The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-08-30
The Borrowed Paper.

from the office, | think.
Yes, James brought it home on Satur-
day evening; but neighbor N and his
wife being here, he laid it on the parlor
table"
"Oh, N has got the paper; re-
member now Of lending it to him"
~ am very sorry for that; I think you
do very wrong. husband, in lending the
papers before we have read them. He
who takes paper and pays for it, is GER
tainly entitled to the first perusal of it. ~
Don't N take paper?" inquired
Mr.. C, with surprise.
"No."
"Why not? He is, as he says, always
very fond Of reading
"Yes, but he seems to think himself
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"
"Hush, wifel 1t is wrong to speak Of
our neighbours faults behind their backs
He promised to return the paper to-day"
Il hope he will 1t contains an excel
lent article which desire very much to
read
Mrs. C was an excellent lady, and
probably possessed as liberal feelings 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 GOV.
etous neighbor.
N had formerly taken paper, bu
thinking it too expensive, to the great dis
comfture Of his wife and little ones, ht
had ordered discontinuance. He, how
ever dearly loved to read, and had, for
year or more, been in the habit of send
ing ''little Joe' on the disagreeable er
rand Of borrowing old papers Of bis neigh
bors.
Mrs. c. waited patiently through
the day, expectingsto see little Joe com
+, ing with the paper, but the day passed, "a
likewise did the evening, and no pape
came.
The next morning after breakfast sh'
was heard to say:
+, "Well, John, the paper has not beel
returned yet"
! "Ah, indeed; I guess neighbor N
has either forgotten his promise or i
away from home, replied Mr. c..
81 think" she continued, 1--WE had bet
ter send James after it,
: s'W Weuld It not be best, wife, to wait un
8 til afternoon? N may return it be
fore that time"
:, Gas you think BEST" was the reply.
They waited until nearly dark, but n
: paper made its appearance. James,
: smart lad Of ten years, was instructed
} proceed to neighbor Ms and get tn
! paper. He soon arrived and told his ell
= rrnd. He was very politely informed tha
q q it was lent to R, the blacksmith, VIII
Il lived half a mile further on james, ,ur
= willing to return home without it, no
u :. withstanding the lateness of the hou
continued on to. the blacksmith's.
Z 1t was quite dark when he arrived, br
he soon made his business known, an
a was informed by Mrs. Il, that "littl
} sis got hold of the paper and tore it up
= ''I'll take the fragments, said jaime
!, who was for having nothing lost.
70 "T he fragments, Jim!'' exclaimed Mr.
R, cold Donk, the peddler came alon
here to-day, and I sold them with IL
rags"
~ James, somewhat dispirited by his ul
successful mission, and not being vel
courageous in the dark, silently beat
!, hasty retreat for home, where, in due Sc
son, he arrived, and reported the result
~ his errand.
- "Ah," very composedly remarked M
: c., 81 suppose R asked neighb,
ie N to lend him the paper, and he d
not like to deny him. We cannot, I thin
- accuse either of doing Intentional
a wrong; and one paper" continued he, e
- Of little value.
You may argue Ms case as "
please, replied Mrs. c., "but be a
sured of one thing
: s'What is that?" asked Mr.. c.. wi
: evident fear.
ID ''Nothing, only neighbor N W
. not long be at the Inconvenience Of trou
ling people for old papers"
,is In about three weeks after this conve
80 80 sation N was informed by the pos
~ master that he had paper in the of6C
90 90 He was highly pleased at this aDnoune
~ ment, but he could not think who was
: very kind as to send him paper. Aft
- many conjectures, however, he came
r the conclusion it was some friend he h
. assisted in former years.
on One year had passed-the paper co
az az tiuued to come, and N was still ign
on on rant from whence it came; but one day
10 b ahauling," he informed his neighbors
~ ~ his good fortune, and expressed some fei
ha L that he would have to do without pap
,;s soon.
us us mo you shan't," said james c.,
no no a loud tone of voice, ''for mother sent
hhs two dollars for you last week.
ne Nc "Well done, Jim,'' shouted a dozen "
- ces, while simultaneous roar of laug
81 - ter an along the line of teamsters.
;or nu N, who had previous to this a
~ nouncement been remarkably cheerl
~ and talkative, became suddenly silent, "a
t;sa' deep red color, the emblem of shan
~ mantled his brow. This was good i
~ son for N.
nc Early the next morning he went a
paid Mrs. c. the four dollars, az
ms nowled ged his error, and was neve: kno
nd afterwards to take less than two weel
.If papers.
on Opportunities, like eggs, must be hate
It