Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-04-23
GOING DOWN HILL.

GOING DOWN HILL.
''That looks bad" exclaimed farmer
White, with an expressive shake of the
head, as he passed neglected garden
and brolsen-down fences, in one of his
daily walks.
bad enough" was the reply of the
addressed. Neighbor Thompson APP
pears to be running down hill pretty
fast. / can remember the time when
everything around his place was trim
and tidy"
'' 1t is quite the contrary now," re-
turned the farmer. House, outbuild-
ings, and grounds all show the want of
the masters care. / am afraid Thomp-
son is o. the downward path"
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"
81 have generally employed him for
myself and family" was the reply, land
/ must confess that he is a good work
man but nevertheless / believe / shall
step into Jack Smiths this morning
and order pair of boots, of which /
stand in need. I always make it rule
never to patronize those who appear to
be running behindhand There is gen.
orally some risk in helping those who
do not try to help themselves.
VERY true, and as my wife desired
me to see about pair of shoes for her
this morning, / will follow your exam
pie and call upon Smith. He is no
great favorite OF mine, however-an
idle, quarrelsome fellow"
And yet he seems to be getting
ahead i'll the world" answered the farm
er, land l am willing to give him
lift But have an errand at the butch
ers. Step in with me for moment. /
will not detain you"
At the butchers they met the neigh
Dor who had been the subject of their
previous conversation. He certainly
presented rather shabby appearance,
and in his choice of meat there was
regard to economy which did not escape
the observation of farmer White.
After few passing remarks, the poor
shoemaker took his departure, and the
butcher opened his account book with
a somewhat anxious air, saying, as he
charged the bit of meat:
:" believe it is time that neighbor
Thompson and / came to settlement.
Short accounts make long friends"
"No time to lose, 1 should say" re-
marked the farmer
Indeed Have you heard of any
trouble, neighbor White ?"
"No, I have :. ard nothing; but a
l,oa ha ,xoa ~ ne ou-,, auao rar
know and / never trust anyone with
my money who is evidently going down
hill"
"Quite right and 1 will send In my
bill this evening. l have only delayed
on account of the sickness which the
poor man has had in his family all
winter. / suppose he must have run
behindhand little, but still 1 must take
care of number one"
Speaking of Thompson, are your
observed bystander, who appeared to
take an interest In the conversation.
"Going down hill, is he? must look
out for myself, then. He owes me quite
a snug sum for leather. / did intend to
give him another months credit; but,
on the whole, / guess the money would
nc cd1CA III OWh HoChCe.
Here the four worthless separated,
each with his mind filled with the affairs
of neighbor Thompson, the PROBABLE.
ty that he was going down hill, and the
best way of giving him push.
In another part of the little village,
similar scenes were passing.
81 declare !" exclaimed Mrs. Ben
nett. the dressmaker, to a fevorite AS
sistant. as she hastily Withdrew hel
head from the window whence she had
been gazing on the passers-by. "I
there is not Mrs. Thompson, the shoe
makers wife, coming up the steps Will
a parcel in her hand. She wants to en-
gage me to do her spring work, L sup
pose, but / think it weuld be venture
Everyone says they are running dow
hill. and it is a chance If / ever get NJ,
pay" :,
s.She has always paid us promptly,
was the reply.
"True, but that was in the days o
prosperity. / cannot afford to run an.
risks"
The entrance of Mrs. Thompson pre-
vented further conversation.
She was evidently surprised at tn
refusal of Mrs. Bennett to do any worl
for her, but as great pressure of bust
ness was pleaded as an excuse, Their
was nothing to be said, and she sool
took leave. Another application proves
equally unsuccessful. 1t was strang
how busy the village dressmakers ha'
suddenly become.
On her way home, the poor shoe
makers wife met the teacher of SINAI
school in the neighborhood, where tw
of her children attended.