The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-12-18

Providence" was the consolatory re
ply Of his wife, as 2 second knock al
the door aroused the fear, tha. anoth-
er claimant was about TO appear.
But the benevolent cOunteaaHce oi
Uncle Joshua, a rare but ever vel
ccme visitor, presented Itself.
Seating himself in the con- Portable
chair which Mary hastened 10 hand
him, he said, in his someTLa. eccel-
trlc but friendly manner
"Wen, good fellow, understand
the world does not 90 quite as well
with you as formerly. WHIST is the
trouble ?'
There need be 10 Trouble, sir,''
was the reply, ''if men would not try
to add to the Affections which the
Almighty sees to be necessary for Us.
We met with sickness ana Inisfor-
tunes, which We endeavored to bear
with patience. All would now 90
well, If those around me were not de-
termined to push ne, in the down
ward path"
'But there lies the difficulty, friend
Thompson. This is a selfish world.
Everybody, or st least a CREST majori-
ty, care only for numDer one. II
they see poor neighbOr going down
hill their first thought is, whether it
will affect their own interests and
provide they can secure themselves,
they care not how soon he goes to the
bottom. the only way is to keep UP
appearances. Show no signs of going
behind hand, and all will 90 well with
you"
every true, Uncle Joshua, but how
is this 70 be done Bills, which did
not expect to be called upon 10 meet
for the next three months, are pour
ing in upon me. My best customers
are leaving me for more fortunate
rival. In short, am on the brink Of
ruin, and naught save miracle can
save me-"
"a miracle which is very easily
wrought, then, / imagine, my good
friend. What is the amount OF these
debts, which press so heavily upJn
YOU and how soon in the common
course of events eOul,i you discharge
them ?"
"They do not exceed one hundred
dollars" replied the shoemaker ;
'and with my usual run of work, l
could make it all right in three or
four months.n
1--WE will say SIX" was the answer.
81 will advance you one hundred and
fifty dollars for six months. Pay
every cent that you owe, and with the
remainder of the money, make some
slight addition or improvement in
your shop or house, and put every
thing about the ground in its usual
neat order. Try this plan for a few
weeks and we will see what effect it
has upon our worthy neighbors.
"No, no, never mind thanking me (;
am only trying little experiment
on human nature. / know you of old
and have no doubt that my money is
safe in your hands"
Weeks passed by. The advice of
uncle Joshua had been strictly fol-
lowed, and the change in the shoe
makers prospects was indeed wonder
full He was now spoken of as one of
the most thriving men i'll the village,
and many marvellous stories were told
to account for the sudden alteration.
1t was generally agreed that distant
relative had bequeathed to him q
legacy, which had entirely relieved
him of his pecuniary difficulties. Old
customers, and new ones, crowded in
upon him. They had never before re-
allied the beauty and durability Of his
work. The polite butcher selected
the best pieces of meat for his inspec-
ton, as be entered, and was totally
Indifferent as to the time of payment.
The dealer in leather called to in
form him that his best hides awaited
his orders. The teacher accompanied
the children home to tea, and spoke
in high terms of their improvement,
pronouncing them among her best
scholars. The dressmaker suddenly
found herself free from the great press
of work /; and in friendly note, ex-
pressed her desire to Oblige Mrs.
Thompson in any way in her power.
"Just as l expected" exclaimed
Uucle Joshua, rubbing his hands ex-
ultlngly, as the grateful shoemaker
called upon him at the expiration of
the six months, with the money
which bad been loaned in the hour Of
need. "Just as / expected. Astrange
world They are ready to push a
man up hill if he seems to be ascend
ing, and just as ready to push him
down, If they fancy his face is turned
that way. In future, neighbOr
Thompson, let everything around you
wear an air of prosperity, and you
will be sure to prosper ~ and with a
satisfied air, Uncle Joshua placed his
money in his pocket-boOk, ready to
meet some other claim upon his be-
nevolence, whilst he whom he had
thus befriended, with light steps and
cheerful cOunteuance returned to his
happy home.