The Ottawa free trader., 1874-11-14

I"Thc fact Is these gich men know nolhlhg "I
ihc struggles of the poor. lhcy are me!
! iu., like The rest uf mankind, and am sur
! - thrv had but the mcrcst idea ot what tht
noor had to pas. through, Their hearts ano
| ibcir purses would open. You know 1t has
nossed into a proycrb, When poor mat
needs assistance, he should apply to the poor
The reason Is Obvious; the poor only kno"
the curse of poverty; they know how heavily
if falls. crushing the spirit out o! man; ahu
to use my iavoritc expression, they can ~
once put Themselves in the unfortunate one
place and appreciate difficulties, anu are
therefore always ready to render alIt as lar d.
they are able: and if MI, Merton had the Icas'
idea of what and my family had 10 pa5s
through, | think he would be wiling 10 "n'' %
several years for his money ratheT thah AIS
tresS me- ,
With what emotion the stranger 'is'IHou
may be imagined, a new world ha' p,e' ,'.,
opened before him. He was passing Ni1u5"
an experience that had never been his Dcioi Z,
Shortly after the conclusion Of the meal, nc
rose TO- take his leave thanking Mr. ana DIS
Bishop for their kind hospitality lhey ~.
vitcd h,m to stay all night, telling MN he
was welcome to what they had .,,,u.
He thanked them and said, Il VIII uespass
on YOUR kindness no longer, L lhinK can
reach the next village before uafH, uho DC 50
much further on my journey
Mr. Merton did not sleep much that night,
Uc Inv awake thinking. He had received II
new rcvcIotian The poor had always been
assoc,atcd in hi, mind with stupidity and
ipnnrancc and the first poor family he had
Visited he had found tar in advance, in intel
Iiocncc, sympathy and real poitencss, OF the
exnuisitcs and fashionable butterflies OF the
day ..,--...,,
left package in large blue envelope, adj
dressed to Mr.. Bishop.
Mrs Bishop was very much alarmed "hen
She took it; for large blue envelopes were as
sociatcd IN her mind with law and lawyers,
and thought it boGcd no good. She put 1t
away until her husband came home from MS
work, when she handed 1t to him.
lie opened it in silence, read its coAtents,
and said frequently, Thank Heaven.
What is il, JOhn,' inquired his ANXIOUS
wife.
Good news, wife" replied John "Such
news that have never hoped tor, or even
dreamed Of
"What is i,-what is il: Tell me quick |
want to hear it il it is anything good
"Mr. Merton has cancelled the mortgage
reIC ascd me from the debt both the interest
and principal. and says any time need turth.
er assistance if will let him know shall
have it,
II am so clad: il puts new lite INTO me-
said tbc now happy wife. But what can
have come over Mr.. Merton"
II don't know; it seems strange after the
way he talked to me yesterday. | will 90
right over to his Office and tell him how hap
by he has made us
He found Mr.. Merton IN his Office and cX,
pressed his gratitude in the most glowing
terms.
"What could have induced yon, Mr.. Mer
ton, ." he asked, "to show me so great kind
ness
Il followed your suggestion replied Mr.
Merton, and put myself in your place. l
expect that it would surprise you very much
to learn that the strange traveller to- whom
you showed 80 much kindness yesterday was
myself"
indeed exclaimed Mr. Bishop, "can that
be trucy How did you disguise yourself 50
50 complctely:'
II was not very much disguised after ALL
but you could not very well associate Mr.
Merton, the lawyer with a poor waytaring
man -ha ha. Ia" laughed Mr. Merton
well, It is a good joke SAID Mr.. Bishop,
good IN more senses than one. 1t has ter
minated very pleasantly for me
II WAS surprised said Mr., Merton, "at the
broad and liberal views you expressed of
men and their actions generally supposed
| had greatly the advantage over you in
mcapS, education and culture, yet how. .cramp
cd and narrow-mlndcd have been my views
beside yours That wife of yours is an esti
mablc woman, and that boy OF yours VIII be
m honor 10 any man"
II tell you bishop" said the lawyer be.
coming animated, you arc rich--rich be
yond what money can make you. You have
treasures that gold will not buy / tell you,
you owe ne no thanks Somehow, seem to
have lived years since yesterday morning
nave got into new world. What learned
1t your house is worth more than YOU owe
ne, and am your debtor yet Hereafter |
shall take as my motto, Put yourself in his
place and try to regulate my actions by it,