Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-03-26
] ,.,ln,.Ir Iif!, ,1'.,1! q. B7T'TTT :
NJ MlSCELlAHE 0US.,syz
"PUr. Yo0RsEtg IN MY Place


rPUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE"
D"1 cannot wait any longer 1 must have
my money, and if you cannot pay il linus,
f0recII2so Tie mortgage aud sell tho Place"
said Mr.. Merton. , --,..,-
I'D that ease said Mr. bishop, 'it,wtlL.
Of course, bo, sold OF a great sacrifice, aud
after all the struggles havo. made, my family
will agoin be homeless, It is hard, I only
wish you had 70 earn your moucy, es | do,
mine, you might then know something OF
the hard life Of, a poor man, IF you could,
only in Imagination, put yoursclfin in my place,
tG5Rlkk ! lku you would have ave inlo mercy on
-,'It isusooss talking; I extended this ono
year, and can do SO no longer replied
Mr.. Merton, as ho turned to his desk and coL-
timed writing. ,l
Tho poor thau' rose from his scat and walked
sadly oft of Mr.. OIeft0n's office. His
last hopo was gone. Ho had iust recovered
from long illnoss which had swallowed up
tho means with Which he had intended to.
make tho last Payment on his house. True,
Mr.. Merton had waited ono year when hc
had failed to meet tho demand, owing to III,
ness in his family, and he had rct very much
Obliged to him for doing SO. This year 10
had bcep laid up scecn months, during which
time 'he could earn nothing, and all his say.
| ings were thcn Needed for tho support of his
family. Again he failed, and now hc would
again bc homelcss, and have to begin tho
world anew. Had heaven forsnkcn him, ,and
given him over to tho tender mcrces of tho
! wick od2HN~gTn U.a I.L .fH4
| After he left tho Office, Mr.. Merton could
I not drive away from his thoughts Tho remark
A., s,l . .ssC
terancc, II wish you had to earn money as
I do mho' E.T . J. ..
In tho midst of n row of figures, "Put
yourself in my place" intruded. rt
Onco afterit had crossed his mind hc laid
down his pen, sayine,Ih Woll, l think I,
should End it rather hard L have mind
to drOpin thcrc this afternoon, and SEQ how
it fares with his family; that man has aroused
my curiosity" no sIw Eiy o3t .h.r4a fas
About livo O'Clock hc put on a gray wig
and some old cnst.Of clothes and walked to
tho door. Mrs. lishopga pals, weary looking
woman, opened it. Tho poor old man res
Quested permission to rontor and rest a~hile,,
saying he was very tired with his long jour>'
uey, for he hadwalked many miles that day.
Mrs. Bishop lcjtdially invited him in, and
gaVo thitng the best seat the room afforded;
she thcngbogat to max o. preparations for tea.
Tho old gentleman wGtched her attobtivg>'
ly.s.pIIo saw tlerc 'wGsino elasticity in her
ttep, no hope in hor NOV ements, and pity for
her began to- steal ipto his heart When
her husband nentered, her features relaxed
! into ia smile, and sho forced ychoerfulneEs
into her manner. Tho traveller noted II all
| and nc was forced to admire tn is woman who
could assume a ch eerfnlness she did not fscl,
| for her husbands sake. GaAfter tho table. was
prepared, tberelwas nothing on itbut bread
and butter pnd tea,o They inyted tho stran-
ger to cat with stheu, saying, "T;Yo nhayo not
much to Ofer you, buta cup Oftca will TofTosh
you after your long Journey" 70 lra i.r-
IIe aceepted their hospltaltyG and, !, a. they
discussed tho frugal meal, led them, With
out seeming to do .soito talk Of their affairs.
t4I bobght this pioGe of Iand"r saidr Mr.
Bibop "atid yrrS 3lbw pride; and instead Of
waiting, Ss / ought to- have done;5 until
l isaved tho money 20 build, l. th0ughtsiIi
would borTowIfevl hundrd dOllIrs. The in,l
tcrest on the money would not be near nsa
much rs the rent [ was paying, and I would
bo saving something by it. did not think
there would bO any difficulty in paying back
tho,money; but tho first year my wife and one
Of my children were i'll, and tho expense left
mo without means TO pay tho debt. Mr.
Merton agroed to wait ANOTHER year If L would
pay tho interest. which | did. This yeat ]
was for seven mopihs unable to work At my
trade and earn anything, and Of course when
payday comes round and that viii be very
soon-T shall be ppable 10 meet the dopand,
."But," said tho straD ger,l "wilI not Dir.
Merton, wait apother year, ,ifSOp make all the
circumstances known to him Wrs-A s,.is
"4No,l sir" replied ME. Bishop, -, saw
him this morHipg, and he said be must have
the money. and sAOuld be obliged to- ioFe-e
closer" -. ~ -s-g s.Is,. cd o. aa,lo bs.i1
t9He Ru'tbs YerylhaEa' hearted" E9naFksd
l4tNqt neCessarilyrso," replied YIr. Bishqp.
"Ths fact is, these RICH men know nothing,
Of the struggles of the poor They,a are men
Just liky thGrest Of mankind and am. sure,
ifthey had bu. the faiptsst idea Of what tho,
poorahaTerto pass through, their hearts aud
purses would d4opspss iYou know it has passed
into. q .proyeEb- NV ben "a poor man,peeds as,
distance, he should apply to the poor The,
teason is obviOush OILY the poor kpoEthe.
eurss of poverty, They knew how heavily
ittalls, crushing lthefheart Of man, and Go,
use pyIfayOrite expression they can at ,onee
put themselves in the unfortunate ones place,
and appreciate dificulties,pnd ara therefore,
Always ready to render assistspce ,,as far as,
they are able. IfMr. Merton had tho least
idea what | and my family had to pass