Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-02-21
From Arthur HON Nagazin-.l
a LESSON FOR THE TIMES.
BY KATE SUTHERLAND.
y letter for YOU. sir.

soon followed by word and gesture OF displcas
ure, as he tossed the opened sheet of paper
| from his hand.
"What is il, dear?' The gentle face Of Mrs
| Hardup was turned towards her husband. A
quiet seriousness bad come over il.
a note flom ore Of my tenants"
lie wants his rent reduced?"
4Of course. That's the cry all hands. Il
things go on at the present rate for year lon
ger, / shall be charged for the privilege Of let
/ ting pc5plt live in my house"
"Who is your tenant % asked Mrs Hardup
without seeming TO notice her husbands petu-
| liant remark.
Edward Spring lie occupies the house
on Murray street"
@Ah. How much docs he wish taken from
the rent?" There was a sympathetic tone in
Mrs. Hardups voice.
"IIes been paying four hundred dollars, but
has the coolncss to ask Il reduction of one-half!
OF course Ill be liberal and grant his very resl-
sonable request. Ha! ha!' And Mr. Hard
up affected to lansh, but In a very disgreeable
way.
s.What reason docs he assign?"
Oil there ! no lack of reasoLs. They re Us
pIenty as blackberrics. Any body can pick
them up. Irss of trade; bad debts; deprecated
securities; ilIhenlth; general depression in bus
incss; any Of these things will answer
"Arc they not sufficient" Mrs. Hardup
looked soberlv at her husband, and there WAS
about her spirit that Disconnected him.
Perhaps 50, and perhaps not" he replied.
4 truly honest man will not fall back upon
these arguments against paying his debts, or
meeting Ills contracts, unless actual disability
exists
"Wlrat does Mr.. Spring say?"
~You can read for yourself And Mr.. Hard
up tossed the tenants letter across the table TO
his wife She read
Il find myself unable longer to pay four
hundred dollars year rent. | am doing no
business ut all, 81 TO speak, and other resources,
which | have depended on, arc cut of entirely.
For the next year, two hundred will bc as much
as can possibly pay. After that, il times
change for the better, | hope to be in Il less
stI tIa;ohtencd condition. l have no wish 10 leave
your house; but as things are, | cannlt pay
the price you ask for it. IOu may think il
best for me to remain for the present, as houses
are not easily rented. and | should prefer re-
main;ng to meeting the trouble and expense of
moving. Perhaps, at the cnd of: year, may
find myself able 10 pay the old price"
That is straight forward AMI honest said
Mrs. iIardup.
III is Straightforward enough. As to the
honesty, | am not competent to decide. Words
are cheap, and as easily constructed into false
hood as truth. Where two hundred dollars
can be made hy writing = short letter iik,
that, few men arc pro. against the tempta-
iJn."
Mrs TIarlup dropped her eyes away from
Aer husbands lace, aud sighed, as she looked
down at the hlOr.
Already" said Mr.. IIardup, kni' ting his
brows. emd speaking in u tone OF complaint
my income has been diminished over two
thousand dollars through reduction Of rents
alone. This is really frightlu.! Where is ii
to end?'
shall We not bear our part Of this national
calamity, John-0ur part of the lOss AMI SUI
rering?" Mrs IIIrdups face warmed. aud there
was trc.mor of feeling in her voice.
| I'VE shall lave TO bear it, whether we are
willing or not" answered her husband culdly
!
nothing--borne nothing said Mrs. llardur
while fortune have been wrecked, AMI homes
desolated in Thousands OF instances, the storm
has not torn Il vine from our windows, nol
broken a flower in our garden. SO far as this
/ home is concerned, not Il comfort has beea
abated not privatiOn endured.
MIR. H4rdup lifted his brows in half sur
| nriSf rs he turned to look into his wiIus ami
mated face.
And shall we fret and murmur because, Ii
the natural effort AT adjustment, when things
are disturbed, some,hins of our Abundance
goes to supply the lack in others? Our cast
is vcrv much better than that Of Mr.. Spring
Home comforts have not only been touche,
with him; but his most precious things arr
| taken
What precious thing<?" The voice OF Mr.
TIardup, though still cold, was slightly touch
cd with interest.
Ills children
OH The tore was softer.
"Threc sous are in the army. l saw Mrs
Spring for few moments, to-day. As yoI
suggested, called at Goodyear's TO order tn
garden hose and met her there. What do yul
think she was buying there? Three In lia rub
Der blankets to seGd 10 her boys in camp
Tears stood in her eyes she talked with M
ab put them. Her Joseph, she said, was s.
voung-not much over serenteen-and ncvc
Il very strong boy. But, when his brother rn
listed, he could not be held back. "WecoulC
have prevented ii" she said, but had not tn
heart to do so. And then, you know, TN
country must be saved and only through bat
tie can that now be done. have given IN,
children to God ana their country, and ma.
never see them this side Of Heaven again. :
Her voice choked, and she turned from me-
.Ah my husband, ii is here that this war is felt
We are in security. Our house stands firm =
The cloud curtaining our sky IS not thlcI
enough to hide the warm sunshine. Th
weight which has fallen upon us is light-ver
light; ard shall we grow impatient under II
burden? No, no, my husband! In acccptini
our share of this great calamity, let Us b
: thankful that il is easy TO be borne and nc
: only thankful, but ready 10 help others, VIII
: are staggering in the way, aud ready to fall
Don't let Mr.. Spring move. Rather let hin
c live rent free for u year. | would prefer hay
I ing our horses and carriage sold, 10 seeing tina
family disturbed. Why, now that | think {
it, John"-Mrs. IlardUps voice became carr
est, almost to enthusiasm is it just right fl
US to keep our carriage, at an expense of fou
i or five hundred dollars year, when we migl
: use that sum in SO many ways in support Of Il
&c government"
: Mrs. llardup stopped, suddenly. She fe
!, that she was pressing her husband u little to
o closely and looked for some half angry or in
Il patieht answer. But MIR. IIardup, who ha
Il dropped his eyes while his wife was speaking
1t continued with them cast upon the floor L
t. had two sons boys Of twelve and fourtet
IN UoorS nf aOa o,vay from boD,a ot crhoOl m