The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-04
POOR JOHN!
BY FLORENCE H. aETcHELL.


II 1t was an August day; the heat
was intense, and Mrs. Arde, on her
way down town to do some shopping
stopped in at Mrs. Bray's to rest.
She found Mrs. Bray, looking worn
and anxious, busy mending her little
sons diminutive kniekerbockers.
She put aside her work at once, how
Ever, on seeing her friend and begged
Mrs. Arde to sit down.
"I'm real glad you came in" she
said. "for I've been dull enough late
|Iy and haven't gone anywhere or
seen auybody!' ~
Have you been sick?" asked Mrs.
IArfie.
\ well, I can't say I've been az
tfuasiy sick, though I've had the head
aIhe almost constantly. But
haven't felt in the mood for any
amusement. / often think l have
more trouble than any one else llv-
ing. / tell John it's no wonder Pm
getting gray so fast. I'll look like
an old woman before my time.
"What is the matter?" asked Mrs.
Arde.
"Well, in the first place, there's to
We new superintendent at the mills
on the first of September, and l ex-
pect nothing else but that John will
lose his place"
"Why. isn't he liked ?"
Eyes, hut there are always so many
discharges when new superintepd.
ent comes in. If John loses hi
place l don't know what we will do
go TO the poOrhouse, l suppose"
Not so bad as that, l hope )" ard
Mrs. Arde could not repress smile.
"At least not while pou own such a
nice cottage as that you have just
built in Pierce street. Mr.. Arde and
| drove past it yesterday and admir-
ed it very much"
"Oh, that's just another source of
trouble. We huilt it to rent, you
know, and it has been finished three
weeks, and no sign OF tenant yet
l tell John it will eat its head off. 1t
was great mistake to build so far
out. People won't 60 out there to
live; it's too inconvenient. 1 was
saying to john yesterday that it
wouldn't surprise me at all if we
didn' rent it for year-and think
what a loss !"
"Of course you remember the old
saying about crossing bridge before
you come to III" said Mrs. Arde.
"Oh, it's easy for you to talk it
isn't your bridge" was the rejoinder.
II wouldn't worry about the house
so much if it were not that we are
anticipating heavy loss in another
direction. John very fooishly went
security on note for two hundred
dollars, which will fall due in three
days, Not word have we heard
from the man who owes 1t, and am
morally certain he won't pay cent
of it. feel fairly sick whenever
think of it. told John yesterday
that Pd never forgive him ii he ever
went security for any one again. l
don't think man ought to ask such
favor; it is taking a mean advant
age of friendship"
"Why not hope that the note aoHl
be paid ?" asked Mrs, Arde gently.
"There's no ground for hope" and
Mrs. Bray sighed heavily. "How
We are TO manage / don't know. for
it took every cent we'd laid by to
build that cottage; and 1 told John
when 1t was finished that we'd have
to scrimp more than ever now. And
we must calculate on heavy DOCTORS
brll too"
"Why SOP"
"Weli, George had the diptheria
last January. you know, and all but
died, and it stands to reason he'll
haye it again, his thrOat's so tender
I'm world about him all the time.
/ don't take moments peace. Life
Is so strange! 1t does seem as if some
people were shut of from everything
like enjoyment. With me IT'S moth.
ing hut care and trouble from the be
ginning to the end Of every year."
II have alway maintained that life
is pretty much as we make it," said
Mrs. Arde quietly, as she rose to 90.
"Of course trouble comes upon us
som.etimes-we must expect it--but
it's bad plan to borrow it. l think
1t Is better to hope for the best rnder
all circumstances and put our faith
in the Lord. He's sure to bring it
out right in the end. And you know
that sometimes what seems like a
great trouble turns out to be a bless.
ing In disguise"
"Oh, IL IL easy for you to feel that