The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-01-23
OLD MEEK AVENGED.


This busy mart of merchandise was pre-
sided over by a wl;eezing old fellow who
was known as Meek Bender. His whole
life seems to have been continuous
round Of apology His fear was not of
a drouth, which might injure trade, CT
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 the community,
yet 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 ny an old score
had been settled I'M t. dingy back room.
When the weat' cold and when
the fire burae no one would offer
to go out and br. in wood from the
rick, a short dist away. but some
strapping fellow call old Meek, no
matter how busy he might be.
"Here, old boy, you will have to calk
upthis room to keep the fire from getting
out if you don't mind.
Gentlemen, he would reply in a
most apologetic manner, "you must
really excuse me- You'll pardon me,
won't you? Twill 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.
"Li e, Meek answered with embar-
rassment. you know that if had j.,
you could get it.
sWhat haven't you got it?"
9Not to save my life, 'Lige.
"Oh, come now, Meek. Who ever
hearn 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.
Ireckon you'll find some sneakin' round
in thar
II took out thelast cent, 'Lige. ("
aWall, dang it, 60 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 'nuff. Who dill
va lend it to?'
II don't like to say, 'Lige.
4Oh, it's all right What difference
can it maker"
None, only don't like to be tellin'
who Il lend money to-
aCome, tell me. won't say word
about it.
"Not word, 'Lige?"
3Not a single word.
"Wall, PIltell you, just to 'commodate
you, but please don't mentioni it. Jim
Henly come to me this mornin' an lowed
that he must have twenty-five, an let
him have it, although l've got a bill that
NUT pay this week or shut up the
house..
@Jim Henly, eh2 wy, he oughter
have plenty money. He's got some colts
that he can sell any time fur q 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 l get it. /"
That afternoon 'Lige met Jim Henly
in the road. Hello, Jim, which way p
"Oa, sorter ridin' roun' for my health,
as the feller lowed when he was gittin'
-outen the way of the sheriff.
"Didn't know but you was goin' over
to cid Meek's.
"Wall, don't know but ] mout ride
over that way befo' the thing is done
with.
"Goin' to pay him that money. l
reckon
what money! Jim asked in sur
prise.
The twenty-five you borrowed from
him. I"
How the devil do you know bor-
rowed any money from himP"
you won't say nothin' about it, will
you?"
mo Go ahead.
wall, was over to the store this
mornin' an the old man was sorter COM
pIainin' about bill 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 few dollars,
is hep"
SIot particularly paradin' it, jim He
- that he needs the money, an
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 A number of
the -boys" sat in old Meek's back room,
playing cards
You've got me faded now, said Alf
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?" Henly asked.
@Gone out to git some wood, l b'lieve. ="
Meek came in and put a back log on
! the fire.
-Wy. hOwdy. Jim. said the old man.