The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-07-22
PUT YOURSELF YOURSELF IN MY MY PLACE.
.a..s..g..l. $50 : s. d. ].

must have my money, and If you
cannot pay 1t, must foreclose the
mortgage and sell the place" said Mr..
Merton.
In that case" said Mr.. Bishop, ut
will, Of course, be sold at a great sac
Eahce; and, after all the struggles I
have made, my family will again be
homeless. It is hard. / only wish you
had to earn your money as do mine.
You might then know something of
the hard life of poor man. If you
could, only in Imagination, put your
self In my place, think you would
have a little mercy on me-"
1T Is useless talking; extended this
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.. Merton's
office, His last hope wac gone. He
had just recovered from along illness,
which had swallowed up the means
with which he mad intended to make
the last payment on his house. True,
Mr.. Merton had waited one year, when
ne had failed to meet the demand,
owing to illness in his family, and he
had felt very much obliged to him for
doing 30. This year he had been laid
mp for seven months, during which
time he could earn nothing, and ali
bis savings were then needed for the
support Of his family. Again he
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 ONCE Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away from his
thoughts the remark to which the poor
man In his grief gave utterance: II
wish You had to earn your money as /
do mine" sa-,= 81
In the midst of a row of figures
put your self in my place" intruded.
Once after 1t had crossed his mind
he laid down his pen, and said: f@
We'll, think l should hnd 1t rather
hard. / have a mind to drop in there
this afternoon, and see how 1t fares
with his family; that man has aroused
my curiosity"
About five o'clock he put ON q gray
wig and some old, CASTOR clothes and
walked to the door. Mrs. Bishop.
gale, ary-looking woman, opened it.
The poor old man requested permission
to enter and rest while, saying he
was very tired with his long journey,
for he had walked many miles that
day. @S
The old gentleman watched her at
tentively. He saw there was no elias
tcity in her step, no hope In her move
ments, and pity for her began to steal
into his heart When her husband en-
tered her features relaxed into a
smile, and she forced q cheerfulness
into her manner. The traveller noted
Ut all, and was forced to admire this
woman, who could assume cheerful
ness she did not feel for her husbands
sake. After the table was prepared
there was nothing on it but bread and
butter and tea. They invited the stran-
ger to eat with them, saying:
1--WE have not much to offer you, but
cup Of tea will refresh you after
your long Journey"
he accepted their hospitality. and as
they discussed the frugal meal led
them, without seeming to do so. to
talk Of their affairs.
II bought this piece of land" said
Mr.. Bishop, "at very low figure, and
instead of waiting until had the
money to build, as / ought to have
done, thought that l would borrow
q few hundred dollars. The interest Oh
the money would not be near as much
as the rent was paying, and would
be saving something by 1t. | did not
think there would be any difficulty IN
paying back the money, but the first
year my wife and one of the children
were Ill, and the expense left me with
out means to pay the debt. Mr.. Mer-
ton agreed to wait another year If l
would pay the interest, which did.
This year was for Sc en- months un-
able to work at my trade and earn
anything, and, Of course, when pay
Day comes around-and that will be
very soonl shall be unable to meet
the demand"
But, said the stranger, will not
Mr.. Merton wait another year, If you
make all the circumstances known to
himT
No. sir" replied Mr., Bishop; "I
Gsw him this morning, and he said he
must have the money, and should be
obliged to foreclose."
He must be very hard-hearted," re-
marked the traveller.
'.Not necessarily so,". replied Mr..
Bishop. THE fact is, these rich men
know nothing OF the struggles of the
poor. They are men just like the rest
Of mankind, and / am sure IL they
had but the faintest idea of what the
poor have to pass through their hearts
and purses would open. You know 1t
has passed into proverb, When
poor man needs assistance he should
apply 70 ths poor The reason is obvi-