The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-08-23
Ghilarem's Column.
Pay Promptly.

and the next moment to turn square
around and travel back home.
why, father, what is the matter ?"
asked his wife in some alarm.
Nothing, Cynthy, only I forgot to
leave FIVE dollars with you for that boy
when he calls. He is to come to-day,
and he has honestly earned his money in
that wood lot and 1 would not like to
dlsappoint him. l dare say he has ways
enough to use it, and he handed over
crisp bill to his wife, who still could not
help thinking that another time would
have done as well, and he need not have
put himself to all that extra trouble on
such hot day.
But she did not know the high hopes
and anticipations with which Josey Dean
was even then plodding barefoot through
the clover to receive that five dollars.
She did not imagine how large a sum it
was to him, nor how keen would have
been the disappointment if told to come
again"
But there he stood at length at the
back porch door, smiling and heated, but
with half fear that Mr. Andrews was
not at home. He had peered in at the
barn door and saw that the carriage
and old White Foot were gone.
Come right in, Josey," said Mrs An
drews, smiling, as she looked at his
doubtful face. Father left your money
for you, and she handed out the precious
bill, glad enough now that her husband
had come back with it, as she saw how
the face lighted up.
"Sit right down on the step and get
cool, she said, as with motherly instinct
she hustled about in the pantry mo-
ment and presently came out with
great goblet of current mead water,
couple of sandwiches and a large slice of
cake.
:. "Thank you" said Josey, with spark
ling eyes as he looked at the rare treat.
His long walk had given him still
keener relish for the good things. In
deed bowl of buttermilk and piece of
unbuttered bread would not have been
despised. He had often thought him
self well off when he had them both to-
gether.
He was making good time on his
home ward way, with a paper bag filled
with cookies to take to his little sister,
and he well knew how her eyes would
sparkle when she saw him coming. 1t
was not the first time Mrs. Andrews
had practical way of remembering
the widow and the fatherless, and it
was an excellent Bible way.
Josey stopped once in the pasture lot
under a great wild cherry tree, and took
out the bill to feast his eyes upon it.
There was nothing of the miser about
Joseph. 1t was the great possibilities
wrapped up in that bit of green paper,
that was the Joy to him. And he had
earned it. That was the invisible
wealth about it. And he could earn
another" was the determination that
braced his shoulders, as he put away the
money carefully in his wallet and walked
on little quicker to make up for lost
time. How different his walk home from
what it would have been if Mr.. Andrews
had not had that after thought and acted
upon it
Joseys coming, mother" said little
Susy from her lookout by the lilac bush
" He's got something. I'm going to meet
him"
They We're a happy, laughing pair
minute later as they came up the steps
together, Susy carrying the cookies.
Joe had thought it pretty heavy bag
OF cookies before he reached home, though
he did not mind that. The mystery came
to light when they poured out the con-
tents in pan, and found the various
other stores the good housewife had SO
kindly stored away, not forgetting
package of Clipped beef and another of
fragrant tea, such as the poor widow did
not often taste.
" Now get your slate, Josey boy, " said
the happy little mother, and we will 90
over again the things we can get with
this money"
1t had been done before, but there was
a new zest about it, now with the money
in hand. They were passing rich"
with that stock to trade with, and not a
debt in the world. When you come to
deal out so much in small parcels there
is "a great deal of good in it, that one
never realizes who hands over the sum
for bit of lace no heavier than itself.
Prompt payment is a blessing beyond
computation to the working poor, and it
is most cruel and heartless to tell them
come again and again, when you have
the money by you. With the money in
hand, It's capacity to do good is largely
increased, as we all know who have
family stores to buy. There is some very
plain talk in the Book of James, fifth