Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-12-26
.lPUT YOURSELF MKY PLACE. .

L cannot wait any longer. must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it must foreclose the mortgage and sell
the place." said Mr. Merton.
''In that case" said Mr.. Bishop, "it
will, of course, De sold at great sacri-
fee, and after all the struggles have
made, my family will be homeless. 1t
is hard. I only wish you had to earn
your money as l do nline-you might
then know something Of the life Of a
poor man. If you could, only in imagi-
nation, put yourself in my place, I think
you would have little mercy on me-"
at is useless talking; l extended this
one year, and I can do so no longer" re-
piled Mr.. Merton, as he turned to his
desk and continued writing.
The poor man rose from his seat and
walked sadly out Of Mr. Merton's Office.
His last hope was gone. He had just
recovered from long illness, which had
swallowed up the means with which he
had intended to make the last payment
on his house. True. Mr.. Merton had
waited one year, when he had failed to
meet the demand, owing to illness IN his
family, and he had felt very much obliged
to him for doing 50. This year he had
been laid up for seven months, during
which time he could earn nothing, and
all his savings were needed for the sup
port Of his family. Again he failed, and
now he would again be homeless, and
have to begin the world anew. Had
heaven forsaken him, and given him
over to the tender mercies Of the
wicked?
After he had left the office, Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away from his
thoughts the remarks to which the poor
man IN his grief had given utterance.
Il wish you had to earn your money as
I do mine"
IN the midst of a row of figures "put,
yourself in my place" lntruded.
Once, after it had crossed his mind, he
laid down his pen, and said. "Well,
think I should find it rath sr hard.
have a mind to drop IN there this after
noon, and see how it fares with his
family; that man has aroused my curl
osity.h
About five O'Clock he put on gray
wig, and some old cast-off clothes and
walked to the door. Mrs. Bishop, pale,
weary-looking woman, opened it. The
poor old man requested permission to
enter and rest awhile, saying he was
very tired with his long journey, for he
had walked many miles that day
The old gentleman watched her atten-
lively. He saw there was no elasticity
in her step, no hope in her movements,
and pity for her began to steal into his
heart. When her husband entered the
features relaxed into a smile, and she
forced a cheerfulness into her manner.
The traveller noted it all, and was forced
to admire this woman who could assume
a cheerfulness she could not feel, for her
husbands sake. After the table was
prepared there was nothing on it but
bread and butter and tea They invited
the stranger TO eat with them, saying,
eve have not much to offer you, but a
cup of tea will refresh you after your
long journey"
He accepted their hospitality, and as
they discussed the frugal meal, led them,
without seeming to do so, to talk of their
affairs.
81 bought this piece of land, said Mr..
Bishop, "at a very low figure, and in
stead of waiting until l had money
enough to build, as ought to have done,
I thought would borrow few hundred |
dollars The interest on the money |
would not be near as much as the rent l |
was paYing, and would besaying some |
thing bv il. Ibid not think there would |
be any difficulty in paying back the |
money, but the first year my wife and |
one of the children were i'll, and the ex-
pense left me without means to pay the |
debt. M Merton agreed to wait another |
year if ] would pay the interest, which |
did. This year Twas for sever months |
unable to work at my trade and earn |
anything, and of course, when payday |
comes round-and that win be very soor
Il shall be unable to meet the de
mand"
But" said the stranger, "will not Mr..
Merton wait another year, if you make
all the circumstances known to him ?''
mo, sir" replied Mr.. Bishop, 81 saw
aim this morning, and he must have the
money"
"He must be very hard-hearted," !" re-
marked the traveller.
Not necessarily so" replied Mr.. Bish-
op. 'The fact Is, these rich men know
nothing of the struggles of the poor.
They are men Just like the rest of man
kind, and am sure if they had but the
laintest idea of what the poor have to
pass through, their hearts and purses
Tould open. You know it has passed
into proverb, when poor man needs
assistance, he should apply to the Door.
fhe reason is obvious. 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 distress u.s."
With what emotion the stranger
listened 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 conclusion of the meal, he arose to /
take his leave, thanking Mr.. and Mrs.
Bishop for their kind hospitality.
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much that
night; he lay awake thinking. He had
received new revelation. The poor
had always been associated in his mind
with stupidity and ignorance, and the
6Tst Door family he had found far in Il
ldvance, in intelligence, sympathy and {
real politeness, of the exquisite and
IL II ~ ~ - u