The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-06-03

WHO cOtlt assume CnCCrfulnCSS
she did not feel, for her husbands S
sake After the table was prepared,
there WAS nothing upon it but bread,
butter, and tea. They invited the
stranger to eat with them, saying,
"Wc have not much to offer you, but
cup of tea will be rcfrc shing after
Jour long journey"
He accepted thoir hospitality,
and as they discussed tho frugal
meal, he led them, without seeming
to do SO, to talk of their affairs.
II bought this piece of !and,''
said Mr. Bishop, "nt Il very low
price, and instead Of waiting as (
ought to have done. until I hul
saved the money to build, thought
would borrow two hundred dol
lars. The interest on the money
would not be nearly as much as the
rent | was paying, and I should be
saving something by doing it. [
did not think there would be any
difficulty in paying back the bor~
rowed money. but the first year
my wife and one OF my children
were i'll, and the expenses left me
without the means to pay the debt.
Mr.. Merton agreed to wait another
year, if would pay the interest. +
did that. This year ] WAS for seven
mouths, unable to work ut my trade
and earn anything and OF course
when payday comes round, and
that is very soon, / shall again be
unable to meet The demand"
but" said the stranger, "will
not Alr. Merton wait another wear,
if you make I'LL the circumstances
known to linn 2"
"No. sir, replied Mr.. Bishop Il
saw him this morning, and he s;,id
he must hay" his money, and should
be obliged to forcclosc."
"Ho must be very hard-hcartcd,"
replied the traveller.
mot necessarily SO, said Mr..
Bishop. ''Ihc fnct is, these rich
men know nothing OF the struggles
OF the poor. They are men Just
like all the rest OF mankind, and I
am sure if they had but the faintcst
idea of what the poor have to pass
through, their hearts and their
purses would open. You know it
has passed into proverb, when Il
poor man needs assistance, he
should apply to the poor. The
reason Of this is Obvious. The poor
only know the curse of poverty.
They know how heavily it falls,
crushing the spirit out of man
and, to Use my favoritc expression,
they can ut once put themselves in
the unfortunate ones place and APP
prcciate bis difficulties, and are
therefore always ready to render
assistance as far as they are able;
and if Mr.. Merton had the least
idea OF what l. and my family have
to pass through, [ think he would
be willing to wait several years for
his money rather than distress us.
With what emotion the stranger
listened, may be imagined. A new
world was being opened to him. He
was passing through an experience
that had never been his before.
Shortly after the conclusion of the
meal, he roso to take his leave,
thanking MIR. and Mrs Bishop for
their kind hospitality. They in
vited him 20 stay all night, tolling
him he WAS welcome to what they
had.
He thanked them and said, II
will trespass on your kindness no
longer / think I can reach the
next village before dark, and be so
much further on my journey"
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much
that night. He lay awake thinking.
He had received q now revelation.
The poor had always been associa-
ted i'll his mind with stupidity and
Ignorance, and the first poor family
he had visited he had found far in
advance, in Intelligent sympathy
and real politcncss, Of the cxquis-
ties and fashionable butterflies of
the day.
The next day a boy called ut the
cottage, and left. II package in u
large blue envelope, address to Mr..
Bishop. .-...s.
MIS- BISHOP was very much
alarmed when she took it; for large
blue envelopes were asnociated in
her mind with law and lawyers, and
thought That it bodod no good
She put it away until her husband
cumc home from his work, when
she handed it to him.
Ho opened it in silence, read it's
contents,an said frequently" ,"Thank
Hcavcn!"
!