Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-26
GOING DO WV HILL.

"That looks bad" exclaimed farmer
White, with an expressive shake of
!, the head, as he passed a neglected gar
den and broken-down fence, in one Of
his daily walks.
"Bad enough was the reply of the
companion to whom the remark was
addressed.
"Ncighbor Thompson appears to be
running down pretty fast. / can re-
member when everything around his
little place was trim and tidy"
| He always appeared to be steady
industrious man." rejoined the second
speaker. 81 have pair of boots ON
my feet at this moment of his make,
| and they have done me good service
IL have generally employed him for
myself and family" was the reply,
Sand l must confess he is a good work
man; but nevertheless, / believe, l
shall step into Jack Smiths this morn.
ing, and order pair of boots, of which
stand in need. l always make il a
rule never to patronizc those who APP
pear to be running behindhand. There
is generally some risk in helping those
who wonthelp themselves"
q uuci dnu % &uy WIG ucelEeS
me to see about paiF Of shoes for her
this morning, l will follow your exam
pie and call upon Smith. He is no IA
vorite ofmine, however-an idle quar-
relsome fellow"
"And yet he seems to be getting
ahead in the world, answered the far
mer, .sand am willing to glFe him a
lift. But / have an errand at the
butchers. Twill not detain you."
At the butchers they met the neigh
Dor who was the subject Of their pre-
vious conversation. He certainly pre-
sented rather a shabby appearance.
and In his choice Of meat, there was
regard to economy, which did not cs-
cape the observation of farmer White.
After passing remarks, the poor shoe
| maker took his departure, and the
butcher opened his account-book with
| somewhat anxious air, saying as he
| charged the bit of meat
Il believe it is time that neighbor
Thompson and came to settlement.
Short accounts make long friends"
"No time to lose should say re-
marked the farmer.
aTndeed. Have you heard of any
teOuOiGs uCiSHUOl W nAtC.
"No, have heard nothing, but a
man has the use of his own eyes, YOU
know, and ] never trust any one with
my money who is evidently going
down HILL"
"Quite right, and will send in my
bill this evening. / have delayed on
account of the sickness the poor man
has had in his family all winter i
suppose he must have run behind lit
tie, but still must take care Of num-
ber onc."
Speaking Of Thompson, are you ?"
lobserved bystander, who appeared to
takoAan interestia the conversation
aGoing down hin is he,? I must look
out for myself, then. lie owes me
quite snug sum for leather. did
intend to give him another months
credit, but on the whole / guess the
money would be safer in my own
| pocket
Here the four worthless separated,
each with his mind filed with the af-
fairs Of neighbor Thompson, the prob
ability that he was going down hill,
and the best way OF giving him a
| push.
L ~ kuiN Va shC itStAC NhhaSS
| similar scenes were passing.
II declare" exclaimed Mrs. Bennett,
the dressmaker, to a favoritc assistant,
as she hastily drew her head from the
window, whence she had been gazing
| on the passers by, "if there ia not Mrs.
Thompson, the shoemaker's wife COM
ing up the stairs with parcel in
her hand. She wants me to do her
work, suppose, but l think it would
be venture. Every one says they are
running down hill, and it 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, cannot afford to run
| any risks
The entrance Of Mrs. Thompson.
prevented further conversation.
She was evidently surprised at the
| refusal of Mrs. Bennett, to do any
work for her, but as great pressure of
business was pleaded as an excuse,
there was nothing to be said, and she
| soon took her leave. Another appli-
cation proved equally unsuccessful
1t was strange how busy the village
| dressmakers had suddenly become.
On the way home, the poor shoema-
ker's wife met the teacher of a small
school in the neighborhood, where two
of her children attended.
| "Ah, Mrs. Thompson, ] am glad to
see you," was the salutation. II was
about calling at your house. Would
it be convenient to settle our little ac-
count this afternoon
L AAvp oncnunt cc rx,ao tla c,.cn,,ssnI
reply. surely the term has not yet
expired."
aonly half of it, but my present
rule is to collect my money at that
tilEe. 1t is plan which many teach
ers have adopted Of late"
Il was not aware that there had
been any change in your rules, and ]
have made arrangements to NEE,
| your bill at the usual time. l fear that
| it will not be in my power sooner"
i The countenance, of the teacher
showed great disappointment, and a
she passed on in different direction
she muttered to herself
s'Just as expected. never shal
never see shilling. Everybody say.
they are going down hill. must gc
rid of the children in some way. Per
hays may get a pair of shoes or two
for payment for the half quarter ii
manage right: but it will never do K
| go on in this way
A little discomposed by her inter
. view with the teacher, Mrs. Thompson
step ped into a neighboring groccr's
shop to purchase some trifling article
for family consumption.
| II have little account against you
Will it be convenient for Mr.. Thomp-
son to settle it this evening" asked
the polite shopkeeper as he produced
the desired article.
''ls it his usual time for settling p
was the surprised enquiry.
"Well, not exactly, but money is very
tight just now, and am anxious Il
get all that is due tome In future
intend to keep short accounts. There
is the little bill, If YOU would like te
lookati it. will call aound this even.
ing. Ii Is a small affair.""
i "Seven pounds is no small sum TO vi
just now" thought Mrs. Thompson. M
she sadly pursued her way toward
home.
1T seems strange that all these pay.
mcn;s mustbe met just now, when W,
are struggling to recover from tht
heavy expenses of the winter. can
not understand it,
fl Her perplexity was increased b,
! finding her husband with two bills il
4