Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-03-04

J. HE LENT i APEK. -, JOuu, Wudi HAS
become Of last weeks paper?" inquired
Mrs. c., of her husband.
"Surely, wife, I cannottel /; it was
br ought from the office, ! think"
.'Yes, James brought it home on
Saturday event 6; but neighbor N
md his wife being here, he laid-it on
the parlor table,"
ooh, N has got the paper-I re.
now of lending it to him."
81 am very sorry for that think
you do very wrong, husband, in lend
ing the papers eforc we read them
lie who takes a paper and pays for it,
is certainly entitled to the first pcrusal
of it,"
''Don't n take paper 2" in
CURED Mr.. C, with surprise.
"No."
"Why not? lie is, as he says, al
ways very fond of reading'
Eyes; but he seems to think him
self unable to take one"
"Unable! He is certainly as able as
we are. He pays much larger tax,
and is almost always Dragging Of his
superior cattle, and
'llush, wife! 1t is wrong to speak
Of our neighbors' faults behind their
back. lie promised to return the pa
per to-day"
81 hope he will. 1t contains an ex-
cellent article which | desired very much
to read"
Mrs. c. was an excellent lady,
and probably possessed as liberal feel
ings as her peace loving husband but
she could not believe it to be her duty
to furnish a free paper to her more
wealthy and covetous neighbor. ;
N had formerly taken paper;
but thinking it too expensive, to the no
small discontinue of his wife and lit
tie ones, he had ordered its discontinue
ance. He, however, dearly loved to
read, and had, for year or moro, been
in the habit of sending ''little Joe'' or
the disagreeable errand of borrowing
old papers Of his neighbors.
Mrs. c. waited patiently during
the day. expecting to see little Joe COM
ing with the paper, but the day passed
as likewise did the evening, but no pa
per came.
The next morning after breakfast
she was heard to say
"Well, John, the paper has not beer
returned YETI
"Ah, indeed? l guess neighbol
N has either forgotten his prom.
Use or is absent from home," replied
81 Think she continued, eve hat
better send James after IT'D
"Would it not be best to wait til
afternoon N may return it be.
fore that time.''
GAS you think best" was the reply
They waited until nearly dark, but ne
paper made its appearance. James, ;
smart lad of ten years, was now instruct
ed to proceed to neighbor Ms an(
get the paper. He soon arrived ane
made known his Grand. He was very
politely Informed that it was lent to R.
the blacksmith, who lived half mile
further on. James, unwilling to return
home without it, notwithstanding tn
lateness Of the hour, continued on tx
the blacksmith's.
1t was quite dark when he arrived
but he soon made his business known
and was informed by Mrs. r. tina
"little sis got hold Of the paper and
tore it up"
| 'sI'lltake the fragments, ''said James
who was for having nothing lost.
| ''The fragments, Jim 2" exclaimed
Mrs. R., sold Donk, the pedler, came
along here to-day, and l sold 'em witt
the rags" James, somewhat dispirit.
ed by his unsuccessful mission, and not
being very courageous in the dark, ST.
lently beat hasty retreat for home.
where in due season he arrived, and re-
ported the result Of his Grand.
"Ah," very composedly remarked
Mr.. c., 81 suppose Il. asked neighbor
N. to lend him the paper, and he dld
mot like to deny him. We cannot,
think, accuse either of doing intention
al wrong; and one paper" continued
he, els of little value.''
"You may argue Ms case as you
please )" replied Mrs. c., ''but be as
sured Of enc thing"
"What is that?" asked Mr.. c., with
evident fear.
"Nothirg; only ncighbor N. will not
long be at the inconvenience Of troub-
ling people for old papers,
In about three weeks after this con-
versation, N. was informed by the post
master that he had a paper in the Of
fee. He was highly pleased at this
announcement, but he could not think
who was so very kind as to send him a
paper. After many conjeetures, how
ever, he came to the conclusion that it
was from some friend whom he had as
sisted in former years.
One year had passed the paper con-
tinucd to come, and N. Was still igno-
rant from whence it came but one day
at hauling he Informed his
neigbors Of his good fortune, and ex
pressed some fears that he would have
to do without a paper socn.
ono you shan't," said James c.,
in loud-toned voice, "for mother
sent two dollars for you last week !"
: 'sWell done, Jim - shouted dozen
voices, while simultaneous burst of
laughter ran alcng the line Of teams
tiers.