The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-05-08
A GOOD DEED.

During the latter part of the last
century there fiourished in the town
Of BTackley, in Northamptonshire, q
plumber, named Richard Watts. He
was both plumber and builder, for,
having acquired considerable 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.
Brackly 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
ings.
Among those to whom the gentle
mans house and table were thus free
was poor curate 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 loan, was ready and willing
to give him pecunlary 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 bg-and-
bye the curate, Mr.. Moore, ceased to
be one of the festive number, and he
was missed by al. On the first occa-
sion of meeting with him after his So
cial lapse, Mr.. Watts asked him why
lie 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-
aclty to accept your generous nosp1-
tality whilst l am indebted 20 you for
money borrowed? All, siri until can
epay that, l cannot feel it right or
proper to intrude myself 81 your hos
oitable board.'
MY good sir, you are indebted to
me, if l remember rightly, to the
amount of ten pounds?"
ALAS! yes. !"
"Well, now, look you: 1 have
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. VIII 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 burst
of tears, exclaiming as he did so:
Indeed, my noble, generous friend,
cannot refuse it; yet how am / ever
to repay youP"
"Who talks of repayment | do not
lend it TO you. Haven't | heard you
preach about laying up treasures in
heaven?"
"Yes, sir"
"And you believe there is such q
thing, don't youP"
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 change came
in the fortunes of Richard Watts.
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 financial crash which
swept away many colossal fortune,
and from the effect of which MIR. 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 children-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 powers-were as strong and