the why and
wherelores, counted the costs again and
again, and by the most careful arithmetic,
| could not find that the change would
benefit me single sou. | was toi!ing un-
remittingly now, and | should have to do
the same if l returned to printing, and
with scarcely even so much success rs now.
l became heartily discouraged at the
prospect before me. Had been alone in
the world could have borne it patiently.
Suffering and privation brought no terrors
to me individually, but the thought Of
those who were dear TO me at ome, un-
manned me. And the darker the pros
pct, tho uurc 7 slIuuh nv," .iivi"s,
Mrs. Jones to feel that she was n burden
on us. No, come what might, the good
old soul should not be removed from the
circle in which she seemed to have placed
all her happiness. She should live with
us as long as she lived at all, and if we
were reduced to bcggary, why, we would
beg for her too.
l started up and paced the office with
an impatient step. 1t may seem strange
that a strong, healthy man should be SO
powcrless us | was TO procure living for
my family; but so it was. Itwas growing
dusk, and felt that it was arly time
for me to return to my home.
had intended sending some fuel to my
house, but was disappointed in getting
some money that certain publisher of
daily paper had promised 10 pay me, and
l now dreaded that there was darkness on
the hearth at home.
was just locking up, when boy came
up TO me with a folded paper. read it
under lamp post. In ran thus:
"Come to No. -, fremont Road, at 6
o'clock"
had no alternative but TO do as l was
asked. The boy was gone so that | could
make no excuse; so | walked over the
damp leaves that lay crushed upon the
sidewalk, and which the November blast
had shaken that very hour from the trees.
1 went over the ground rapidly, for wan
ted to learn the result of the errand, and
bc away.
/ rang at the number designated. 1t
was good brick house, with substantial
granite steps, well lighted vestbule with
glass doors, and could see that the whole
front was we'll supplied with gas. l heard
little feet scampering through the hall, but
as the doors were Of grooved glass, l could
sec nothing.
A servant came to the door and waited
on me to handsome drawing room, with
plain, but new and good furniture. / wait
ed in curious speculation for some minutes.
There had been no plate upon the door, so
/ could not even tell the name of the per-
son wishing to see me. was standing be-
fore the chimney-piece examining picture,
when a little child ran into the room. 1t
was so like little Kitty that would have
called her so, had not the pretty embroid-
cred robe and silk apron looked so differ
ent from our children's plain clothes. But
another little head was peeping in at the
open door, and that was little Charley, on.
ly for the scarlet frock and neat CATERS;
and then the two made rush across the
floos, and ran into my arms; while slowly
and majestically, sweeping along with her
ample grapes and bombazines, came port
ly Mrs. Jones, and behind her, Susy, smil-
ing and blushng like the dawn. l think
l had a womanly feeling come upon me
just then. / felt sort Of faintness, and
passed my hand across my eyes, to be sure
that / was wide awake. Susy laid her
hand upon my shoulder and said:
"You owe it to this kind friend here"
whispered she. "She has been trying you