News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-12-23
HONEST JOHNS REWARD.
The Story of n Man who May he Found In
Every Community.
''Do you want to see au honest mani"
rTl,.n on,n..lr,- Al Gn,n.rn r,rn,,n;

| do you want 10 see au honest manf
The speaker was Mr.. Gouge, promi-
nent merchant at Jugwump Junction.
If you do, there he comes" con-
tinued Mr.. Gouge; ''that is John Day,
Honest John we call him"
In another moment | was shaking
hands with Honest John. He was a
tall spare man, slightly broken under
his burden of three score years, but his
cheerful face and clear blue eyes con-
trasted youthfuliy with his iron gray
hair. He impressed me favorably. |
could see that he was sensible, clever
man, and his voice had achearty, honest
ring that accorded well with his frank,
honest eyes.
One could not remain long at Jug
wump junction without knowing every
body for miles around. As | enlarged
nv circle of acquaintance, one thing
struck me very pleasantly. 1t was the
high opinion entertained of Honest
John Day by all classes, rich ana poor,
black and white.
"Yes," said Mr.. Gouge, when l men
toned the subject to him, people size
up man Just about right. Amt that
so, Cheatem"
'No doubt of it," replied Mr..
Cheatem promptly. "John Days word
is Just as good as his bond, and every
body knows it."
As Mr.. Cheatem was y-lender
it occurred to me that this tribute to the
man meant good deal.
Honest men do not always prosper,
and poor John Day in his old age
seemed to have an extraordinary run of
bad luck. The first year l knew him a
tornado destroyed his growing crops
and carried his house into the next
county. Jugwump junction wanted to
condole with him, but to the surprise of
everybody Honest John was jubilant.
The old fellow could not be grateful
enough to the Lord for carrying him
and his wife through the storm without
a scratch. With some difficulty he
managed to build small, cheap house,
and the next season he worked with
tremendous industry on his little farm
in the hope of repairing his losses.
Things turned out badly that year, and
when Honest Johns wife became hope
lessly bedridden felt there was notll-
ing ahead but ruin for the little family.
John Day has been suedn'
Somebody let this remark fall in
front of the Court House one morning,
and it ran through the village like wild
fire.
1T is a shame" said Mr.. Gouge;
John Day is an honest man if there is
one in the world. Who has sued himg"
"Mr. Cheatem." was the ready
answer.
Mr.. Gouge suddenly became thought
full. He betook himself to his store
and for the next hour or two he was
quite busy going over his ledger. Then
he went to see Mr.. Cheatem and had
short talk with him.
At midday Mr. Gouge filed his suit
against Honest John. In the afternoon
two other merchants and blacksmith
entered their suits.
at will clean him out, lock, stock,
and BARREL" sa d Lawyer Brassey. The
suits aggregate about $1,000 and his !
property will not bring more than that.
it is worth double"
won't he homestead7' asked
1oung merchant who had just resumed /
business after effecting an honorable |
compromise with his creditors at fifteen |
,ents on the dollar.
'Oh, no." said Mr.. Cough in a trem-
llous voice. "He's too honest man |
or that. Honest John would not allow
creditor to lose dollar"
"Of course he wouldn't" chimed in |
Slr. Cheatem nervously, "John's word |
s as good as his bond -
They all agreed that under no cir
would the old man do any,
hing to delay or defraud his creditors.
with your high opinion of his in |
egrity, l wonder that you sued," l |
laid to Mr.. Gouge
"Hated to do it," was the reply, but
Cheatem has sued, and we all had to be. |
gin looking out for our money. Had to !
DO it, you know"
All the talk heard was of similar
enor.
Until the very last there was vague
lneasIness in the community. Every
body expressed the hope that Honest
John would file no aft avits, and |
make no application for a homestead.
Tugwump junction had always felt
proud of him as an honest man, and the
people wanted to see him justify their
rood opinion. There was no cause for
heir alarm. Honest john made no de-
ence to the suits, and when sale day
anne he moved about among the people.
reating them with his usual courtesy.
lie was thinner, paler, grayer than ever,
md his voice seemed to have tears in it,
'ut his clear, honest eyes Stunned no
mans gaze.
Lawyer Brassey was right. The little
arm, household furniture, mule, wagon,
aFn oil Z,,I, [
thousand dollars. Honest John was
'nce more square with all the world,
md without dollar in his pocket.
The next day Honest John came into
own with bright face. He had found
hat he could remain on his old place at
/ fair rent and he wanted to see what
he could make with the
merchants about letting him have sup
1lies for the coming season.
'1'm mighty sorry" said Mr.. Gouge,
but I've decided to curtail my business.
we been branching out too much. l
must try to get as near as possible to
ash basis"
All the merchants talked in the same
way. So about dark John Day with
| sad face walked slowly homeward to
lis sick wife.
A few days later Honest John, with
lis poor shattered wreck of wife,
passed through Jugwump Junction on
lis way to the mountains, where he
heard of chance to begin life anew
Imong a rough simple people, who had
Known him in his youth, when he had
married one of their blooming lassies,
md carried her to what he thought was
he garden spot of the State. 1t did
ny heart good to see my fellow towns
men crowd around the wagon and shake
he withered hands of the old couple.
"God bless you," said Mr.. Cheatem:
4 always did say, and say it now, that
'our words just as good as your bond "
1--WE all hate to give you up, Honest
John" said Mr. Gouge.
Even Lawyer Brassey seemed over
.ome. Honest John was quite affected
~ these expressions of good will, and
when the wagon moved off, | could see
lin wiping his eyes
After all virtue is its own reward. I
nave never heard of John since he left
Iugwump Junction, but if the old man
5 living am sure that he is still called
Honest John. No reverses of fortune
IL