Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1870-06-11
GOING DOWN HILL.
BY EPPIE ENGLISH.

'Thnt looks bad,' exclaimed Far
mer White with an expressive shake
of his head as he passed neglected
garden and broken down fence in one
of his daily walks.
bad enough was the reply of hi.
companion.
'Neighbor Thompson appears to bt
running down hill very fast. ] car
remember when everything around
his place was trim and tidy ....
He always appeared to be a steady
industrious man. rejoined the secont
speaker. Il have a pair Of boots
on my feet at this moment Of hi
make, and they have done good ser
vice.
Il have generally employed him
for myself and family was the reply
'and / must confess that he Is q gOOt
workman; but nevertheless, believe
/ shall step into Jack Smiths this
morning, and order pair of boots
of which ] stand in need. l always
make 1t a rule never to patroniZt
these who appear to be running he,
hind hand. There is generally some
risk I'm helping those who won't hell
themselves
Very true; ms my wife desired mt
to look at pair of shoes for her this
morning, 1 will follow your example
and call upon Smith. He is no great
favorite of mine, hOwever--an idle
quarrelsome fellow
And yet he seems to be getting
along i'm the world, answered the for
mer, and / am willing to give him q
lit. But ] have an errand ut the
butchers. / will not detain yOu.'
At the butchers they met the
heighbOr who was the subject of theil
previous conversation. He certainly
presented a rather shabby appearance
and i'm his choice of meat there was the
observation of Farmer White. Aftel
passing remarks, the poor shoemaker
took his departure, and the butcher
opened his account book with some.
what anxious air, saying as he charg.
ed the bit of meat:
Il believe IL Is time neighboi
Thompson and / came to settlement
Short accounts make long friends
No time to lose, l should say re-
piled the farmer.
Indeed have you heard of any
trouble, neighbor White?
"No, l have heard nothing but O
man has the use of his eyes, you
know; and I never trust any man
with money who is evidently going
down hill.'
'Quite right and I will send In my
bill this evening. i have only de
layed OH account of the sickness the
poor man has had In his family all
winter. / suppose he must have run
behind little, but still ! must take
care of number One.'
"Speaking of Thompson, are you :?
observed bystander, who appeared
to take an interest in the conversa.
tion. Going down hill, is he?
must look out for myself, then. He
owes me quite a snug sum for leath-
er. ! did intend to give him another
months credit, but on the whole
guess the money will be safer in my
pocket
Here the four worthless separated
each with his mind filed with the af
fairs of neighbor Thompson, the pro
liability that he was going down
hill, and the best way was to give him
push.
In another part Of the village SINH
lar scenes were passing.
Il declare exclaimed Mrs. Ben.
nett, the dressmaker, to favorite as.
sistant, as she hastily Withdrew hel
head from the window, whence she
had been gazing on the passers-by,
III there Is not Mrs. Thompson, the
shoemaker's wife, coming up the
steps with q parcel In her hand. She
wants me to do her work, hut | thinl,
it would be venture. Every one
says they are running down hill, and
il Is chance II ever get my pay
She has always paid us promptly,
was the reply.
True; but that was In the days OF
her prosperity. 1 cannot afford to
run any risk
The entrance of Mrs. Thompson
prevented any further conversation.
She was evidently surprised ut the
refusal of Mrs. Bennett to do any
work for her; but a. great pressure OF
business was pleaded as an excuse,
there was nothing to be said, and she
soon took her leave. Another appli-
caticn proved equally unsuccessful
II WAS strange how busy the village
dress makers had suddenly become.
On the way home, the poor shoe
makers wife met the teacher of a
small school In the neighborhood,
where two of her children attended.
"Ah, Mrs. Thompson, | am glad
10 see YOU was the salutation. Il
was about calling at your house.
Would II be convenient to settle our
account this afternoon
Our account " was the surprised
reply. Surely the term has not ex.
pered "
'Only half OF It, but my present
rule Is to collect my money mt any
time. IL Is plan Of which many
teachers have adopted Of late
Il was not aware that there had
been any change In your rules, and I
have made arrangements to meet
your bill at the usual time. l fear IL
will not be In my power To do so
sooner
The countenance of the teacher
showed great Disappointment, rs she
passed ON in different direction, she
muttered tn himself:
Just as l expected; ] shall never
aaa "A Aanf Eksnrx,hAl,. aax.a sA.., =. -.