Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-06-02
"Put Yourself in Ny Place."
A TALE OF TIE PAST.
York Enterprise.

7 ork Enterprise.
The following story may not pos
, sess the merit of being true to (hu
: man) nature as it too often exhibit
itself in matters where self interes
, is concerned, but it has the highe
claim to historical truth. Jas. /
Strain, Esq, of Union county, wh'
sends it to the Enterprise, says: 81
. is a part of the history OF Johl
Bishop, the Revolutionary soldier,
sketch of whom you published few
weeks ago. The incident described
took place in Chester county soor
after the Revolution. y reproduc
ton of it in your paper might inter
est your readers, besides teaching g
salutary lesson
81 cannot wait any longer; l must
have my money, and if you cannot
pay it, l must foreclose the mortgage
and sell the place." said Mr.. Merton
''In that case, it will Of course be
sold at a great sacrifice, and after all
the struggles have made, my family
will again be homeless. 1t is very
hard. only wish you had to earn
your money as l do mine; you might
then know something OF the life of a
poor man. If you could only, in
Imagination, put yourself in my
place, think you would have little
mercy on me-" said Mr.. Bishop.
aJt is useless talking; l extended
the time one year, and can do so no
longer replied Mr.. Merton, as he
turned to his desk and continued
writing.
The poor man rose from his seat
and walked sadly out of Mr.. Mer-
tons Office, his last hope gone. He
had just recovered from long i'll
ness which had swallowed up all the
means with which he had intended
to make the last payment on his
house. True, that gentleman had
waited one year, when he failed TO
meet the demand, owing to illness
in his family, and he had felt very
much obliged to him for doing so.
This year he had been laid up for
several months, during which he
could earn nothing, and all his saw
ings were then needed for the sup
port of his family. Again he had
failed, and now he would again be
homeless, and have to begin the world
anew. Had Heaven forsaken him
and given him over to the tender
mercies of the wicked?
After he had left the Office, Mr..
Merton could not drive away from
his thoughts that remark to which
the poor man in his grief had given
atterance, 81 wish you had to earn
your money as l do mine"
In the midst of row of figures,
ssPut yourself in my place" would
| intrude.
Once after it had crossed his mind,
he laid down hispen, saying: "Well,
| | think should find it rather hard.
| 1 have a mind to drop in there this
afternoon, and see how it fares with
his family. That man has reused my
curiosity
About five o'clock he put on
gray wig and some old worn, cast
off clothes, walked TO the residence
of Mr.. Bishop, and knocked at the
door. Mrs. Bishop, a pale, weary
looking woman, opened it; and the
poor old man requested permission
to enter ard rest awhile, saying he
was very tired with his long journey:
for he had walked many miles that
day.
Mrs. Bishop cordially invited hin
in, and gave him the best seat the
room afforded. She then began tc
make preparation for tea. The ole
gentleman watched her attentlvely
He saw there vS..s no elasticity In hel
step, no hope in her movements; and
pity for her began to steal into nj:
heart. When her husband entered
her features relaxed into a smile
and she forced cheerfulness int
her manner. The traveller noted |
, all; and he felt himself compelle'
| to admire this woman who could as
sumo a cheerfulness she did not fee
: for her husbands sake. After tn
table was prepared there was moth
ing upon it but bread, butter and tes
They invited the stranger to eat wit
E them, saying: eve have not muc
to offer you, but cup of tea will b
t refreshing after your long journey.
t He accepted their hospitality, an
e as they discussed their frugal mea
J, he led them, without seeming to d
e so, to talk of their affairs.
e 81 bought this piece Of land,
: said Mr.. Bishop, cat a very lo'
!, price, and instead Of waiting, as
f should have done, until / saved tn
;, money to build, thought I woul
:, borrow two hundred dollars. Th
: interest on the money would not b
: nearly as much as the rent | We
5 paying, and I should save somethln