The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-10-23

purses would open. You know iE ha
passed into proverb, When a poo.
man needs assistance, he should appl7
to the poor. The reason is obvio IS
The poor only know the curse Of power
/ ty. They know how heavily It falls
crushing the spirit out OF a man; and
TO use my fRvorite expression, they. car
at once put themselves in the unfortu.
nate ones place and appreciate his diff.
cuIties. 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, J. think he would be will
| ing to wait several years for his money,
rather than distress us. 3
With what emotion the stranger lis.
tened may be imagined. A new world
was being opened to him. He was pass
ing through an 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, &c 7 will
trespass on your kindness no longer. I
think I can reach the next village be-
fore dark, and be so much further on
my Journey.
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much that
night. He lay awake thinking. He
had. received new revelation. The
poor had always been associated in his
mind with stupidity and ignorance, and
the first poor family he had visited he
had found far in advance, in intelligent
sympathy and real politeness, of the ex-
quisites and fashionable butterflies of
the day. -les .r.
The next day a boy called at the cot
tage, and left package in large blue
envelope, addressed to Mr.. Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop WIS very much alarmed
when she took it for large blue envel-
opes were associated in her mind with
law and lawyers, and thought that it
bOded 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 con-
tents, and said frequently, "Thank
heaven I"
What is it, John ?" inquired his anx-
ious wife. --.E
"Good news" replied John '' such
news that I had never hoped for, or even
dreamed of. J."
'' What is it-what IS it? Tell me
quiek-I want to hear If it is anything
good"
''Nr. Merton has cancelled the mort
gage, released me from debt, both the
interest and principal, and says any
time l need any further assistance, if l
will let him know [ shall have it"
'' I am so glad, it puts new life into
me, said the now happy wife. 'But
what can have come over Mr.. Merton ?"
E." / do not know. Tt seems strange
after the way he talked TO me yesterday
morning. I will go right over to his
office and tell him how happy he has
made us.
He found Mr. Merton in, and express
sed his.gratitude in glowing terms.
What could have induced you" he
asked, " to show us so much kindness ?"
50 L followed your suggestions, re
piled Mr.. Merton, '' and put myself in
your place. I expect that it would sur
prise you very much TO learn that the
strange traveller to whom you showed SO
much kindness yesterday was myself.
"lndeed p exclaimed Mr.. Bishop,
:" can that be true ? How did you dis
guise yourself so well ?"
g was not so much disguised after
all, but you could not very readily asso-
eiate Mr.. Merton, the lawyer, with a
poor wayfaring mania ha ha !"
laughed Mr.. Merton.
Well, it is a good JOKE" said Mr.
Bishop; ''good in more senses than
one. It has terminated very pleasantly |
for me"
-- '' I was surprised said Mr. Merton, |
&c at the broad and liberal views you ex-
pressed of men and their actions gener-
ally. supposed 1 had greatly the ad !
vantage over you in means, education |
and culture yet how cramped and mar
row-minded have been my views beside |
yours That wife of yours is an esti-
mable woman, and that boy of yours |
will be an honor to any man. I tell |
you, Bishop" said the lawyer, beeom-
ing animated, "you are rich-rich be |
yond what money cat make you. You |
have treasures that gold will not buy. |
1 tell you, y0H owe me no thanks. |
Somehow, seem to have lived years
since yesterday morning. I have got |
into a new world What I learned at |
your house is worth more than you owe /
me, and [ am your debtor yet. Here. |
after, shall take as my motto, Put |
yourself IN his place, and try to regu-
late my actions by it. "