Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-27
"Put Yourself in MY Place. y
WHAT eA3e or poiso so.

WHAT CANE or DoiSo So.
81 cannot wait any longer. must have
my money, and, if you cannot pay it, ] must
foreclose the mortgage and sell the place"
said Mr., Morton.
In that case said Mr.. Bishop, ait will
Of course be sold at a great sacrifice, and
after all the struggles have made, my fam
ily will again be homeless. ltis very hard.
| 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 a little mercy
on me"
at is useless talking | extended this one
year. and can do so no longer" replied Mr..
Morton, as he turned to his desk and con-
tinued writing.
The poor man rose from his seat and
walked sadly out of Mr.. Norton office. His
last hope was gone. lie had just recovered
from a long illness, which had swallowed up
the means with which he had intended to
make the last payment on his house. True,
Mr. Morton had waited one year when he
had failed to meet the demand owing to i'll
ness in his family, and he had felt very much
obliged to him for doing so. This year he
had been laid up for seven months, during
which time he could earn nothing and all
his savings were then needed for the support
of his family. Again he 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.. Morton
could not drive away from his thoughts the
remark TO which the poor man, in his grief,
gave utterance, wish you had to earn
your money as | do mine"
In the midst of a row of figures, "Put
yourself in my place intruded.
Once, after it had crossed his mind, he laid
down his pen, saying, "Well, | think
should find it rather hard. | have a mind
to drop in there this afternoon and see how
it fares with his family; that man has
reused my curiosity"
About five 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, a pale, weary-looking
woman opened it. The poor old man re.
quested permission to enter and rest awhile,
saying he was very tired with his long jour.
ney, 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 preparations for tea
The old gentleman watched her atten.
lively. lie 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 husband entered, her features relaxed
into a smile, and she forced a cheerfulness
into her manner The traveller noted it all
and he was forced to admire this woman
who could assume cheerfulness she did not
feel for her husbands sake. After the table
was prepared there was nothing on it but
bread and butter and tea. They invited the
stranger to eat with them, saying, "Wt
have not much to offer you, but a cup of tea
will refresh you after your long journey"
lie accepted their hospitality, and, as they
discussed the frugal meal, led them, without
seeming to do so, to talk of their affairs.
II bought this piece of land" said Mr.
Bishop, at a very low price, and instead Of
waiting, as | ought to have done, until
saved the money to build, thought would
borrow few hundred dollars. The interest
on the money would not be near as much a,
| the rent | was paying, and | would be saw
ing something by it. | did not think ther,
would be any difficulty in paying back the
money; but the first year my wife and on'
of my children were ill, and the expenses
left me without means to pay the debt. Mr.
Morton agreed to wait another year if
would pay the interest, which | did. Thi
year | was for seven months unable to worl
at my trade and earn anything, and of cours'
when payday comes round-and that vii
be very soon-I shall be unable to meet th
demand"
But" said the stranger, will not Mr.
Morton wait another year if you will max
all the circumstances known to him ?"
No, sir" replied Mr.. Bishop; 81 say
him this morning, and he said he must hav
the money or he should foreclose'
e" lie must be very hard-hearted,' re
marked the traveller.
"Not necessarily so, remarked Mr.. Bishop
"The fact is, these rich men know nothing
of the struggles of the poor. They are mel
Just like the rest of mankind and am sur
if they had but the faiptest idea of what tn
poor have TO pass through, their hearts ant
purses would open. You know it has passe
into a proverb When poor man need
assistance he should apply to the poor Tn
reason is obvious. Only the poor know Tn
curse of poverty. They know how heavil
it falls, crushing the heart of man, and q
use my favorite expression) they can at ono
place themselves in the unfortunate one
place and appreciate difficulties and ar
therefore always ready TO render assistanc
as far as they are able. If Mr.. Morton ha
the least idea what | and my family had
pass through, think he would be willing t
wait several years for his money rather tina
distress u.s."
With what emotion the stranger listene'
may be imagined new world was bein
opened to him. lie was passing through a
experience that had never been his before
Shortly after the conclusion of the meal h
rose to take his leave, thanking Mr.. am
Mrs. Bishop for their kind hospitality. The
invited him to stay all night, telling him b
was welcome TO what they had.
lie thanked them, and said g. will tire;
pass on your kindness no longer. think
can reach the next village before dark, an
be so much farther on my journey"
Mr.. Morton did not sleep much that night
he lay awake thinking. lie had received
new revelation. The poor had always bee
associated in his mind with stupidity an
ignorance, and the first poor family he ha
visited he had found far in advance, in il
telligent sympathy and real politeness, of tn
exqusites and fashionable butterflies of tn
day.
The next day boy called at the cottage
and left package IN a large blue envelop,
addressed to Mr.. Bishop
Mrs. Bishop was very much alarmed whe
she took it, for large blue envelopes were as
sociated in her mind with law and lawyers
and she thought that it boded no good. sh
put ii away until her husband came HON
from his work, when she handed it to him
lie opened it In silence, read its contents
and said frequently "Thank heaven"
"What is It, JohnY" inquired his anxou
wife
"Good news, wife" replied John "sucl
news as have never hoped for or eyel
dreamed Of"
"What is it--what is ii 2 Tell me quick
i want to bear If it's anything good.
"Mr. Morton has cancelled the mortgag
released me from debt, both interest an'