Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1878-10-24

Jni' oiSuot, "o W. ~" Ho"'o' ~''N
instead Of waiting until I had money
enough to build, as l ought to have
done, l thought l would borrow a few
hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be near as much as
the rent | was paying, and | would
be saving something by it. I did not
think there would lie any difficulty
in paying back the money, but !he
first year my wife and one Of the chill
dren were i'll, and the expense left
me without means to pay the debt
Mr.. Morton, agreed to wait another
year if I would ray the interest, which
I did, This year | was for seven
months unable to work at my trade
and earn anything,and Of course, when
pav day comes round and that will
be very soon---I shall be unable to
meet the demand.
But, said the stranger, will not
Mr.. Morton wait another year, if you
make all the circumstances known to
him ?
No, sir, replied Mr.. Bishop, i saw
him this morning, and he must have
the money
He must be very hard hearted, re-
marked the traveller.
Not necessarily so, replied Mr..
Bishop. 'ihe fact is, replied Mr..
Bishop. The fact is, these rich men
know nothing Of the struggles of the
pocr. They are men just like the rest
of mankind, and | am sure if they
had but the faintest idea Of what the
poor have to pass through, their hearts
and purses would open. You know
it has passed into a proVerb when a
poor man needs assistance, he should
apply to the poor. The reason is OBJ,
vious. Only the poor know the curse
of poverty. If Mr.. Merton had the
least idea what and my family had
to go through, think he would be
willing to wait several years for his
money rather than dist 9 $ US.
With what emotion the stranger
listened may be imagined. A new
world was being opened to him. He
was passing through an experience
that had never been his before. Short
" after the conclusion Of tho meal, he
arose to take his leave, thanking Mr..
and Mrs. Bishop for their kind hospi-
,ality.
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 found
far in advance, in intelligence, SYM
pathy and real politoness of the ex'
ouisite and fashionable butterflies oi
that day.
The next day boy called at the
cottage and left package in large
blue envelope, addressed to Mr.. Bish-
op.
Mrs. Bishop was very much alarmed
when 8! e took it, for large blue envel-
opes were associated in her mind with
law and lawyers, and she thought that
it booded 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 its
contents, and said fervently, Thank
Heaven
What is it, John ? inquired his
anxious wife.
Good news, wife, replied john
Such news as l meyer hoped for or
even dreamed Of.
What is it? Tell me quick-I want
to hear, if it is anything good :?
Mr.. Merton has cancelled the mort
gage-released me from debt, both
interest and principal-and says any
time | need fu1 ther assistance, if 7
will let him know. | shall have it.
1 am so glad 1T puts new life
into me, said the now happy wife
But what can have come over Mr..
Merton ?
L do not know. 1t seems strange
after the way he talked to me yes
terday morning. I will 60 right over
to Mr.. Merton's and tell him how
happy he has made US.
He found Mr.. Merton in and ex-
pressed his gratitude in glowing terms