The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-05-13
1856 1864: X. !: !.

to divide with you.' 'luq
'Iguess must think Of u awhile, aid Per-
kins, with another laugh. ., -, t,. .'. d,
AT all events added Tower, you win allow
me to speak with you again on Tie suhjestr
Certainly
At this juncture the two friends separated,
Tower going to his store, while Perkins pur-
sued his way to tho machine shop whore he
earned two dollars and half day. This was
Monday morning. .5,,., ,.grr -ns stala,I
On Tuesday morning, John Perkins ssw
Matthew Baldwin Ia the street, and he avoided
him-shrsnk down, 9 narrow by-wsy, 10 . not
to meet his poor creditor. ra yui.. tHf.'
On Wednesday morning, John Perkins saw
Matthew Baldwin again but he was not forced
to dodge out OF the way. for this time the poor
laboring man was standing ct the door ofs
physician's Office. " 1iN 80 ..,.., \. I.
On Thursday morning. a. John Perkins was
going to his rhop, hs saw In the strsst ahead OF
him, Matthew Baldwin and Sllas Tower engaged
IN conversation. Directly Baldwin erossed the
street and went away. while Tower waited for
Perkins to como up. The two friends shook
hands and passed the compliments Of tho morn
ing. ...i. ,r,o.i,,l 10, gmsIg
they walked on. Io l'.,t Pti 70 ,f'no.
'Ah, how 90 2 asked Perkins. .'i ha'' gu.
His wife Is very sick-has been sick over .
week-and two of his children are down with
diptheria. One Of them, the doctor thinks, win
die. Poor fellow pity him. What with the
nurses to hire. and medicine to buy, and pro-
visions Of all kinds 90 high, he finds u hsrd 10
get along lent him ivs dollars thismorning;
or rather paid him in advance for soms work
he has promised to do for me- rJl h'ti 80
John Perkins seemed to be little nervous.
by the way, pursued Tower. after they had
walked on little while Ia silence. have you
paid Baldwin that eight dollars ysti'd' 9iIdr
'No-I haven't replied John, reluctantly.
.IIave you money enough with you to pay
itr grh ~
go .No.'ar-r.H mol -.If .ef.TG -11'T
How much have your y - ...' % .,3 ~
Not over three or four dollars. ,r,55 lff
Now, Johu, said Tower, with sudden earn.
estness, Il arm going to ask you question; and
you can answer me. or not, as you please
What have you done With tho money you had
on Monday morning!'
At first John Perkins could not tell what he
had done with Il; but finally he made out to
account for part Of It. There were two thea.
tire tickets at hfty cents each. One oyster sup
per for himself and o frisnd-s dollar. A horse
and wagon for moonlight rids-two dollars.
And then he owned to numerous glasses Of
soda and beer. In oil he accounted for six dol
lars or thercabouts. f!l l-iH.-. H'1' r.aii i.
Il DECLARE said Tower. shaking his head and
speaking with solemn seriousness, 'rwould not
like to borrow money Of Matthew Baldwin for
such purposes!' 1 .'pan ~. '4 eco o..
.Tlow,' muttercd John. 'Borrow-of Mat
thew Baldwini'l ma tsIl sf 9ild '7''sa shT
20, you need not try to hide the truth, John.
You know what mean 'i."a.''
AT this point tho friends separated; and rs
John Perkins walked towards bis shop the
words OF Silas Tower rang In his ears. Did he
know what his friend mcanti. Ays-that hs
did; and when he reached his place Of work he
reflected long aud seriously. N'' %
4 DECLARE no muttered 10 himself. - he
rolled up his sleeves and arranged hls tools.
Il think Tower is right. I could have paid
Baldwin last Monday morning. II I had only
thought so. wish had He set his lathe
and fixed bar Of Iron for turning. 'If I had
paid him. he continued. as ho watched the bits
of iron drop from tho revolving bar, y should
ut this. moment be better OF than lam. or
course, I shouldn't have borrowed money to 80
to the theatre with. nor to pay for horses. By
the powers! Silas told the truth. That money
honestly belonged to Matthew Baldwin
Aud so, through the day, Perkins talked
With himself upon the subject thus brought BE-
fore him, and before night ne had resolved he
would turn oyer. new leaf. ~ ~ ina, '' IA, I'd
On Friday morning. John Perkins saw man
little ootin Into Matthew Baldwin's
house. Tho sight caused him to reflect moro
deeply Than, he had done on the day before.
That little coffin. with its tale Of bereavement
and woe, led him into sympathy with the suf.
the thought that his failure In duty
might have added to the sudsrings Of the lowly
smote him to the heart. = ~ ~ !.
Saturday evening. Perkins Knocked at Nal
thew ,BaldNin's door,. The poor man answered
the summons! He was bowed with grief and
hi. eyes wrrc red With weeping. g.r1ysl ,lsgd 'gr|
Pardon me for calling st this time. : said Per-
kins, in subdusd tones-"bus I thought you
might need the money owed you.i y NM Il
Indeed, sir, I do need it-and ] thank You
for your kindness In remembering me- Tbs
mans face frightened q hs received tie money,
aud he expressed his thanks sgain.oaI s,s'gmaJ
In the time to ooms.' ssid Joha Perkins, Il
may have considerable work for you to do
md I promise that you shall never again have
to ask twice Tor what Is your ldas.'
And he kept his word. hsrIsb !9'ia9gr,,o2 20
People who wcp scqusinted with John Per-
k,ns, aud who saw him often, fAncied that hs
walked moro stately and proudly thsa hs used
10 walk--sud the impressiou With some ~,
hat he had me. With : stroke of good fortune.
The grocer, and the baker apd the batshsr vsrs
among those who imagiscd thss large sun Of
money had fallen to him, =, III y,di Ira nerl
Six months had pssssd away. John Psrkins
nd silas Tower were walking togsther = We
|. ". seer them before. ~ ono fHAi.ui ~
NY dear silas,, aid John, 10 eeadapstion
,f Q conversation sslrssdy bsgun, y owe u sll