The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-28
Q1iecellameons.
Mr.. MertOl.'S Lesson.


| ton.
"In that case" said Mr.. Bishop, "it will of
course be sold at great sacrifice and after all
the struggles 1 have made my family will
again be homeless 1t is very hard. | only
| wish you had to earn your money as do mine,
you might then know something Of the hard
life of a poor man. If you could only in imag
ination put yourself in my place, think you
would have little mercy on me-"
at is useless talking; l extended this one
year, and I cannot do any longer" replied
| Mr. Merton, as he turned to his desk and con
| tinued writing.
| The poor man rose from his seat and walked
| sadly out Of Mr.. Merton's office; his last hope
gone. He had just recovered from fit of ILL.,
ness, which had used up the means with 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 the family, and he
had felt very much obliged to him for doing So
| This year he bad been laid up for several
months, during which he could earn nothing
| and all his savings then needed for the
support of himself aud family. Again he had
| failed, and now he would agaa be homeless,
and have tn begin the world anew. Had
Heaven forsaken HIM and given him over to
| the tender merces Of the wicked?
After be had left the office, Mr. Merton could
| not drive away from his thoughts that remark
to which the poor man in his grief had given
utterance 81 wish you had to earn your money
as do mine.'
| In the midst of a row Of figures, "Put your
self in my place" ntruded.
| Once after it had crossed his mind he laid
down his pen, saying: "Well, think l should
| find it rather hard. | have a mind to drop in
| there this afternoon and see how it fares with
his family; that man has aroused my curiosity"
About five o'clock he put on gray wig and
some old, cast off clothes, walked to the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Bishop and knocked at the door,
Mrs. Bishop, pale, weary looking woman,
opened it; the poor old man requested permits
sion 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 afforded. She
then began to make preparations for tea. The
old gentleman watched her attentively. He
saw there was elasticity in her step, no hope
in her movements and pity for her began to
steal into his heart When her husband enter
| ed, her features relaxed into a smile, and she
| forced cheerfulness into her manner. The
traveller noted it all and he felt himself forced
to admire this woman who could assume
cheerfulness she did not feel for her husbands
sake. After the table was prepared, there was
nothing upon it but bread, butter and tea
They invitad the stranger to eat with them,
| saying: owe have not got much to offer you,
but cup of tea will refresh you after your long
journey"
| He accepted their hospitality, and as they
discussed the frugal meal, he led them without
seeming to do so, to talk of their own affairs.
81 bought this piece ofland, said Mr.. Bishop,
"at a very low price, and instead of waiting as
| ought to have done, until l had saved the
money to build, thought woull borrow two
hundred dollars. The interest on the money
would not be nearly so much as the rent was
paying, and I would be saving money by so do
| ing. did not think there would be any diff
Guilty in paying back the borrowed money. But
the first year my wife and one of my children
| were ill, and the expenses left me without the
means to pay the debt. Mr.. Merton agreed to
wait another year, if would pay the interest.
l did that This year l 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, shall again be unable to
meet the demand"
"But," said the stranger, twill not Mr.. Mer-
ton wait another year, if you make all circum-
stances known to him?"
| "No, sir" replied Mr.. Bishop, ~ saw him
this morning, and he said he must have the
money and should be obliged to foreclose the
| mortgage"
"He must be very hard hearted" replied the
| traveller.
| "Not necessarily so,' said Mr.. Bishop. The
| fact is, these rich men know nothing of the
struggles of the poor. They are men just like
the rest of mankind, and l am sure if they but
had the faintest idea of what the poor have to
pass through, their hearts and their purses
would open. You know it has passed into a
| proverb: "When poor man needs assistance,
he should apply to the poor" The reason is
obvious. The poor only know the curse of pow
erty. They know how heavily it falls, crush
ing the spirit out of man and to use my ia
| vorite expression, they can at once put them
selves in the unfortunate ones place and appre-
ciate his 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 and my family had to pass through,
think he would be willing to wait several years
for his money, rather than distress u.s."
With watermelon the stranger listened may
be imagined. new world was being opened
to him. He was passing through all experience
that had never been his before. Shortly after
the conclusion of the meal, he rose to take his
leave, thanking Mr.. and Mrs Bishop for their
kind hospitality. They invited him to stay all
night, telling him he was welcome to what they
had.
He thanked them and said, ~ will trespass
on your kindness no longer. think can
reach the next village before dark, and be
much further on my journey.
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much that night.
He layed awake thinking. He had received a
new revelation. The poor had always been as
ISOLATED in his mind with stupidity and igno-
TdHCoJ anu tHe nieV pooi idihiiy NO udu 'iSioo"
he had found far in advance in intelligent
sympathy and real politeness, of the exquisite
and fashionable butterflies of the day.
The next day boy called at the cottage and
left package in a large blue envelope, ad-
dressed to Mr.. Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop was very much alarmed when
she took it; for large blue envelopes were asso-
| c;otad in her mind with law and LAWYERS and
she thought that it BODIED no good. She put it
away until her husband came home from his
work, when she handed it to him.
He opened it in silence read its contents, and
said frequently, "Thank Heaven p
"Whati is it John" inquired his anxious wife,
"Good news" replied John; "such news that
I had never hoped for, or even dreamed Of"
"What is it-what is it? Tell me quick-I
want to hear if it is anything good"
"Mr. Merton has cancelled the mortgage re-