Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-05-21
THE LENT PAPER.

| 1A1 AsAse
John what has become of last week
paper ?" inquired Mrs. C, OF her hus
band.
Surely, wife, 1 cannot tell it was brough
from the Office, think.
Yes, James brought it home on Saturda..
evening but neighbor N and his viii
being here, he laid it on the parlor table,
ooh, N has got the paper, remembe
now of lending it to him." -1-'-s ''
81 am very sorry for that; L thing you d.
very wrong, husband, in lending the paper
before we have read them. He who takes
paper and pays for it, is certainly entitled t
the first perusal of it."
know it wife, but neighbor N dom
take paper, and I can't refuse when h
asks to borrow ours"
Don't N take a paper ~ inquired
Mrs. c. with surprise.
"No." ., ,H
Why not he is, as he says, always very
fond Of reading" .- .. .....i ...s
Yes, but he seems to think think himsel
unable to take one.
"Unable! He is certainly as able as WI
are. He pays much larger tax, and is al
most always Dragging of his superior cattle
and"
Hush, wife 1t is very wrong to speal
Of our neighbor's faults behind their backs
He promised to return the paper to day.
L hope he will. 1t contains an excellen,
article which | desire very much to read"
Mrs. c. was an excellent lady, and pro
badly possessed as liberal feelings as he,
peace-loving husband but she could not be-
lieve it to be their duty to furnish a free pape,
to their more wealthy and covetous neigh
bors
N had formerly taken paper but
thinking it too expensive, to the no small dis
comfture of his wife and little ones, he had
ordered its discontinuance. He, however
dearly loved to read, and had, for year cl
more, been in the habit of sending ''little Joe''
on the disagreeable errand of borrowing old
papers from his neighb,rs.
Mrs. g waited patiently through the
day expecting to see "little Joe" coming with
the paper, but the day passed, as likewise did
the evening, and no paper came.
The next morning, after breakfast, she was
heard to say
"Well, John, the paper has not been re-
turned yet"
"Ah, indeed guess neighbor N has
either forgotten his promise or is absent from
home," replied C..
" l Think" she continued, 1--WE had better
send James after it.''
" Would it not be best, wife, to wait until
afternoon N may return it before that
time.''
:" AS you think best" was the reply.
They waited until nearly dark, but no pa
per made its appearance. James, smart
lad of ten years, wac now instructed to pro
ceed to neighbor Ms and get the paper
He soon arrived and made known his er-
rand. He was very politely informed that it
was lent to R the blacksmith, who lived
half a mile further on. James unwilling to re-
turn 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 in
formed by Mrs. R that 'little sis got hold
of the paper and tore it up"
"Tll take the Fragments" said James, who
was for having nothing lost.
"The fragments, Jim !" exclaimed Mrs
R" "Old Donk, the pedlar, came along
here to-day, and sold 'em with the rags
James some what dispirited by his unsuccess-
full mission, and not being very courageous in
the dark, silently beat retreat for home,
where in due season he arrived, and reported
the result of his errand.
"Ah," very oomposedly remarked Mr..
CT suppose r. asked neighbor N
to lend him the paper and he did not deny
him. We cannot, think, accuse either of do
ing intentional wrong and one paper" con-
tlnued he, 'is of little value"
"You may argue Ms case as you please"
replied Mrs. c., "but rest assured of one
thing"
What's that ?" asked neighbor C,
with evident fear.
Nothing, only neighbor N, will not
be at the Inconvenience of troubling people for
old papers"
In about three weeks after this convesa-
ton, N was informed by the post-mas-
ter that he had paper in the office. He was
highly pleased at this announcement, but
could not think who was so very kind as to
send him paper. After many conjectures,
however, he came to the conclusion that it
was from some old friend whom he had assist
sd in former years.
One year lad passed; the paper continu-
ed to come but one day at ''hauling" he
his neighbors of his good fortune,
and expressed some fears that he would have
to do without paper seon;
No you shan't," said James @. in loud
tone of voice, "for mother sent on two dol
lars for you last week.
" Well done, Jim shouted dozen voices,
while simultaneous roar of laughter ran
along the line of teamsters.
N, who had previous to this announce
ment been remarkably cheerful and talkative,
became suddenly silent, while a deep red COL
or, the emblem of shame manted his brow.
This was good lesson for N.
Early next morning he went and paid Mrs.
c. the s., acknowledged his error, and was
never known afterwards to take less than two
W -ekiy papers,