Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-01-29
Going Down Hill.


White with an expressive SHAKE Of the
head, as he passed neglected garl aud
broken-down fence, in one Of his daily
walks.
Bad enough" was the reply ofthe
companion to whom the remark was ad-
dressed.
"Neighbor Thompson appears 10 be run
ming down hill pretty fast. | can re-
member when everything aror n his lit
tie place was trim aud tidy"
"Ile always appeared to he a steady,
Industrious man" rcjoined. the speaker.
=" | have a pair or boots on my feet at
this moment of bis make, and they have
done me good service"
Il have generally employed him for
myself and family" was the reply" and
| must confess that lie is a good work.
man but, nevertheless, | believa | shall
step into Jack Smiths this morning, aud
order pair Of boots, of which | stand in
need | always make 1t a rule never ia
patronize those who appear to be running
bchindhand. There is generally some
risk in helping those who won, Zip them.
selves"
VERY true, aud as my wife desires me
to see about pair Of shoes for her thi'
morning, l will follow your example aut
call upon Smith He is no great favoritC
of mine, however-an idle quarrslsOmt
fellcw."
"And yet he seems to be getting ah,ac
in the wsrld," answered the farmer, "anC
| am willing to give him lift. But
have an errand at the butchers. | vii
not dctain You"
At the Butchers they meet the neigh
Dor who was the subject Of their prcviou
conversation He certainly presentc
rather shabby appearance, and in hi
choice of meat there was a regard TO ccor
omy which did not escape the observatio
of farmer White. After passing remarks
the poor shoemaker took his departure
and the butcher opened his account. boo
1, with a somewhat anxious air, saying, q
he charged the bit Of meat
:" | believe it is time that neighbC
Thompson and came to a scttlemen
Short accounts make long friends"
" No time to lose, | should say,
remarked the farmer.
Indeed Have you heard of any tro,
bic, noighbor White?'
mo have heard nothing, but a ma
has the use Of his own eyes, you know
and | never trust any one with my none
! who is evidently going down hill"
Quite right, and | will send in m
bill this evening. | have only delNyc
on account of the sickness the poor ma
! lad had in his family all winter. | SUI
9 pose he must have run behind little, b.
t still | must take care of number one"
c "Speakiug of Thompson, are you
: observed bystander, who appeared
I take an interest in the oonversatio
: " Going down hill, is he ? l must loo
: out ior myself then, He owes me qui
;. snug sum for leather. | did intend
\ give him another months credit, but {
n the swhoIe | guess the money would
f safer in my own pocket"
t Here the four worthless separated, ea'
IS with his mind filled with the affairs
e neighbor Thompson, the probability til
= lie was going down hill and the best W;
n of giving him a push
: In another part of thc little villa
IS similar scenes were passing.
# 81 Declare" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet
o the dresmaker to favorite assistant
n she hastily withdrew her head from i
d window, whence she hai been gazing
1t the passers by, "if there is not NJ,
a Thompson, the shoemeker's wife, comi
d up the steps with parcel in her hau
Y She wants me to do her work, suppos
q but | think it would be venture. 4
Y cry one says they are running down hi
e aud it is n chance If | ever get my pay
Il "She always has paid US promptly
G was the reply.
e True, but that was in the days
s her prosperity. cannot afford TO n
G any risk"
e The entrance of Mrs. Thompson prever
+ ed further conversation. @
c She was evidently surprised at the /
fusal of Msr. Bennett to do any work
d her, but as great pressure of business W
n pleaded as an excuse, there was nothi
Q to be said, and she soon took her leay
b Another application proved equally u
o successful. 1t was strange how busy t
n village dressmakers had suddenly becom
It On the way home, the poor shoemake
e wife met the teacher of the small sehe
v in the neighborhood where two Of h
d children attended.