Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-11-11
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An Example for Landlords.

An Example loI AalioAoioS.
"Wel, Mary" said Mr.. Early to his
wife, as he came in one clustering cold
morning in last December, and drew near
the ruddy coal FIRE; "well, Mary, not
such a bad day for business after all.
And he threw off his snow sprlnkled over
coat. laying it down on the. snug looking
lounge his wife had drawn nctore the lire
for his own accommodation, while the snowy
p.rtlcle, fell in a shower over the warm
cushion.
"How, Johu?" replied his wife, as she
looked up With cherry smile.
This is reu,-day, you know. and col
lecting rent is not always a prosperous
business. It's like pulling tooth to get
money from some people. Now, there ;
old Ruggles, he gives the money as grudg-
ipyly as though he was not able 10 pay
three tines the amount, which | know he
is. And Joe Winch, | suppose he did
have a hard time to raise it, but he made
quite as hard job OF paying IT."
oh, never mind, husband; hope
YOU weren't hard OH him; work Is duh
YOU know aud money difficult to get
~ acknowledge thu truth OF the eoa-
Guiding portion OF your remark; money
i, hard ia get, even when it Is honestly
due--and so | found it to-day. But |
succeeded ,oerably after all. Esen the
widow Webb paid TO the last cent, aud
that was more than [ had hoped for
.Ob. john" said his wife, IN depre-
d.tory tone. -,
Mr.. Early seemed te vince little un-
der the implied reproot, and SO aaid' ap
parent!y iu selfju.tifieatlon,
.Why Mary, business Is business ana
why shouldn't she pay her reat as well as
any bsdy else? -.
Now Mr.. Early was not by aay means,
q hard hearted maa. Yet fortune haa
placed him in the position OF landlord )
and between tenauts that couldn't pay
and tenants that wouldn't pay, he had
finally been drilled into an outward seem
ing Of hardness Whenever he ante-
patcd uncommon difficulty in the discharge
Of his duties, hedrepeated to himself the
old maxim that"business is business" and
steeed himself to the task.
Yet his wife knew that withia this
tough >hcll there was tue soft kernel of a
heart, for she had more than once found
it, and SO after short time of silence and
reflection on her part she resolved to try
If she could not reach it again
"Joha," said she, .how much was her
rent ?''
"Poh! nothing! Don't trouble your
self about that Why, it wasn't az much
as that last silk Of yours cost. and you
know you teased me into buying that say
ing the SUN was suclea tribe"
"Well, how muea was it ?" persisted
Mrs. Early
"lf you must know, the quarters rent
amounted to fifteen dollars; and she paid
it, too, without word Of grumbliug."
" 1t is small SUN to you end to mel
know: but do you not think she must
have struggled to raise it ?"
"Business is business, you know, and
It is not ia my way to think how the
money is raised, so that it is raised"
"Oh, john" again repeated his wife.
There was kind of magic in these words.
They possessed power over him which
shc was aware of and he ielt.
"Well, never mind, Mary don't
trouble yourself about it. It's all over,
now, aud can't be helped. Only, it you
say so, l won't be quite so hard next
tisses
az do say SO, John" said she, rising
with womau.like instinct, and seating
herself beside him. feeling that if She
wished TO gaiu her point, she must make
use Of wife's best arguments.
There" said she, rs she wound her
fingers caressingly through his hair: " |
know you did not mean to be so ex acting
but YOU we're SO, after all. heard only
. Jay or two ago, that Mrs. We5b and
her daughter had had very hard time
to get along this fall, their only depend
ence for support is their needle, and that
you know is q very slender one. Now,
they have both overworked themselves to
raise this money that you have reeeised
to-day, aud Kate has been sick. and fears
are entertained that she will 50 iato a de-
cline"
$50 bad as that. did not know it,
II know you didn't; for | am sure
you have too good heart to drive poor
girl into her grave, and leave widowed
mother friendless and alone in the world,
Just for the sake Of few dollars. which
you would never miss it you did not have.
Now. do you not think you ought to make
amends in some way for your thoughtiess
act Of cruelty 2"