The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-06-22
WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID FOR

WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID FOR.
Mr.. Herriot was sitting in his of
fee one day, when a lad entered and
handed him a slip of paper. 1t was
a bill of five dollars, due to his shoe
maker, a poor man who lived in the
next square.
Tell Mr.. Grant that l will settle
this soon. 1t isn't just convenient
to-day
The boy retired.
Now Mr.. Herriot had five dollars
in his pocket but he felt as if he
couldn't part with it. He didn't like
to be entirely out of money. So,
acting from his impulse, he had sent
the boy away. Very still sat Mr..
Herriot for the next five minutes !;
yet his thoughts were busy. He was
not altogether satisfied with him
self. The shoemaker was poor
man, and needed the money as earn
ed-he was not unadvised of this
fact.
Il almost wish | had sent him the
five dollars said Mr.. Herriot, at
length, half audible. HE wants it
worse than | do
He unused still further.
'The fact is, he at length exclaim-
ed, starting up, Sits Grants money
and not mine and what's more he
shall have it,
So saying, Herriot took up his hat
and left the office.
Did you get the money, Charlie p
said Grant, as the boy entered the
shop. There was a good deal of
earnestness in the shoemaker's tones.
No, sir, replied the boy.
Wasn't Mr.. Herriot in p
Yes, sir /; but he said it wasn't
convenient to-day
ooh! dear, l am so sorry p came
from the shoemaker in a suppressed
voice.
A woman was sitting in Grants
shop when the boy entered she had
now risen, and was leaning on the
counter a look of disappointment
on her face.
1T can't be helped, Mrs. Lee,'
said Grant. Il was sure of getting
the money from him. lie never dis
appointed before. Call in to-mor-
row and l will try and have it for
you
The woman looked troubled and
disappointed. Slowly she turned
away and left the shop. A few mo-
ments after departure, Mr.. Herriot
came in, and after some words of
apology, paid the bill.
run and get this bill changed,
said the shoemaker to his boy, as
soon as his customer departed.
Now said he, as soon as the
change was placed in his hand, take
two dollars to Mrs. Lee, and three to
Mr.. Weaver, across the street. Tell
Mr.. Weaver that / am much obliged
to him for having loaned it to me
this morning, and sorry l hadn't so
much in the house when he sent for
it an hour ago.
Il wish | had it, Mrs. Evans. But
assure you that [ have not said
Mr.. Weaver, the tailor. 4 paid out
the last dollar just before you came
in. But call i'll tomorrow and you
shall have the money for certain
ty.'
But what am / to do to pay? l
haven't a cent to bless myself with !;
and owe so much at the grocer's
where l deal, that he won't trust me
for anything more
The tailor looked troubled, and
the woman fingered. Just at that
moment the shoemaker's boy enter
ed.
Here are the three dollars Mr.
Grant borrowed ofyou this morning,
said the lad. 'He says he's sorry
that he hadn't the money when you
sent for it awhile ago.
How the faces of the tailor and his
needle woman frightened instantly,
as if a CLEAN of sunshine had pene-
trated the room.
Here is just the money | owe you,
said the tailor, in cheerful voice, and
he handed the woman the three dol
lars he had received. A moment af-
ter and he was alone, but with the
glad face of the poor sewing woman
before him, whose need he had been
able to supply.
Of the three dollars received by
the poor woman, two went to the
grocer, on account of her debt to
him, halt dollar was paid to an old
and needy colored woman who had
earned it by scrubbing, and who was
waiting for Mrs. Evans to return, to
get her due, and thus be able to dis
charge her debt at the grocer's and
bakers, and at the same time re-es-
tablished her credit with the grocer
and the baker, from whom came the
largest portion of the food consumed
by her little family.
And now let us follow Mrs. Lee.
On her arrival home, empty handed,
from her visit to the shoemaker's,
who owed her two dollars for work,
she found young girl, in whose face
were many marks OF suffering and
care, awaiting her return.
The girls countenance frightened
as she entered but there was no an
swering brightness in the counte.
nance of Mrs. Lee, who Immediately
said
i am very sorry, Harriet, but Mr..
Grant put me off till to morrow. He
said he hadn't dollar in the house.
The girls disappointment was
very great, for the smile she had
forced into life instantly faded, and
was succeeded by look OF deep des.
pair.
DO you want the money very bad p
asked Mrs. Lee, in low, half choked
voice, for the sudden change In the
girls manner had affected her.
'Oh yes, ma'am very badly. !
LETT Katy wrapt up in my thick
shawl, and blanket wrapped all
around her feet to keep her warm |;
but she was coughing dreadful when
l came away, from the cold air in the
ROOM
Haven't you any fire p asked Mrs.
Lee, in a quick, suppressed voice:
sWe have no coal. 1t was to buy