The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-11-20
OLD MEEK AVENGED.

ULU MEEA ANLNULU,
At Meyers Cross Roads, Tenn, de
serted shanty marks the spot where once
| nourished a great commercial emporium.
This busy mart of merchandise was pre-
sided over by a wheeling old fellow who
! was known as Meek Bender. His whole
| life seems to have been continuous
round of apology. His fear was not OF
[ 3; drouth, which might injure trade, OF
/ of an overflow of the creek, which
| might wash his house away, but that he
might at some thoughtless time wound
| the feelings of his fellow man. His name
was John, but his habit of extreme care,
his manner, which had been refined into
| gentleness and then softened into tim
| ididity, brought to him the name OF
Meek. His business was good, for there
was no other store in tie community
vet he was always hard pushed. The
fact is, he was too timid and too much
afraid of giving offence to refuse credit,
and when credit had been given he was
! too gentle to ask for the money which
was due him. Even people that were
regarded as strictly honest were not slow
in imposing on old Meek.
The back room of Meek's store was the
wet day gathering place for the neigh
borhood. Contracts for the year were
drawn up there, and many all old score
had been settled in that dingy back room.
When the weather was cold and when
| the fire burned low no one would offer
to go out and bring in wood from the
rick, a short distance away, but some
strapping fellow would call old Meek, nc
matter how busy he might be.
Here, old boy, you will have to calk
up this room to keep the fire from getting
out if you don't mind. "
Gentlemen, he would reply in a
most apologize manner. "you must
really excuse me- You'll pardon me,
won't YOU? will do better in the future. "
One day 'Lige Parker came into the
store. and calling old Meek aside. said:
Meek, I've got to have twenty-five
dollars. :"
"'Lige," Meek answered with embar-
| rassment. you know that if I had it
you could get it.
what, haven't you got it?"
"Not to save my life, 'Lige.
oh, come now. Meek. Who ever
iearn of you bein' out of money? The
rest of us mout be hard up. but you air
allus fixed. Let me have twenty-five
"'Lige, lent the last cent l had this
very mornin'.
go and look in the drawer, Meek.
reckon you'll find some sneakin' round
in thar.
II took out the last cent, 'Lige."
wall, dang it, go an look when !
tell you.
'Lige followed him to the money
drawer. The old man pulled the drawer
open and said: THAR now, 'Lige, don't
you see thar amt none?"
THAR amt none, sho huff. Who dill
you lend it to-"
81 don't like to say, 'Lige.
"Oh, it's all right What difference
can it make?"
"None, only don't like to be tellin'
who 1 lend money to.
@Come, tell me. I won't say word
about it
"Not a word, 'Lige?"
Not single word.
"Wall, I'll tell you, just to 'commodate
you, but please don't mention it. Jim
Henly come to me this mornin' an lowed
that he must have twenty-five, an let
him have it, although I've got bill til at
I mu It pay this week or shut up the
house
Jim Henly, ell: Wy, he oughter
have plenty money. He's got some colts
that he can sell any time fur good
price Say, when he pays you back will
you let me have the twenty-fve?"
"Of course, 'Lige, you know I'll let
you have it as soon as get it,"
That afternoon 'Lige met Jim Henly
in the road. Hello, Jim, which way 2"
"Oh, sorter ridin' roun' for my health,
as the Teller lowed when he was gittin'
outen the way of the sheriff 3"
Didn't know but you was goin' over
to old Meek's."
"Wall, don't know but / mout ride
with.
"Goin' to pay him that money, I
reckon" n
@What money!" Jim asked in sur
prise.
The twenty-five you borrowed from
him.
How the devil do you know I bor-
rowed any money from him?"
You won't say nothin' about it, will
you?"
NO. 90 ahead.
wall, 1 was over to the store this
mornin' an the old man was sor ter COM
plainin' about bilE'he's got to pay or
shut up the house. Said he needed the
money he let you have"
"Ah, hah, the old fool is paradin' it
round that he let me have a few dollars,
is hep"
Not particularly paradin' it, Jim He
lows that he needs the money, an I
reckon he do. Don't say nothin' about
it, but if You can raise the money, wy
go an give it to him. Wall, so long.
1t was chilly evening Anumber of
the boys" sat in old Meek's back room,
playing cards
you've got me faded now, said ALT
Moore. punching his cards Got me
down whar the ground is mighty rocky.
Hello, Jim Henly, how air they comm?
Squat and take hand.
@Whar is old Meek? 2" Henly asked.
@Gone out to git some wood, b'lieve. I"
Meek came in and put back log on
the fire.
ivy, howdy, Jim, said the old man,
IS lie brn>I,ed Oft his sleeves. -. ~.
Chi " an saft outside.