The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-08
A GOOD DEED.

N "ooD
During the latter part of the last
century there fourished in the town
of Brackley, in Northamptonshire, a
plumber, named Richard Watts. He
was both 4 plumber and q builder, for,
having acquired considerab BILE fortune
through diligence and industry and
well-directed energy in the following
of his trade, he had been able to pur-
chase land, and study architecture,
and erect buildings on his own account
so that by the time he had reached
middle age, he had become wealthy.
Bracklv was market town, and af-
ter Mr.. Watts had reached position
of comfortable independence, it became
his custom on public market days to
keep open house and an open table for
the neighboring gentry and clergy of
the district, and he did this because he
enjoyed it. He enjoyed seeing his
friends happy and happily associated
together, and ne enjoyed the flow of
wit and humor and sentiment which
was sure to season the social feast
ings.
Among those TO whom the gentle
mans house and table were thus free
was a poor cnrate of the town, named
Moore-a genial, good-hearted, truly
Christian man, with a wife and several
children, but with an income SO small
he found it very difficult to keep the
wolf from his door, and there had been
times when he would have suffered
severely had he not found, here and
there, a good friend who, under the
guise of q loan, was ready and willing
to give him q pecuniary lift.
Time passed on, and the social gath
erings at the house of Mr.. Watts on
market days grew more and more
pleasant and enjoyable; but by-and-
bye the curate, MIR. Moore, ceased to
be one of the festive number, and he
was missed by all. On the first occa-
sion of meeting with him after his So
cial lapse, Mr.. Watts asked him why
he had forsaken him.
"Why do you absent yourself from
our delightful gatherings? l assure
you, my dear sir, we miss you very
much"
The poor curate replied, with deep
feeling:
..Mr. Watts, how can have the au-
dacity to accept your generous hospi-
talitv whilst | am indebted to you for
money borrowed? All, sir! until can
repay that, I cannot feel it right or
proper to intrude myself at your hos
pitable board
''My good sir, you are indebted to
me, if 1 remember rightly, to the
amount of ten pounds?"
ALIAS! yes
GGNNo1 1nnl- | hpUn
twenty pounds more, lying where that
came from, which sum shall be at your
service, if you will only give me back
your companionship. | think you
know me well enough to trust me in
this. Will you Gomez"
The curate aSsented, and once more
gave of his wit and humor to the en-
ioyment of the market gatherings. On
the occasion of his first visit after the
long absence, Mr.. Watts detained him
behind the others, and when they were
left alone together, placed in his hands
the twenty pounds of which he had
spoken. Moore received it with a burst
of tears, exclaiming us he did so:
"Indeed. my noble, generous friend,
[ cannot refuse it; yet how am | ever
to repay you?"
''Who talks of repayment? | do not
lend it to you. Haven't | heard you
preach about laying up treasures in
heaven?"
Yes, sir"
land you believe there is such Il
thing, don't you?"
Indeed do, sir, ;" the curate replied
feelingly.
Then. my dear Moore, let me feel
that this poor pittance shall be held as
heavenly treasure to me-"
The poor curate thanked him and
departed; nor was that the last treasure
which the generous plumber laid up in
the same manner.
Years passed on, and a change came
in the fortunes of Richard Watts.
First, he gave his name to the assist
ance of friends in distress, and they
betrayed the confidence he had repos-
ed in them; and then. when he was
struggling beneath the burden thus i'm
posed, came a financial crash which
swept away many a colossal fortune,
and from the effect of which Mr.. Watts
came out utterly ruined.
He could not remain in Brackley,
nor yet in Northamptonshire, after he
had been cast out into absolute power
ty; so he made his way-himself and
wife and four making much
of the journey on foot, and often beg
ging sup and a crust from the poor
farmers on the road-made his way
down into the county of Kent, where he
found work at his trade in the cathe-
dral city of Canterbury. But, alas! he
could not work as of old. His hands
had lost their aforetime cunning. and
his limbs their suppleness. His judg-
ment and his understanding-aye, all
his mental powcrs-were rs strong and
vigorous as ever. II was only that he
had lost his ability to do the work of a
journeyman plumber, Even the ap-
prentice boys outstripped him.
In regard to his children, also, mis-
fortune had been his portion. His eld=
est child-a son-had he lived, would
have been now man of middle age,
and he had given promise OF grand
manhood. He had been lost at sea in
his twenty-third year. The two com.
ing next in age-a girl and boY-had
been snatched away by malignant
fever that had run riot through the
south of Northamptonshire; SO that
only his younger children were left
four of them-aged respectively, six.
teen, thirteen, eleven, and nine. Had
the Oldest Of these children been stou1