The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-20

penses of the winter ] cannot understand il.
Her perplexity was Increased by finding ha
husband with two bills in his hand and
countenance expressive of great anxiety an
concern
Look, Mary" he said as she entered, "hcr
are two unexpected calls for money-One irOn
the doctor and the other rom the dealCg i
leather from whom | purchased my last stock
They are both very urgent for immediate pay
ment, although they have heretofore AWAY
been willing to wait Il few months until
could make arrangements to meet their claim,
But mstortuncs never come singly, and #
man once gets little hchindhand, troubl
seems to pour in upon him"
Just So" replied the wife "The ncigl.bor
think we are going down hill, and every on
is ready to give us a push. Here are two mOo
bills for you-one fiOm the grocer and tn
other from the school teacher" I'd.
Reply was prevented by knock at the doc
and the appearance of lad who prcsealcd ;
neatly folded paper and disappeared. vi
"Thc butchers account, rs | live" cXcam
ed the shoemaker. "What is to be done, Marv
SO much money to be paid ont, a1d very little
coming in; for some Of my best customers
have left me, although my work has Away
, given satisfaction. If | could have us much
employment as usual, and the usual credit nj
lowed me, | could satisfy ali these claims; but
to meet them now is impossible, and the ac
acknowledgement of my inability will send us
. further ON the downward path
1--WE must do our best and trust in Provi.
dcnce was the consolatoIy remark Of The wife
as another knock at the door arOuSci the fear
that another claimant was about 70 appear
But The benevolent cOlntcnance of Uncle
Joshua, Il rare but eycr-welcomc visitor, pre-
scented itself.
In, tI,r a. Hail.,
which Mary FASTENED to hand him, he said, in
his somewhat eccentric but friendly manner:
| Well good folks, understand that the
world does not go quite as well with you as
| formerly What is the trou0lc?'
There need be no trouble, sir" was the re-
Iply, "it Een would not try to add TO the afiIc-
tons which the Almighty sees 10 be necessary
for us. The winter was II trying one We
met with :"kncss and mIsioriuncs which we
cndeavored to bear with patience, All would
now go well, if those around me were not de,
termined to push me in tie downward path "
But here lies the difficulty, friend Thomp-I
son. This is selfish world Everybody, orI
at least great majority, care only for NUMBER
one. If tley see poor peghbor going down
HILL their first thought is whether il affects their
own interests, and, provided they can secure
themselves, they Gaze not how soon he goes 10 !
the bottom. The only way is TO keep up ap-
pcalances. Show no signs of going behind.
hand, and all will 90 well with YOU"
VERY true, Uncle Joshua but how is this
to be done? Bills which did not expect to
be called on to meet for the next three months
are pouring in upon me. My best customers
leaving me for fortunate rival In short,
am on the brink Of ruin, and nothing but IA
miracle can save me"
"A miracle which is very easily wrought,
tl,.n i..1,.. I
amount Of these debts which press so heavily
upon you, and how soon, in the common course
OF events, would you be- able TO discharge
them 2"
They do not exceed 5000" replied the shoe
maker; and with the usual run of work | /,
could easily make it all RIGHT in three or four
I'VE will say SIX" was the answer II will
you 5000 for six months. Pay every
cent that you owe, and with the remainder of
The money make some slight addition or i'm.
provemcnt in your shop or house, and pu, cv-
eiything about the ground in its usual neat
order. Try this plan few weeks, and we will
see what effect it has upon your worthy neigh.
bors. No, no! never mind thanking me III
am only trying little experiment on human
nature | know you o. old, and am not afraid ,
to risk the money" Counting out the sum.
with friendly good evening, the kindly old |
gentleman departed |,
Mrs. Thompson, too much overcome to
speak, sank into the chair Uncle Joshua had ,
leit vacant, and burst into tears; while her {
husband counted and recounted the money, I
rafting the crisp bills in his hands to make c
sure that he was not dreaming. Finally he c
spoke: I
God be thanked, wife; and now cheer up I
lll Will 80 well. We will commence to climb q
he hill AGAIN" r
That evening closed more brightly than it /
had commenced, and two thankful hearts were t
ii'ed to God in praise that night ere their {
couch was sought. i
Fortycight hours more, and all the bills r
prescnted had been paid. The butcher subscr- C
Ilently exhibited his finest roast, hoping Mr. d
Thompson would excuse the sending in of his II
little account, but he had some bill to meet :
Grocer and leather dealer both seemed a lit G
le surprised at the promptness with which
heir bills were honOied, and all had the STAN. -
nerlng excuse the butcher had offered. Far.
ner White soon again met his friend. and h
barely waited for the customary salutation be. r
ore he exclaimed: a
81 thought you told me that Mr. Thompson b
VAS going down hill" Q
wei, we both said so, believe" was the
'epy "lie is, isn't he." a
'O' y iVOh ~ Hiu'li llht IL. lISt CtIllti
,ast his place, and noticed the painters at work
IN his house giving ii new coat, and he is S
putting up a new fence" ID
you ought to be careful, Farmer White
low you give dog bad name" was his com.
'anions rejoindei. IL don't belieye those 9
'oots Jack Smith made me are going to wear .
It ALL" q
Just what you ought, :" rcitcrated;he farmer. |
My wife has grambled not little at the i'll y
iiting shoes bought of him." G.
Mrs Thompson soon received polite note G.
rom Mrs. Bennett the dressmakcr. informing "
Ter that the rush of business was now little Il
'ver, and she had made arrangements that Il
would enable her 10 obngc her with that sew
ng any time during The ensuing week, if she d
iet wished 10 have il done.
The decor just dropped in for a friendly fl
All as he was passing by, 10 see how the ba. Q
,y's teeth came on while the teacher accom-. /;
'anled the little girls from school, and stop. II
ng TO tea could not sufficiently praise their