Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-10-31

''I cannot wait any longer. I must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it, / must foreclose the mortgage and
sell the place" said Merton
sIn that case" said Mr.. Bishop, sit
viii of course be sold at great sac
rifice, and, after all the struggles !
have made, my family viii again be
homeless: 1t is very hard. I only
wish you had to earn your money as
do mine; you might then know some
thing of the hard life Of a poor man.
If you could only in imagination put
yourself in my place, / think you
would have little mercy on me-"
cit is useless talking; 1 extended
this one year, and can do so no Ion
ger" replied Mr., Merton, as he turn
ed to his desk and confined writing.
The poor man rose from his seat
and walked sadly out of Mr.. Merton's
office; his last hope was gone. He
had Just recovered from long fit of
illness, which had swallowed up the
means which he had intended to make
the last payment on his house. True,
that gentleman had waited one year,
when he had failed to meet the de-
mand, owing to illness in his family,
and he had felt very much obliged to
him for doing so. This year he had
been laid up for several. months, dur
ing which he could earn nothing, and
all his savings were then needed for
the support of himself and family.
Again he had failed, and nowlhe would
again be homeless, and have to begin
the world anew. Had heaven fOrsaken
him and given him over to the. tender
mercies of the wicked?
After he had left the Office, Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away from his
thoughts that remark to which the
poor man in his grief had given utter
aHce, 81 wish you had to earn your
money as do mine"
In the midst of a row of figures,
''Put yourself in my place" intruded.
Once after it had crossed his mind,
he laid down his pen, saying, "Well,
think I should find it rather hard. /
have a mind to drop in there this af-
ternoon, and see how it fares with his
family; that man has reused my curl
osity."
| About five O'Clock he put on a gray
/ wig and some old, cast-off clothes,
walked to the residence of Mr.. Bishop,
and knocked at the door. Mrs Bishop
a pale, weary looking woman, opened
it; the poor old man requested permis-
sion to enter and rest awhile, saying
he was very tired with his long jour
ney- for he walked many milas that
| day.
Mrs. Bishop cordially invited him
in, and gave him the best seat the
room afforded. She then began to
make preparations for tea. The old
gentleman watched her attantively.
He saw there was no elasticity In her
| step, no hope in her movements; and
pity for her began to steal into his
heart. When her husband entered,
her features relaxed into a smile, and
she forced a cheerfulness into her man
ner. The traveller noted it all; and he
| felt himself forced to admire this wo-
man who could assume a cheerfulness
/ she did not feel for her husbands sake.
After the table was prepared, there
was nothing upon it but bread, but
ter and tea. They invited the stran-
ger to eat with them, saying, ave, We
not much to offer you, but a cup of
tea will refresh you after your long
/ journey"
| he dCCepleu IuelE nOS SpllaIlty, anu
as they discussed the frugal meal, he
led them, without seeming to do so,
to talk of their affairs.
ST bought this piece of land" said
/ Mr.. Bishop, sat a very low price, and
/ instead of waiting, as ought to have
done, until I had saved the money to
/ build, thought would borrow two
/ hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be nearly as much
as the rent was paying, and 1 would
be saving something by doing it. I
did not think there would be any DIFF
ficulty in paying back the borrowed
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 Y ear, if I would
pay the interest. l did that. This
year I was for seven months unable TO
work at my trade and earn anything:
and of course when pay day comes
around, and this is very soon, l shall
again be unable to meet the demand. "
But" said the stranger, will not
Mr- Merton wait another year, if you