The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-16
PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE.

tt / cannot wait any longer. l must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it / must foreclose the mortgage and
sell the place." said Mr.. Merton.
''I In that case" said MIR. Bishop, it
will of course be sold at a great sacri-
fee, and after all the struggles have
made, my family viii again be home
less. It is very hard. I 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 imagination put yourself in my
place, think you would have little
mercy on me.
cit is useless talking I extended
this one year, and can do SO no long
er," replied MIR. Merton, as he turned
to his desk and continued writing.
The poor man rose from his seat and
walked sadly out of Mr.. Merton's Office;
his last hope was gone. He had just
recovered from long fit of illness,
which had swallowed up 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 SO.
This wear he had 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 he 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,
'fI wish you had to earn your money as
do mine.
In the midst of row of figures, 'sPut
yourself in my place intruded.
Once after it had crossed his mind,
he laid down his pen, saying, {" Well, I
think I should find it rather hard. I
have a mind to drop in there this after
noon, and see how it fares with his
family that man has reused my curl
osity.''
About fve o'clock he put on a gray
wig and some old, cast off clothes,
walked to the residence of Mr.. Bishop,
and knocked at the door. Mrs. Bishop,
pale, weary looking woman, opened
it !; the poor old man requested pern1s-
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 prep
arations for tea. The old gentleman
watched her attentively. He saw there
was no elasticity in her step, no hope 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 it
all ; and he felt himself forced to adj
unire this woman who could assume q
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 invited
the stranger to eat with them saying,
ssWe have not much to offer you, but a
cup of tea will refresh you after your
longsiourney."
He accepted their hospitality, and as
thev discussed the frugal meal, he led
them, without seeming to do SO, to talk
of their affairs.
"I bought this piece of land, said
Mr.. Bishop, t' at a very low price, and
instead of waiting as / ought to have
done. until / had saved the money to
bnild. / thought I would borrow two
hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be nearly as much az
the rent was paying, and would be
saving something by doing it. I did
not think there would be any difficult
in paving back the borrowed money.
But the first year my wife and one OF
INV 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 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 de
Enand. !"
"But," said the stranger, "will not
Mr.. Merton wait another year, if YOU
make all circumstances known to him 2,
"No. SIR" replied Mr.. Bishop, s.
saw him this morning, and he taid ht
must have the money, and should b.
obliged to foreclose.
"He must be very hard hearted, " re
piled the traveller.
s'Not necessarily So said Mr.. Bish
op. The fact is, these rich mel
know nothing of the struggles OF the
poor. They are men just like the res
Of mankind, and am sure if they bu
had the faintest idea of what the poo