Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-07
GOING DOWN HILL.
BY hrs. $ F. DOUGHTY.

81 MS. s 7. DOUGHTY
Sc That looks bad !" exclaimed FaIsaasslss hite,
with an expressive shake of the head, rs he
passed neglected garden and broken down
fences, in one Of his daily walks.
" Bad enough" was the reply Of the com
panion to whom the remark was addressed
'Neighbor Thompson appears 10 be running
down bill pretty fast. ] can remember when
everything about his little place was trim and
tidy"
" It Is quite the contrary now" returned the
farmer House, Outbuidings and grounds,
all show the want Of 4 mlstfrs care. ! am
afraid Thompson is in the downward path"
He always appeared to be a steady, indus.
trious man," reioined the second speaker q
have a pair Of boo on my feet at this moment
Of his make, and they have done me good ser
vice"
II have generally employed him for myself
and family" was the reply, % and / mast con-
fess that he is good workman but. neverthe-
less, believe l shall step into Jack Smiths
and order pair uf boots, Of which I stand in
need always make It rule never to patron
ize those who appear 10 be running behind
hand There Is generally some risk in helping
those who DO not Try to help themselves "
"Very true, and as my wife desired me to
see about a pair Of shoes for her this morning.
l will follow your example, and call upon
Smith. He IS no great fayoTite Of mine how
eyeT-an idle, qulueisome fellow"
And yet he seems to be getting ahead m
the world" answered the flrmcr. - and 1 am
willing TO give him lift. But / haze an er-
rand at the but :her's Step in with me n mo-
ment ! will not detain you
At the butchers they met the neighbor who
had been the subject Of their previous conver-
sati0n. He certainly presented q rather shabby
appearance, and in his choice of meat there was
regard TO economy which did not escape the
observation Of farmer White.
After few passing remarks, the poor shoe
maker took his departure, ard the butcher
opened his account book with somewhat OF an
anxious air, saying, as he charged the bit Of
meat:
Il believe II is time that neighb5r Thompson
and came 10 4 settlement Short accounts
make long friends"
mo time 70 lose, should say" remarked
the farmer
Indeed! have you heard Of any trouble,
neighbor White r.
/ mo, have heaTd nothing but man has
/ the use Of his eyes you know and never trust
any one with my money who IS evidently going
down hill"
"Quite right; and will send in my bill this
evening. / have only DELAYED on account OF
/ the sickness which the poor man has had in his
family all winter ! suppose he must have run
behind hand little, but still ! must take care
Of number onen
Speaking Of Thompson, are You l1 observed
a bystander, who appeared 10 take an interest
in the conversation. "Going down hill, Is he
7 must look ont for myself then. He owes me
quite snug sum of leather ! did Intend to
Z -. IL
whole, I-guess the money woull be safer in my
own pocket"
Here the four worthies separated, each with
his mind filed with the affairs Of neighbol
Thompson, the probability that he was going
down bill, and the best way to give him push
In another part Of the village, similar scenes
were passing.
81 declare ~ exclaimed Mrs Bennett, tn,
dressmsker, to a favorite assistant, as she with
drew her head from the window whence Sd,
had been gazing on the passers by. If there il
not Mrs. Thompson, the shoemsker's wife
coming up the steps with parcel in her hand
She wants TO engage me to DO her spring work
suppose, but l think it would be a venture =
Every one say they are running down hill, an,
It is q chance if l ever get my pay"
"she has always paid Us promptly" was th
reply.
| "1rue, pul tnat was IN the days OF her pros
Perity. l cannot afford to run any risks"
The entrance Of Mrs. Thompson preyentc,
further conversation.
She was evidently surprised at the refusal O
Mrs Bennett to do any work for her, but a
great pressure of business was pleaded as a
excuse, there was nothing to be said, and sh
soon took leave. Another application prove
equally unsuccessful. 1t was strange how bus
the village dress-ma had suddenly become
On her way home, the poor shoemaker's wifi
met the teacher of a small school in tn
neighboThoOd where two Of her children at
tended.
"Ah Nrs. Thompson, am glad to see you,
was the salutatiOn " ] was about calling a
your house Wcald it be convenient to seitl
our little account this afternoon z"
"Our acc iuEt :" was the surprised repl,
Surely, the term is not yet expired -
: ''Only half Of it, but the present rule is {
! collect my money at that time. It is pla
which many teachers have adopted of late -
81 was not aware that there lad been an
change in your rules, and had made arrang,
ments 10 meet the bill at the usual time.
fear 1t will not be IN ny power to do S
sooner"
The cOuntenanee Of the teacher showed gre;
disappointment and as she passed on in a di
ferent direction, she multered 10 herself:
: Just as I expected shall never get a cen
1 Every body says that they are going down bill
=, must get nd Of the ehildren in some wa
Perhaps may get 4 pair Of shoes or two f
the half quarter, if manage right, but i. wi
E never do to 60 on in this way"
f A little discOmposed by her interview wit
the teacher, Mrs. Thompson stepped into
neighbOring grocery to purchase some trifin
: article of family stores.
: Il have little account against you. Wi
: it be convenient for Mr.. Thompson to settle
this evening asked the civil shopkeeper
he produced the article
D "Is it his usual time fOr, settling :" was agai
, the surprised inquiry.
"Well not exactly, bet money il very tigl
/ Just now, and am anxious TO get in all that
! due me. In future 1 intend to keep short a
counts. ! here IS your little hill if YOU won
e like to look at it. I will cal around this evei
A ing-It is but a small afair"
Thirty dollars is no small sum to Us ia
: now, " thought Mrs. Thompson as she though
d fully pursued her way towards home. II seen
; strange that all these payments must be met ju
q now, while we are struggling to recover fro
the heavy expenses OF the winter. 1 cam
understand it,"
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