The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-10-29
PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE.

"I cannot wait any longer. I must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it l must foreclose the mortgage and
sell the place" said Mr.. Merton.
g In that case" said Mr.. Bishop, &"
will of course be sold at a great sacri-
flee, and, after all the struggles I have
made, my family will again be home
less. 1t is very hard. l only wish you
had to earn your money as I do mine !;
you might then know something of th'
hard life of poor man. If you could
only in imagination put yourself in my
place, think you would have little
mercy on me-"
:" 1t is useless talking I extended
this one year, and can do so no long
err" replied Mr.. Merton, as he turned
TO his desk and continued writing.
The poor man rose from his seat and
walked sadly ont of Mr.. Merton's Office;
his last hope was gone. He had Just
recovered from a long fit of illness,
which had swallowed mp the means with
which he had intended TO make the last
payment on his house. True, that gen.
tleman had waited one year, when he
had failed to meet the demand, owing
to illness in his family, and he had felt
very much obliged to him for doing o.
This year he bad been laid up for
several months, during which he could
earn nothing, and all his savings were
then needed for the support of himself
and family. Again he had failed, and
now be 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 utterance,
"I wish You had to earn your money as
I do mine"
Iu the midst of row of figures, " Put
yourself in my place" intruded:
Once after it had crossed his mind.
he laid down his pen, saying, " Well, l
think I sbould find it rather hard. I
have a mind to drop in there this after
noon, and zee how it fares with his
family; that man has reused my curl
osiJy."
About five o'clock he put on gray wig
and some old, cast-off clothes, walked to
the residence of Mr.. Bishop, and knocked
at the door. Mrs. Bi-hOp, pale. weary
looking woman, opened it; the poor old
man requested permission to enter and
rest awhile, saying he was very tired
with his long journey, for he had walked
many miles that day:
Mrs. Bishop cordially invited him IN,
and gave him the best seat the room NJ
forded. She then began to make prep
arations for tea. The old gentleman
watched her attentively. He saw there
was no elasticity in her step, no nope IN
her movements; and pity for her began
to steal into his heart. When her hus-
band entered, her features relaxed into
a smile, and she forced cheerfulness
into her manner. The traveller noted 1t
all and he felt himself forced to ad-
mire this woman who could assume
cheerfuluess she did not feel for her
husbands sake. After the table was
prepared. there was nothing upon 1T but
bread. butter and tea. They invited
the stranger to eat with them, saying,
eve have not much TO offer you, but
cup of tea will refresh you after your
long journey" .,.. - 81
they discussed the frugal meal ne le1
them, without seeming to do SO, TO talK
of their affairs.
Mr.. Bishop, cat a very low price, and
instead of waiting, as ought to have
done. until I had saved the money TO
build. I thought I would borrow two
hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be nearly as much as
the rent was paying, and would be
saving something by doing 1t. l dld
NOT think there would be any difficult
in having back the borrowed money:
But the first year my wife ana enc OF
my children were i'll, and the expenses
left me without the means to pay the
debt Mr.. Merton agreed to wait an
other year, if would pay the interest,"
I did that. This year L was Tor seven :
months unable to work at my trade ana
eorn ANYTHING: and of course when pay
day comes around, and this is very soon,
l shall again be unable to meet the de-
mand." -,
But" said the stranger, viii not
MIR. Merton wait another year, II you
make ali the circumstances known TO
him ?" a.,
"No. sir" replied Mr.. Bishop, g
saw him this morning, and he SAID ne
must have the money, and should be
obliged to foreclose.
"He must be very hard-hearted' re-
piled the traveller. NJ.
Not necessarily so, SAID MI Dlsu-
op. ''The fact is, these rich men know
nothing of the struggles OF the poor
They are men just like the rest OF man tIL
kind and / am sure If they but had the
lGlnlesU luea OF WllAb tAS ~
pass through, their hearts ana 1nelL
purses would open. You know 1t has
passed into a proverb, when a poor
man needs assistance, he should apply
TO the DOOR, The reason IS obvious
The poor only know the curse of power
ty. They know how heavily 1t falls
crushing the spirit out OF a man and,
to use my favorite expression, they can
at once put themselves in the qnioTta' ~
nate ones place and appreciate his dIin
culties, and are therefore always rehu9
to render assistance as far as they art
able; and If Mr.. Merton had the ieasl
idea of what / and my family had .II t1
pass through, think he would be VIII
ing to wait several years for hls money
rather than distress us. =.
With what emotion the stranger us
tened may be imagined. A new worl'