Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1892-06-02
make all the circumstances known to
him 90

!
he must have his money, and shoul
be obliged to foreclose."
ssHe must be very hard-hearted,
replied the traveller.
"Not necessarily so," said Nj
Bishop. "The fact is, these ric
men know nothing of the struggle
of the poor. They are men just lik
all the balance OF mankind, and
am sure if they had but the faintes
idea Of what the poor have to pas
through, their hearts and their purse
would open. You know it has pass
ed into proverb, When a poor maj
needs assistance, he should apply t
the poor The reason of this i
obvious. The poor only know tn
curse of poverty. They know how
heavy it falls, crushing the spirit out
of a man; and, to use my favorit'
expression, they can at once pu
themselves in the unfortunate one'
place and appreciate his difficulties
and are therefore always ready t.
render assistance as far as they arc
able; and if Mr.. Merton had the
least idea of what and my family
have to pass through, l think he
would be willing to wait severa
years for his money rather than dis.
tress us.
With what emotion the stranger
listened may be imagined. A new
world was being opened to him. He
was passing through an experience
that had never been his before
Shortly after the conclusion of the
meal, he rose to take his leave
thanking Mr.. and Mrs. Bishop toi
their kind hospitality. They invited
him to stay all night, telling him he
was welcome to what they had.
He thanked them and said, ri will
trespass on your kindness no longer
l think l can reach the next village
before dark, and be SO much further
on my journey
Mr.. Merton did not sleep much
that night. He lay awake thinking
He had received new revelation.
The poor had always been associated
in his mind with stupidity and ignor-
ance. and the first poor family he
had visited he had found far in ad-
vance in intelligent sympathy and
real politeness Of the exquisites and
fashionable butterflies of the day.
The next day boy called at the
cottage and left package in a large
blue envelope, addressed to Mr..
Bishop.
Mrs: sB Bsi=h5p s.s{ery n1
when she took it;
envelopes were associated in her
mind with law and lawyers, and
thought that it boded no good. She
put it away until her husband came
home from his work, when she
handed it to him.
He opened it in silence, read its con-
tents, and said at once, "Thans
Heaven
aWhat is it, John?" inquired the
anxious wife.
"Good news, wife," replied John
sssuch news that l never hoped for
or even dreamed Of.
aWhat is it-what is it? Tell me
quick, l want TO hear it, if it is any
thing good"
aMr. Merton has Cancelled th'
mortgage, released me from the debt
both the interest and the principal
and says any time l need any fur
ther assistance, if l willlet him know
! l shall have it,"
aI'm so glad, it puts new life il
me-" said the now happy wife. s'Bu
what can have come over Mr.. Mer
ton"
81 don't know. 1t seems strang
after the way he talked to me yester
day morning. l will 50 right owe
to his Office, and tell him how happ
he has made US.
He found Mr.. Merton in, and ea
pressed his gratitude in CLOWN
terms.
aWhat could have induced you,
he asked, "to show us so much klne
ness 2"
81 followed your suggestion" re
Piled Mr.. Merton, aand put myse
in your place. l expect it woul
surprise you very much to learn thu
the strange traveller to whom yo
showed so much kindness yesterda
was myself
, aIndeedm exclaimed Mr.. Bisho]
sscan that be true? How did yo
disguise yourself so well?"
81 was not SO much disguised att
all, but you could very readily ass
ciate Mr.. Merton the lawyer, with
poor, wayfaring -ha! ha! ha
laughed Mr.. Merton.
: aWell, it is a good joke" said NJ
l Bishop; ssgood in more senses tn:
= one. 1t has terminated very plea
antly for me"
: ton, cat the broad and liberal vie'