Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-05-05

the boots, and he wondered whether
the shoemaker would undertake to re-
pair them, although he owed him five
and twenty thalers. He would at all
events make the attempt to inquire, in
spite of its being an unpleasant task
So he went to the man himself, and
with explanations and entreaties tried
to move his heart.
The shoemaker was not hard man !;
he knew well what it was to wish to
pay debt and not to be able to do so,
even with the best intentions, and he
had often asked for payment, as he
wanted the money himself.
When the schOOlmaster showed him
his boots, he bent his gray head
thOughtfnlly aud pitifully; at last he
spoke: Il see that in this case you
must be helped, but when am | to re-
celve my money"
Help me but this once, dear MASTER y
said the teacher; you know that the
king is coming, and want the little
ones to sing before him. In these boots
| neither dare nor can appear therefore
help me in my need! / promise you
that you shall be paid. If God does
not help me in any other way, 1 will
sell my COW and repay you; you know
that l keep my word and my promises
faithfully"
When he had said this the school
master felt a heavy burden on his
heart. "Sell the cOwr Nothing but
the direst need could have wrung that
promise from him. Sell the COW and
then what would become of him and
his children But he had said the
word, and given the promise, and he
was bound as man of honor to fulfill
them.
"Well,n said the shoemaker, 81 will
take you at your word, and mend the
boots"
"Be so good as to do so, and send me
bill with them, that | may know the
extent of my debt to you"
at shall be done,n said the shoe
maker, and seated himself again at his
work.
But the poor schOOlmaster, though
relieved of that care, went away with a
heavy heart. The tears came into his
eyes when he thought of the immediate
future, and wondered what would be-
come of them. He did not wish to go
home with a troubled and carewOrn
face, to cause fresh sorrow to his wife.
He went first into the open fields, and
on to his favOrite place on the noun
tiiD. hcic lit Wcpt Will HIS NHOit
heart, and the streaming tears relieved
him. There he sat still and alone,
watching the heavens prayerfully, and
cOnsOled himself with the verse
soul remember our Lord still lives"
He then washed his face i'm the running
brook, wiped away all traces of tears,
and went home cheerfully. Fortunately
his wife did not ask what the shoe
maker had said. She knew well what
they owed him, and he had evidently
kept the boots; SO it was clear he had
undertaken to repair them-and for the
rest, God would care! And, as she did
not ask, her husband did not tell her of
the promise he had made to the shoe
maker.
On Sunday morning, when the school
master had already dressed for going
to church, the boots arrived, to his and
his wife's great JOY. The bill was sent
with them. 1t was made ont In rather
a grabbed and curious manner, and read
thus:
Item-a pair Of boots repaired asd soled-the
last if this bill is not paid having given hi. word
10 sell the COW, makes -...-..-l4 siiber grosehen
The old debt. ..........2 y thalers-