The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-04-18
CHS BROTHER MAN"
A STORY OF AvARICE THAT WAS EFFEC
TUALLY CURED.


have my money, and if you cannot pay it
l must foreclose the mortgage and sell
| the place, - said Mr.. Merton
| "In that case, " said Mr.. Bishop, 81
| Will, of course, be sold at great sacri-
| fee, and after all the struggles have
made, my family viii be homeless. 1t
/ is hard. l only wish you had to earn
your money as L do mine-you might
| then know something of the life of a
poor man. If you could only in imagin-
alton put yourself in my place, think
| you would have little mercy on me. -
/ ''It is useless talking 1 extended this
/ one year, and l 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 home. True, Mr.. Merton had
waited one year, when he had failed to
meet the demand, owing to sickness in
his family, and he felt very much obliged
/ to him for doing so. 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 to
/ the tender meTcies of the wicked
After he had left the office, Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away from him the
thoughts 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 row of figures, 'Put
yourself in my place, intTuded.
Once, after it had crossed his mind,
he laid down his pen, and said, ''Well, /
think l should find it rather hard. l
have a mind to drop in this afternoon
and see how it fares with his family
! that man has aroused my curiosity"
About five O'Clock he put on gray
wig and some old, cast-off clothing, and
walked to the door. Mrs. Bishop, apale,
weary-looking woman opened it. The
poor old man requested permission to en-
ter 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 at
/ tentively. He saw there was no elastic
I ity 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 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, forh
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
I'VE have not much to offer you, but q
cup of tea will refresh you after youl
long journey"
He accepted their hospitality, and a:
they discussed the frugal meal, led them
without seeming to do so, to talk of theil
affairs.
Il bought this piece of land, " said Mr
Bishop, lat a very low figure, and in
stead of waiting till had money enough
to build. as ! ought to have done,
thought 1 would borrow few hundred
dollars The interest on the none,
would not be near as much as the rent
was paying, and would he saving some
thing by it. l did not think there woul'
be any difficulty in paying back TIN
money. but the first year my wife ant
. one of my children were i'll. and the ex
pense left me without any means to pa,
the debt. Mr.. Merton agreed to wal
another year if I would pay the interest
which l did. This year | was for sever
months unable to work at my trade ant
earn anything, and, of course, when pay
day comes around-and that will be Yer.
soou-I shall be unable 10 meet the de
mand'
But said the stranger, will no
Mr.. Merton wait another year, if yoI
make all the circumstances known I
him 20
''No, sir, )" replied Mr.. Bishop, Il say
him this morning, and he must have tn
money"
HE must be very hard-hearted, - re
sponded the traveller.
Not necessarily so,' replied Mr.
Bishop. The fact is, these rich me-
know nothing of the struggles of tn
poor They are men just like the res
of mankind, and / am sure if they ha
but the faintest idea Of what the poo
had to pass through their hearts All,
purses would open. You know it ha
passed into proverb, when poor MAJ
needs assistance he should apply to tn
poor. The reason is obvious. Only tn
poor know the curse of poverty. If Nh
Merton had the least idea of what l ant
my family had to go through, / think h
would be willing to wait several year
for his money rather than distress us -
With what emotion the strange
listened may be imagined. A new worl
was being opened to him. He was pass
ing through an experience that had neye
been his before. Shortly after the con
clusion of the meal ne arose TO take hi
leave. thanking Mr. and Mrs. Bishop fo
their kind hospitality.
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much tha
night he lay awake thinking. He ha
{ rapaix-o1 q pa,r- ro,-aIa4;,, rTIo ~,