The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-11-14

| nave my money, ana III you Cdnnol pay
| it, I must foreclose the mortgage and
sell the place." said Mr.. Merton.
ssIn that case" said Mr.. Bishop, "it
will be sold at great sacrifice, and
after all the hard struggles I've made,
my family homeless. 1t is hard. only
wish you had to earn your money as I
do mine-you might then know some
thing of the life of poor man. If you
could only in imagination put yourself
in my place, I think you would have
little mercy on me-"
"It is useless talking; I extended
this one year, and l can do so no long
err" replied Mr.. Merton, as he turned
to his desk and continued writing.
The poor man rose to his feet and
walked sadly out of Mr.. Merton's office.
He had just swallowed up the means
which he had intended to make the last
payment on his house. True, Mr.. Mer-
ton had waited one year, when he had
/, failed to meet the demand owing to
sickness in the family, and he felt very
much obliged to him for doing so. This
year he had been laid up seven months,
during which time he could earn moth
ing, and all his savings were needed for
the support of his family. Again he
failed. and now again he would be
homeless and have to begin anew. Had
heaven forsaken him and given him
over to the tender mercies of the wick
ed?
After he had left the office, Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away thoughts to
which the poor man in his grief had
given utterance. 81 wish you had to
earn your money as do mine"
In the midst of row of figures "put
yourself in my place." intruded.
Once, after it had crossed his mind,
he laid down his pen and said, "Well,
l think l should find it rather hard. I
have 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 clothes and
walked to the door. Mrs. Bishop,
pale, weary-looking woman opened it.
The poor old man requested permission
to enter and rest awhile, saying that he
was tired with his long journey, for he
had walked many miles that day.
The old gentleman watched her at
tentively. Hesaw there was no elasticity
in her step; no hope in her movements,
and pity for her had begun to steal into
his heart. When her husband entered,
the features relaxed into smile, and
she forced cheerfulness into her man
ner. The traveller noted it all, and was
forced involuntarily to admire this
woman, who could assume a cheerful
ness she could not feel, for her husband S
sake. After the table was prepared,
there was nothing on it but bread and
butter and tea. They invited the stran-
ger to eat with them saying: "We
have not much to offer you, but a cup
of tea will refresh you after your long
journey
He accepted their hospitality, and as
they discussed their frugal meal, led
them, without seeming to do so, to talk
of their affairs.
81 bought this piece of land," said
Mr.. Bishop, cat very low price, and
instead of waiting until I had money
enough to build, as l ought TO have
done, 1 thought l would borrow few
hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be near as much as
the rent was paying, and I would be
saving something by it. | did not think
there would be any difficulty about pay
ing back the money, but the first year
my wife and one of my children were
ill, and the expense left me without
means to pay the debt. Mr.. Merton
agreed to wait another year if | would
pay the interest, which | did. This
year l was for seven months unable to
work at my trade and earn anything,
and, of course when the pay day comes
and that will be very soon-I shall
be unable to meet the demand.'
HBut," said the stranger, "will not
Mr.. Merton wait another year if all the
circumstances are made known to him?"
"No, SIR" replied Mr.. Bishop. 81
saw him this morning and he must have
the money"
"He must be very hard hearted, "
remarked the traveller.
"Not necessarily so,' replied Mr..
Bishop. "The fact is, these rich men
know nothing about the struggles of the
poor. They are men just like the rest
of mankind, and l am sure if they had
the faintest idea of what the poor have
passed through, their hearts and purses
would open. You know it has passed
into proverb, that when poor man
needs assistance he should apply to the
poor. The reason is obvious. Only
the poor know the curse of poverty. If
Mr.. Merton had the least idea of what
I and my family had to go through, |
think he would be willing to wait several
years for his money, rather than dis
tress u.s."
With what emotion the stranger lis
tened may be imagined. A new world
was being opened to him. He was
passing through an experience that had
never been his before. Shortly after
the conclusion of the meal he arose to
take his leave, thanking Mr.. and Mrs.
Bishop for their kind hospitality.
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much that
night: he lay awake thinking. He had
received relation. The poor had al
ways been associated in his mind with
stupidity and ignorance, and the first
poor family visited he had found far in
advance in intelligence, sympathy and
politeness of the exquisite and fashion
able butterflies of the day.
The next day boy called at the cot
tage and left package in large blue
envelope, directed to Mr.. Bishop.
Mrs. Bishop was very much alarmed
when she took it, for large blue enve
lopes were associated in her mind with
law and lawyers, and she thought thai
it BODIED no good. She put it away unit
her husband came home from work
when she handed it to him.