The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-08

Luc ldlHIcSl luSd VI WuuI IuC puOI udu W
pass through, their hearts and purses
would open. You know it has passed
into proverb: When poor man needs
assistance he should apply to the poor
The reason is obvious. Only the poor
know the curse of poverty. They know
how heavily it falls, crushing the heart
of man, and Ito use my favorite express
sion) they can at once put themselves in
the unfortunate mans place and appre-
ciate difficulties, and are therefore al
ways ready to render assistance as far as
they are able. If Mr.. Merton had the
least idea what I and my family had to
pass through think he would be willing
to wait several years for his money
rather than distress u.s."
With what emotion the stranger lis
tened may be imagined. A new world
was being opened to him. He was pass
ing through an experience that had never
been his before. Shortly after the con-
clusion Of the meal he rose to take his
leave, thanking Mr.. and Mrs. Bishop for
their kind hospitality. They invited him
to stay all night, telling him he was well
come to what they had.
He thanked them and said: 81 will
trespass on your kindness no longer.
think l can reach the next village before
dark, and be so much farther on my
journey"
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much that
night; he lay awake thinking. He had
received a new revelation. The poor
had always been associated in his mind
with stupidity and ignorance, and the
first poor family he had visited he had
found far in advance, in intelligent SYM
pathy and real politeness, of the exquis-
ties and fashionable butterflies of the
day.
The next day boy called at the cot
tage and left package in a large blue
envelope addressed to Mr.. Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop was very much alarmed
when she took it, for large blue envel-
opes were associated in her mind with
law and lawyers, and she thought that
it BODIED no good. She put it away until
her husband came home from his work,
when she handed it to him.
He opened it in silence, read it's con-
tents, and said fervently: "Thank Heav-
emp
"What is it, John?" inquired the anx-
ious wife.
Good news, wife," replied John;
"such news as never hoped for or even
dreamed Of" ......
"What is it-what is it? Tell me
quick! / want to hear it if it's anything
good"
Mr.. Merton has cancelled the mort
gage-released me from the debt, both
interest and principal-and says any
time l need further assistance, if l will
let him know, | shall have it."
81 am so gladl 1t puts new life into
me-" said the now happy wife. But
what can have come over Mr.. Merton?"
81 do not know. 1t seems strange
after the way he talked to me yesterday
morning. l will go right over to Mr..
Merton's aud tell him how happy he has
made u.s."
He found Mr. Merton in, and expressed
his gratitude in glowing terms,
What could have induced you," he
asked, "to show US so much kindness?"
I" / followed your suggestion" replied
Mr. Merton, land put myself in your
place. l expect that it will surprise you
very much to learn that the strange trav-
eler to whom you showed so much kind
ness yesterday was myself"
"Indeedw exclaimed Mr.. Bishop,
" can that be true? How did you dis
guise yourself so well?"
81 was not so much disguised after all;
but you could not very readily associate
Mr.. Merton, the lawyer, with poor way
faring mania! ha! hal" laughed Mr.
Merton
"Well, it's a good joke" said Mr..
Bishop; good in more senses than one.
1t has terminated very pleasantly for
me-" ....
81 was surprised" said Mr.. Merton,
" at the broad and liberal views you ex-
pressed of men and their actions gener-
ally. / supposed that l had greatly the
advantage over you in means and edu-
cation; yet how cramped and narrow
minded have been my views beside
yours! That wife of yours is an estima-
BILE woman, and that boy of yours will
be an honor to any man. / tell you,
Bishop" said the lawyer, becoming ami
mated, "you are rich rich beyond what
money could make you; you have treas
ures that gold will not buy. l tell you,
you owe me no thanks. Somehow l
seem to have lived years since yesterday
morning. What have learned at your
house is worth more than you owed me,
and | am your debtor yet. Hereafter /
shall take as my motto: Put yourself in
his place, and try to regulate my actions
by t."-HouSehoLd. ......