Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-08-20
SeIctt storp.
THE HUNDRED DOL l. Il X
BILL.
RY ANsoN n. CLIFFORD.

Mr.. John Somers was merchant, do
ing business in a thriving country village
lie had two clerks in his employ, but
with some difference in minor points OF
character. Peter White was twenty-one
years OF age, the child of = now widowed
moiher. aud in his choice of profession
he had been governed by the desire to
Weld to his mother and self the suresI
means of honest support.
Walter Sturgis was of the same age,
and equally honest. but he made more
attention to outward appearance ofthingS,
than did his companion. For instance,
it CALLED him TO put on his frock and coat
and oycralls, help pack up pork, potatoes,
and so on; while Peter cared not what
lac did. 50 long IS i; was honest.
One day Mr.. Somers called the two
Young men into his counting room and
closed the door after them. His counte'
nance was troubled. and it was some mo-
meuts before he spoke.
Boys" he said at length; 81 have
been doing very foolish thing. | har,
lent nv name to those | thought my
friends, and they have ruined me.
gave them accommodation notes, anC
thew promised solemuly that those notes
would not pass their hands save TO sucl
men as might accept. OF course l toos
their notes in exchange. They have now
failed and cleared out. and hare left my
paper in the market tn the amount ofsev
en- or eight thousand dollars. may ris,
again, but must give up my business
Everything in the store is attached, anC
am left utterly powcrless to do busi
ness now. have looked over my &C
counts and find that | owe you about ;
hundred dollars each. Now, | have jus
4 hundred dollars in money, aud the small
piece of land on the side of the hill jus
back of the town house. There are fou
/ acre. of land. and have been offered :
hundred dollars for it, by those who have
lands adjoining. | feared this blow
which has come upon me. and conveyed
this land TO my brother; so that he cal
convey it to whom nc plea,es. Now
wish YOU to make your choice. lflcoulc
pay you both money would; but rs
cannot, one Of YOU must take this land
What say you? You. Walter, have beer
with me the longest and shall have you'
say first
Walter Sturgis hesitated some mo
rnents, and he said:
IL am sure | don't want the land. un
less | could sell right OFF,"
"Ah, but that won't do" returned Mr.
Somers. IF you take the land YOU mus
keep it. Were you TO sell it, my credit
ors would say at once that YOU did it fol
me, and that pocketed the money"
Then l am willing to divide the mon
ey, for can easily raise the hundred dol
lars on the land, for know the soil il
good though quite rocky. However
what says Peter?"
"Why l will take the land" returned
Peter, ''or l will divide equally witt
Walter-each of us to take half the land.
.But what should want of the land p
said Walter. II could not work it.
should hardly like to descend from clerk
ship to digging and delving in blue frocl
and cowhide boots"
Then it is easily settled" rejoined Pc
ter, ''ior | should prefer the land"
Walter was pleased with this, and be
fore night he had the hundred dollar bill
in his pocket, and Peter had the warrant!
deed of the tour acres of land upon tht
hillside. Both of the young men belong
ed to the village, and had always liveC
there. II was only FIVE miles from the