The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-12-14

and said, See here, Elsie; here's man who
really wants to lend some money Just see 2
And they read these lines from the torn paper :
$500 600 to loan, in sums to suit, GU mort
cages on real estate, at per cent.
Aud real estate means houses, the teacher
said one day." said Tom "and our house
has mortgage, and the man win lend us
some money. Wen write and ask him.
don't know what six per cent. aas TO do with
it, but that isn't much, six cents isn't"
" What a good man he must be, . said Elsie.
DO you suppose God told him what to put
in the papersp did not know that God told
people what to print in newspapers"
~ don't know" said Tom Lets write
letter"
Well you write it, said Elsie.
No you, said Tom "you spell better
than do
g failed in spelling this morning, said
Elsie, and you DIDN'T
But she was prevailed upon TO write it, and
this is what they sent:
"DEAR MIR. GODFREY IL know that you
are good man, or else you would not have
put it in the papers. AMI we do want some
money ever so much. We want $4,000. and
our house has got a mortgage, just as you
said, Tom and will work real hard to pay
| You, and if we don't have the money wen
have to go away from our own house that we
have always lived in, and maybe We won't
ever have another one to live In. We don't
know what the six cents means. Our house
cost more than that, and it's got mortgage,
/ too. Tom AND ELSIE RICHARDS
This was their letter, and they put it In the
office. they never thought of stamp; so
when tho postmaster looked over the letters
that night, SO they should be ready FOR the
carly mail in the morning, he found one with
out any stamp. He was just going to send it
to the dead letter Office in Washington, but
he put on his glasses and looked at it again,
and noticed that It was Chi lids writing. II
suppose some little child, and perhaps its
grandfather, too, would be disappointed"
said he. ~ gness it won't hurt me to do a
kind thing once in awhile, end put three
cent stamp on it. So the letter went to New
York, and in little while some one carried
il, with fifty others, away from the Office to a
little room with desk and high stool, and
not much other furniture in it. After awhile
il was the turn Of Blsie's letter to be read.
The man who was opening the letter was Mr..
Godfrey's agent, who did all his business for
him. He read the letter twice, and then he
whistled and made some very comical wrinkles
in bis forehead. It's that old mortgage of
/ Wiltu's In Beshire,'' he said to himself. :"
guess this is case for Godfrey himself. I'll
send it down TO him just for the fun of the
thing" So he put it into large envelope,
sealed II, and sent 1t TO Mr.. Godfrey who was
in Washington with his wife and little daugh-
tier.
So the letter really went to Washington
after ALI and the postman brought IT to Mr..
Godfrey one evening just after tea. His little
daughter always thought 1t was her right to
open all the letters aud tell her father which
to read first aud SO it happened that Elsie's
letter was left till the very last, because the
envelope was so big and ugly. Mr.. Godfrey
read it more easily than lis agent, for he had
a little girl himself, and knew better how to
read childs writing. Then he unfolded the
copy Of the mortgage which his agent had sent
him and read that very carefully then he
said "Just see hero, Marion,' to his wife,
who had just como into the room, and read
them both to her.
"Thc dear little things 1" said she.
+" Couldn't You oft, win? We should never
miss it,
-"Why, the mortgage Is mine as it is,' and
then he read the copy which the agent had
sent. Adams says he bought it for mere
song with lot of old papers. The face of 1t,
in the first place. was not much over $500. but
it seems 10 have been utterly forgotten, and
no interest has ever been paid, until now it
amounts to nearly $4,000. And, Marion,
there's one thing more perhaps it is what we
call a put-up job that the parents have
gotten hold of that letter and had the children
send it to us; perhaps there are no such
children as Tom and Elsie.'
~ don't believe it, said Mrs. Godfrey,
promptly. mo ono but child ever wrote
that letter, and it's an Elsie, too--the same
name as our child"
If that isn't just woman's reasoning ="
said Mr.. Godfrey, laughing. "Wel, Marion
there's one way to fix it. If yon really care
so much about it, we might go there for lit
! tie while, or, rather, You might take Elsie and
go. It Is too warm TO stay In Washington
any longer, and have always heard of Bel
shire as in the midst Of lovely scenery. You
might go now, and | would come rs soon as
finish up this case. and bring Fletcher and
Adams for the trout-tishing You could get
acquainted with this mythical Tom and Elsie,
aud find out il the family really deserving
of help
They talked II over little more, AID then
1t was really decided to do as Mr.. Godfrey had
proposed, and in week or two from that
night Elsie and her mother set off for Beshire.
You can guess how It ended, for Mr.. Richards
called upon them, as they were strangers 10
town, and then Tom and the two Elsies met
and became so fond Of one another that Mrs.
Godfrey said she must either adopt the twins
or their mother must adopt her Elsie.
Tom and Elsie were for little while much
disappointed that no answer came to their let
ter, but after awhile they were so busy play
ins that they forgot all about it, until IA few
days before the three months were to be over,
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