The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-04-06


Altering he folded 500 bill in bit
Of paper, on which he wrote In pencil,
Principal and interest Of an Easter
offering that should have been made
ten years ago."
The contributions were handed to
Mary Treusdail, but what became of
them Sanford did not know. He left
the place with the children and stroll
ed about near by till he saw Mary
emerge. She was moving in the di-
rection Of her home on the hill when
he Joined her.
Pardon me-" he said; 81 am a stran-
ger here. Perhaps you can give me
some information that need"
She turned her eyes upon him. If
he had had any doubt Of her identity
, it was dispelled. There was the same
kindly, honest look In them he had
seen as a boy and which had con-
tributed to change him from a ragged
boy to prosperous man.
"That farm" he continued, pointing
to the hilltop-"why is it not prosper
Gus? Is there anything the matter
with the soil?''
Nothing. My father. who formerly
owned 1t, had succession Of bad
years on account of the weather. He
left the property to me encountered,
and it has since been all could do to
pay the interest ON the mortgage"
II am an investor in farm mort
cages" said Sanford. "What interest
do you pay?'
"Six per cent"
Indeed, I find 1t difiicultSto loan at
8. How much is the mortgage?"
give thousand dollars, but there is
also an accumulation Of interest, which
brings the total up to something like
sixty six hundred"
BY this time they had reached the
farm, and Sanford paused.
"Since you are stranger here" said
Mary, 81 should be pleased to have
you dine with u.s."
Sanford accepted the invitation. The
family consisted of an aunt Of Mary's
and younger sister, in whom the
guest saw a duplicate Of the girl who
had befriended the ragged boy. After
dinner he made an inspection Of the
farm, or pretended to inspect it. and
when he returned to the house asked
Mary If she could give him the amount
of the principal and interest due on
the mortgage. She did SO. and he said
to her:
II will consider it favor If you will
allow me to add this to my other
loans"
Mary was puzzled. She was not
aware that the loan was especially de-
sirable as an investment. However,
.since the stranger asked as a favor
what would be an advantage to her
done so Sanford whipped out pocket
checkbook and wrote her a check for
the amount, telling her that the papers
in the case could be executed the next
day.
Sanford did not seem inclined to
hurry away, and thes afternoon was
well spent before he made a move to
depart. Then Mary said that, being a
stranger in a. strange land, he had
better take tea with them, and this in
vitation, too, was accepted. During
the evening he and Mary were sitting
together before little blaze on the
hearth, for the nights were still cool,
when she suddenly said to him:
did you put that hundred dollar bill
in the Easter offering at Sunday school
this morning?"
II did"
"What did you mean by what you
wrote on the wrapper?'
"Ten years ago today little girl,
the daughter of prosperous farmer,
met a ragged boy on the road, took
him to Sunday school and afterward
loaned him the amount she was to
have given for an Easter offering. You
are that farmers daughter, and I am
that ragged boy"
Mary's eyes were fixed on him for
some time without speaking. She was
trying to recall the incident. Present
ly she said
1T Is coming back to me-"
st'That Easter Sunday" he contin-
ued, "a revolution took place in me,
and you were the cause Of the change.
1 needed heartening, and you gave it.
The heartening brought courage, the
courage resolution to take hold Of
the world and win. l am not a very
rich man, but have a-plenty to return
your loan with interest. The rest-the
most valued part Of what you did for
mel can never return"
Sanford did not stop at paying Off
the mortgage on the Treusdail farm.
He put it in order, and 1t was eventual
ly sold for all It was worth. But this
consummation was not arrived at till
he had married Mary Treusdail and
taken her with him to New York,
where prosperity for him has contin-
ued.
He claims. that the great spur needed
by many who have been knocked down
In the world struggle is kindly word
and a helping hand. Through his
wife he gives largely, but prefers eto
seek individual cases for his benefac-
tons. While he approves of charitable
societies and feels that the surest way
to profitable giving is through them,
he is willing to be deceived In four
cases In Eve provided he can help the
ffth.
His favorite anniversary is Easter.