Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-11-22

4ourself q NY flace.
2nnot waita. longer. / mus
ny money, aud If you caEDo'
Il must fofcluse the mortgage ant
he place, said Mr.. Merton
that case, said Mr.. Bishop, II
Of course, be sold at a great sacri-
and after sil the struggles l hast
4. my family viii again be home
1t is hard. / Gully wish you hao
arm YOUR money as do mine; yos
1t then know something OF the
life of poor man. II you eouid
lin Imagination, put yourseii u
place, l think you would havs q
mercy on me- 49,
t is useless talking; 1 extended TINS
wear. and can do SO no longer,
led Mr.. Merton, as he turned Il
desk and continued writing.
ne poor man rose from his seal eno
ked sadly out of Mr.. Merton's Oh
His last hope WIS gote. he hac
recovered from a long. illness.
en- had swallowed up the means
h which he had intended TO max.
last payment on his house. True,
Merton had waited one year wheD
had failed to meetthe demand, ow-
to Illness in mis- f-mily, and be
felt very much obliged to him foI
ng so. This year be had been laid
for seven months, during which
,e he could earn nothing, and all his
ings were then needed for the sup
t OF hi, family. Again he failed,
now be would again be homeless.
have to begin the world anew.
d Heaven forsaken him, and given
q over to the the tender mercies OF
wicked?
Afler he had left the Office, Mr.. Mer-
could not drive away from his
sughts the remark to which the
S,r man in his grief gave utterance; :;
wish you mad to earn your money
4 do mine A--
Ia the midst of row OF figures, Put
lrself in in my place. intrnded.
Once after it crossed his mind he
d down his pen, saying: We'll, l
INK / should find Ii rather hard. i
We mind to drop in there this al
noon, and see how it fares with hi
nily; that man has aroused my Gu
city, Tt sfEw- -g
About five O'Clock he put on gray
gand some old, castoff clothes anu
liked 10 the door. Mrs. Bishop, d
le, weary-lOokiDg woman, opened
The poor cid man asked permis-
an to enter and rest awhile, saying
! was very tired with his long jour
", for he had walked many miles
III day.
Mrs. Bishop cordially invited him in
ID gave hin the best seat the room
forded. She then began 10 make
keparations for tea.
The old gentleman watched her at
.ntively. Hes there was no elias
Heity in her step. no hope in her move
ents, and pity for her began 10 steal
Ito his heart. When her husband
ltered, her features relaxed into
nIle, ind she forced cheeriulness
.te her manner. The traveller 1oteo
all, and he was forced to admire
sis woman who could ass ume cheer
llness she did not feel, for her hus-
and's sake. After the table WAS pre-
sred, there was nothing on it but
re8d and butter and lea They invi
I'd the stranger To eat with them, say.
hg: We have not much to offer you.
ut a cup OF tea will refresh you alter
our long Journey ~
He accepted their hospitality, AID,
= they discussed their frugal meal led
hem, without seeming TO DO SO, to
ak of their affairs.
Il bought this piece OF land, said Mr..
bishop, at very low price, and, ia
tead OF waiting ss | ought to have
one, until saved the money TO build,
thought would borrow u few bun
red dollars. The interest on the
money would not be near as much as
be rent l as paying, sud l would be
aving something by it. ] did not
hink there would be any difficulty in
aging back the money; but the first
ear my wife and one of my children
yere i'll. and the expense left me with |
ut means to pay the debt. Mr.. Mer-
on agreed 10 wait another year if |
rould pay the interest, which | did |
R<0r Mas for seven months una-
{drk at my trade and earn any-
I'd, Of cUurse, when pay day |
<ound-aDd that will be very
nell be unable TO meet the
Iuf, stranger, will not Mr. Merton
j1lt another year, if you make all the
known TO him?'
No, SIR replied Mr.. Bishop; 4 saw
i'm this morning, and he said ne must
ave the money ,snd should be obliged
} foreclose.'
'He must be very hard hearted re
,arked the traveller.
Not necessarily replied Mr.. Bish
p. The fact is, these rich men know
othing of the struggles of the poor.
hey are men just like the rest of man
ind, aud am sure, if they had hui
he faintest idea of what the poor had
D Pass through. their hearts and purses
iould open. You know II mas passed |
1to u proyerb: .Nhfn a poor man
eeds assistance he should apply to the
oOr.' The reason is obvious. OHly
he poor know the curse of poverty. |
hey know how heavily it falls, crush
X the heart of man, and Ito use my
.v05ite expression) they can at once
ut themselves in the unfortunate !
ian's place andhppreciate difficulties,
nd are therefore always ready 10 rem
81 oocicIritA z 90 tdt do tbN atO
Mr.. Merton had the least idea what
and my family had to pass through
hink he would be willing 10 wait sew
raj years for his money rather than
istress u.s.
With what emotion the stranger lis
sned may be imagined. A new world
fae being opened 10 him. He sa>
assing through an experience tha;
ad never been his before. Shortly
tier the conclusion of the meal he rose
, take bis laaye, Thanking Mr.. and
fTs. Bishop for their kind hospitality
hey invited him 10 stay all night,
slliDg him that he was welcome to
hat they had.
He thanked them and said: Il willi
'espass on your kindDess no longer.
1ink can reach the next village be
ire dark, and be SO much farther ob
~ journey
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much thai
Eht; he lay awake thinking. He
nd received a new revelation. The
oor had alwaps been associated in his
lind with stupidity and ignorance,
nd first poor family he had visited he
ad found far in advance, in inielli-