The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-10-12

ID door, then man q voice, and 1 500
fl made out that he was enquiring as t
j. whether l was at home. Immediate
ly afterward in walked q policeman
IS who inquired if my name was job,
: Smith. On my saying it was, he hand
n ed me paper, which he said was ,
s summons to appear before the magis
). trate next morning on q charge of un
: lawfully OBTAINING a i've pound note
the property Of Joseph Holdhard, etc
Well, here's pretty mess, thought
what's TO be done? There was the
missus a crying, ami thechildren with
their eyes wide open, wondering what
had happened. Well, it's no use max.
ing long story of it, Next morning
| went before the magistrate. Evil
dence was given by the pawnbroker,
who had his book 10 show that he
changed the note fol: my missus; by
the prosecutor, Mr. GHoldhard, a
sharp-spea&ing, aobusiness-like man,
who proved clearly that the note wac
his; and by the police. who, had. re
ceived notice of the loss. Fortunately
tor me my master came forward and
: gave me good character, or else L
might have got. six months, as the
magistrates said they had power TO
give me. have been told since that
they have no power to imprison any
one for Keeping what they find unless
they see the thing dropped. How
ever that may be, Mr.. Holdhard said
he didn't want the man (meaning mel
imprisoned; he came forward, he
said, on public grounds, in order to
teach people that it was their duty to
find out the losers or property if possi-
bic, and that if ! would give my word
to repay the money he would ask for
the summons to be dismissed. This
you may be sure 1 readily agreed to,
very glad to gel off SO easily but af-
forwards, when l came 10 think il
over, l did not see where the money
was to come from. Mr.. uoldhard had
given me his card, and told me to call
at his house in day or two 1 did SO,
and was shown into a room with
desk and lot of books. Presently,i in
he comes, and looking straight at me,
he says:
well y ohnSmith,h ,have you brought
the fiye-pounds 2" .s...,..,9'-
mo, sir" ,.-.s-., 4
,,. ."sThen why did you come ?"
- "To tell You that 1 couldn't pay it
all at once, but if you'd take some
thing thing every week I'd pay you every !
penny" -. .-~s--1-...'..'r -.
very well; how much ?" s.s.
- "'Say two shillings, SIR" s.sz,s..
! ''Fery well. Good night" hs,es..
b Aud SO, as regular as every week
came round, / took that two shillings
to Mr.. Joseph Holdhard. He never
said anything beyond. "Good even
ing, Mr. Smith" when 1 went in, and
after he had put down the amount in
the little book it was sGood night.
Smith," How cruel and hard thought
him no one knows; still, L knew the
money was his, and thought he had
right to it. So I went on steadily. |,
never once missing week till the fiy. Il
pounds was all paid. Whatever hap
pened, always managed to be on the !,
step Of his door as the clock struck IS
eight on Thursdays evenings, with the
two shiliings ready to give him. New
er once did he take any notice of me
beyond what have said, and some ,
times, when l have thought what a
it was to part with that mon.
ey every week, and when 1 thought {
he was a rich man and could spare the i
money, and that my poor two shill- ,
ings week could make no difference
to him, [ thought also very hard and :
bitter things about rich people. Still, I
for all that, I wouldn't have had it t
otherwiser ;my pride had been reused, !
and felt that l would have died rath- :
than have received favor from him.
Well. you know how long it takes to
pay five-pounds' at two shillings a
week-fifty weeks, nearly twelve
nonths-in fact, it was only about one
week before Christmas again, that 1
;alled on Mr.. Holdhard with the last
wo shilIings, and although I knew q
here was very little prospect of a
christmas dinner this year,I felt more =
rec and harpy in my mind than had =
lone for long time. Now, that =
'wcd nothing to Mr.. Holdhard, felt g
'etter toward him than ever 1 had be- %
ore. When 1 had given him the last q
wo shillings he said, "The money is 3
low paid. Good night, Smith" .'Good u u
light, sir; and away went, feeling .
eaily-and L don't mind confessiny it q
very down-hearted. If he had only ie
hownt the slightest sympathy for me u
should have felt SO different toward y =
i'm, toward myself, toward all this II
7orld.o -s" s5<atf 1e319FeF "a
Well, another week went on, and it :. -
7anted but two days to Christmas :. 2.
here had been sickness ia the family. ::
nd we were much depressed aud low q,
pirited, had been ill of late, making =,
hort time, which, you know, means =,
hort wages, short food, short every- =.
llng. The truth is, the work was too !.
ard for me the missus knew this,and =;
id all she could 10 cheer me up. She 60
'ould say !: Times will mend" and =,
len / would say "Oh yes, perhaps l -,
lall lind another five-pound note - :,
nd then the tears would come into =.
or eyes. and she would say it was all +, +,
er fault Tor not letting me divide the =,
Ve-ponnds with my mate. ss...e =,
well, we were sitting this evening Ia
usual, both OF us too tired and too in
'w-spirited to talk much, when there "r
a { rom IN II n,c T., =, 1 II =