Cañon City record., 1899-03-09
A FIRST DEBT
By FIe,saee Q. Hai,sweIl.
"HEN was little girl my brother
wv Jack and us to be ser once !.

1 phia, to s.it nd month with Uncle and
Aunt Parsons. who had no children OF
| their own.
/ So much effort was made during our
visi; to give us good time, and 50 in
| duigent we're uncle and aunt TO our
e.--y wish. that we would always viii
iingiy have remained much longer had
our parents consented.
| But moi her declared that she could
not spare usa single day over the stated
time. and uncle was very particular ,
Send us home promptly on the day
agreed upon.
Upcie's house was on Riftephous<
street. and. though old-fashioned. was
very comfortable and convenient The
| one next 10 il was occupied by an old
| gentleman named Reed who we were
told. had lost his wife and three chill
| iren by an accident on a railway. and
had ever since lived in the strictest Sc
clusion.
Jack and I saw him very often at his
| gate or on the street: but he seldom
! took any notice of us and consequently
we stood greatly in awe Of him.
| One afternoon in December. wher
only two days more remained to us Of
our annual visit. Jack and were walk
| ing along Main street on our way home
from an attorneys Office TO which we
had been sent on an errand when sud
denly Jack stopped before the window
| Of a hardware store. in which hung sew
-ral pairs OF skates.
Il wish Uncle Andrew had given me
pair Of skates as parting gift instead
of that sled" he said. in discontented
tone. Il wont be able TO go skating
much longer unless have a new pair.
Ny old ones are three sizes too small. -
But don't ask Uncle Andrew for
them" ! said. HE has given us so much
Already
Il don't believe he would care a bit If
I got a pair and had them charged -
-afd Jack He has an account here. /
know. ] could write him about i. after
got home. and pay him out of my
| Christmas money"
Before | could reply hand fell heav-
lily on Jacks shoulder. and. looking up.
ve saw old Mr.. Reed standing beside us.
You're wrong. my boy he said. in
grave. earnest tone. Never run in
debt IL you can avoid it. and never
mortgage your expectations. L; is a bad
custom. speak from experience. and
will tell you the story If you care to
hear it,"
Jack was 700 much mortified and en-
barrassed to speak, and I was so much
frightened by the old gentIeman's
stern tone and grave face that / could
not have uttered a word had tried.
Mr.. Reed apparently did not notice
our silence. but led the way to his
house. and took us into his library. =
light, pleasant room. with well-fiIled
bookcases against every wall. and big
desk. covered with letters and paper
under the chandelier
He gave us each comfortable chair
and then seated himself on a low sofa
opposite us.
"fou see me now. a gray-headed old
man. Jack he said. ''but was once Z
boy Ike yourself. ard enjoyed skating.
riding. dancing and cricket. just as you
do. But had no kind parents. They
died before ! was old enough to under
stand my loss and left me to the care
of my grandfather. stern. proud old
man. with an iron will. Upright and
honest himself. living by rule aad pre-
cept, he had little charity for the faults
of others. aud punished the most trivial
crrors of my childhood with the most
relentless severity.
-But he was extremely fond of me.
Eev.rtheiess. and returned his affec-
tion. though. as was only natural. /
stood much in awe of him. and had a
wholesome dread of his dispieasure.
He had large plantation and owned
nearly 100 slaves. and. as was Gus
tomary among the youth of Kentucs,
In those days spent each moruine
with my tutor and the resi- of the day
as | pleased.
m, grandfather gave me liberal
allow nee. which ought 10 have been
sufficient to crafty my wants. but
was naturally eNtravagant. and as l
grew oiuer | found il extremely irk-
come to be Obliged 10 practice economy
and ssif-denial toward the end of
every month But knew i, would be
useless to ask my grandfather to in
crease IN, allowance, for he considered
II ample for my needs
zone day when in nanvilie went to
shoc store to buy pair of pumps
FOR ! wac going 10 party that evening
and my old snes were not pr,sentable.
hut as Uttered the stere suddenly re-
M, m bered that /, was almost the end
of the month. and had only dollar in
my pocketbook.
Il hesii.tet, moment before reply
ing to the clerks Inquiry as to ms
wants, for | knew that II I bought the
pumps they would have to be charged
and had iearne, from my grandfather
To have horror of debt.
H.. - - IL
6ition of the old pumps decided me TO
make the purchase. and no comment
was made when, in n low hurried voice.
said; Charge them as the package
was given into my hands. | was so
well known and my grandfather was so
highly respected that | could have OBJ
tanned credit a, any store in the town
without the least difficulty.
The party was great success; but
! had never enio, ed myself so little.
for. whenever hrrrened to glance at
my feet. was remind.d of that debt.
and the thought of what my grandfa-
thcr would say II he learned of IL made
me. old as I was, turn fairly sick n,
heart
But as time passed my conscience
troubled me less. and I did NOT carry
out the determination had formed
1T the party TO pay for the pumps ou,
| of my next allowance. / concluded
that IL would do no harm. now that the
debt was contracted. to defer payment
mil I .,aulI <n.rse thr NANCY ~-tahsut