Sharp County record., 1879-06-12

it was at Weston. The FIRST CnurCn
was about to be Gle sed on account ol the
unpaid interest on its debt. 1t was a
matter of great grief to the handtu! OF
people who attended there, and they
met at the church in solemn and unhap-
py mood one stormy Saturday night to
deliberate over the impossible. In the
midst of the dismal proceedings small
girl timidly opened the door and looked
in. She had letter for the clerk OF the
society. Somebody took it, and she dis
appeared. The clerk opened the letter,
and there fell out piece of paper, crisp
and rustling. The clerk glanced at the
note, and, picking up the paper, thrust
it quickly into his pocket. CURIOSITY
was aroused, and some one asked what
it meant. A check. Oh, marvellous! A
check for the overdue interest-S493 o3.
Whose check? The clerk said the mat
ter was to be confidential. The meet
ing broke up in joyful mood. Ihe
church was safe for the present. That
nieht the clerks wife knew it. On the
Sabbath every body knew it. The check
was signed "Thomas Maxwell" "
Did it make any difference? Not at
all. He was still "the grocery-man'"
Beings of fine mold could receive his
gift, but could not receive him. They
even resented it as a piece of presump-
ton. He had only half of a hired pew
in the back row, where he sat every
Sunday with the sexton's daughters.
They did send vote of thanks, but 1t
came by mail. Not soul spoke to him
about it save the old minister. Some
said it was bid for trade.
Shortly after this the fre-engine house
took fire, in derision, and ingloriously
burned down. The next morning tie
village carpenter was hard at work haul
ING lumber to the ruins. The fire com.
pany, volunteer association, composed
chiefly of workingmen and young me.
chanics, said, "Wherefore do ye this?"
And straightway he said. in the language
of the period, " Maxwell GIN me the Or
der, cash on the nail" Thereupon
they went with one accord to the gro
Gerry store and gave three cheers for the
proprietor. Persons of fine mold said,
sAnother bid for trade" Maxwell
heard thereof, and thought it over.
Every man of the fire company was al
ready a customer. Moreover, nine
tenths of his trade came from other
towns and villages.
Time went on, and the new idea in
the grocery line fourished nightly. 1t
was the wonder of the trade, and deal
ers came from afar to see how the thing
was done. Sensible fathers from the
city came with requests that their sons
be taught the new business. 1t was
new business, for the grocery-man OF
the period knew none of these things.
People patronized him because they
must. They came to Maxwel's be-
cause it was pleasure. They came,
and saw, and bought much, for the busi-
ness was founded on recognized law
of human nature.
Meanwhile the Object lived on and
keenly alive to t' ai difGenaat JRRt Ires5Iy PI,y
ties and receptions, and heard people
speak of Maxwell only in slight and
contempt, and she heard it all in cow
ardly silence.
At last her eyes were opened. She
was put on some charity committee in
the church to visit the poor, and, to the
surprise of all she really did so, which
was unusual for a committee-woman.
Every where before her had gone an
other. He had thought his ways un-
known, but the widow and fatherless
were garrulous in his praise. She came
back wiser and happier woman.
That night there was a reception at
one of the most fashionable houses.
The parlor was full when she entered,
and she made her way slowly to the
side of the hostess. Juat as she stood
by the hostess, at the head of the room,
young male person, in the wholesale
millinery line, remarked that some per-
sons doings were quite on level with
MaXwell's.
"What do you mean by that?" said
clear soprano beside him.
A sudden hush fell on the room.
81 mean that man who would do
that is not fit to enter society. He is as
low down as Maxwell, the grocery-man,
and such cattle"
Thereupon there was general laugh
through the room. Why the people
should laugh was not clear. 1t pro-
duced, however, surprising effect.
"Mr. Maxwell is gentleman whom
you can well afford to pattern.''
At once there was another laugh, but
in a different key.
"Thank you, miss. Inever consider
such creatures.
"It were wiser in you if you did. Mr..
Maxwell is Christian gentleman and a
man-who paid the interest on the
church debt; who rebuilt the engine