Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1859-05-20
The Lent Paper.

"John, what has become of last weeks
paper!" inquired Mrs. c.. of her hus-
band.
surely, wife, ! cannot till; it was
brought from the offca, think.
"Yes, james brought it home on Satnr-
day evening but neehbor N and his
wife being here, he laid it on the parlor ta-
ble'
"Oh, NJ has got the paper, remem-
ber now of lending it TO him."
81 am very sorry for that; think you
do very wrong, husband, in lending the pa
pers before we have read them. He who
takes a paper and pays for it, is certainly
entitled to the first persual of it,"
81 know it wife, but neighbor N
don't take paper and can't refuse when
he asks 10 borrow ours"
Don't N take paper ?" inquired
Mrs. c. with surprise. "No."
why not he is, as he says, always
very fond of reading"
"1es, but he seems to think himself una
BILE 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"
'Hush, wife It is wrong TO speak of our
neighbors' faults behind their backs. He
promised to return the paper to-day"
IL hope he viii. 1t contains an excellent
article which | desire very much to read
Mrs. c. was an excellent lady, and
probably possessed as liberal feelings as
her husband; but she could not believe it
to he their duty 20 furnish free paper to
their more wealthy and convetous neighbor.
N had formerly taken paper; but
thinking it too expensive, to the no small
discontinue of his wife and little ones, he
had ordered its discontinuence. He, how
ever, dearly loved TO read, and had, for
year or more, been in the habit of sending
'ittle Joe" on the dsagreeable errand of
borrowing old papers from his neghbors.
Mrs. C waited patiently through
the day, expecting to see little Joe coming
with the paper, but the day passed. as like
wise did the evening, and no paper came.
The neyt 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 absent
from home" replied c..
81 think" she continued, we had better
send James after it
"Would it not be best, wife, to wait un-
| till afiernoon2 N may return it before
that time
'As you think best,' was the reply.
| They waited until nearly dark, but no
paper made its appearance. James,
smart lad of ten years, was now instructed
to proceed to neighbor Ms and get the
paper He soon arrived and made known
his errand. 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, notNiIh-
staining the lateness of the hour, continued
on to The blacksmith's.
1t was quite dark when he arrived, but
h soon made his business known, and was
informed by Mrs. R that ''liitle sis got
hold of the paper and tore it up
''I'll take the fragments" said James,
who was for having nothing lost.
''The fragments, JIM" exclaimed Mrs.
R. Old Donk, the pedler, came along
here to- day, and I sold 'em with the rags"
James. somewhat dispirited by his unsuc-
cessful mission, and not being very coura-
geous in the dark, silently beat a hasty re-
treat for home, where in due season he ar
rived and reported the result of his errand.
"Ah," very composedly remarked Mr..
C. 81 suppose r. asked neighbor N. to
lend him the paper and he did not like to
deny him. We cannot, think accuse eth
er of doing intentional wrong and one pa
per-" continued he, sis of but little value"
"You may argue Ms case as you please"
replied Mrs. c., "but be assured of one
thing"
"what is that2" asked Mr. c., with evil
dent fear.
s.Nothing, only neighbor N. will not long
be at the inconvenience of troubling people
for old papers"
In about three weeks after this CONVEX
sation, n was informed by the postmaster
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 a paper. After meny conject-
nres, however, he came to the einclusion
that il was from some friend whom he had
assisted in former years.
| One year had passed, the paper contn-
ued TO come and N. was still ignorant from
whence it came but one day at .'llualing"
be informed his neighbors OF his good for
tune. and expressed some fears that he
Woulu nave 10 40 NiiHou' d P''pei Soon.
eNo you shan't," said james G. in a loud
fone of voice, "for mother sent on two dol
lars for YOU last week
"WelI done Jiml" shouted dozen voices,
while simultaneous roar Of laughter ran
along the line of teamsters.
N. who had previous 10 this announce
ment been remarkably cheerful aud talka-
tive became suddenly silent, while a deep
red color, the emblem Of shame, manted
his brow. This was good lesson for N.
Early next morning he went and paid
Mrs. c. the 81, acknowledged his error,
and was never known afterwards to take
less than two weekly papers.
co,1trv ad;for hav;no raca;vad two