Year: 1878

Il cannot wait any longer. L must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it must foreclose the mortgage and
cell the place. said Mr. Merton.


In that case,' said Mr.. Bishop, 1T
will, of course, be sold at a great sacri-
fee, and after all the struggle 1 have
made, my family will again be home
less. 1t is hard. | only wish you had
to earn your money as l do mine you
might know something of the hard life
of a poor man. If you could, only in
imagination, put yourselfin my place, /
think you would have little mercy on
me-


1t is useless talking 1 extended
this one year, r,and l can do so no longer
replied Mr.. Merton, as he turned TO his
desk and continued writing.


The poor man rose from his seat aud
walked sadly out of Mr.. Merton's office.
His last hope WAS gone. He had just
recovered from long illness which had
swallowed up the means with which he
had intended to make the last payment
on his house. True, Mr. Merton had
waited one year when he had failed to
meet the demand, owing to illness in
his family. and he had felt very much
obliged to him for doing 50, This year
he had been laid up for seven months,
during which time lie could earn moth
ing and all his savings were then need
ed 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 Office, Mr.. Mer-
ton could not drive away from his
thoughts the remark to which the poor
man in his grief gave utterance. 81
wish you had to earn your money as !
do NINE"


In the midst ofa row Of figures, Put
yOurselfin my place. intruded.


Once after 1t had crossed his mind he
laid down his pen, saying, We'll, l think
l should fnd-it rather hard. l have a
mind to drop in there this afternoon,
and see how it fares with his family ;
that man has aroused my curiosity


About five o'clock he put on a gray
wig and some old cast-off clothes aud
walked to the door. Mrs. Bishop, a
pale, weary-Iooking woman, opened the
door. The poor old man requested
permission to enter and rest awhile,
saying he was very tired with his long
journey, for he had walked many miles
that day.


Mrs. Bishop cordially Invited him in.
and gave him the best seat the room
afforded; she then began to make pre- -
parations for tea.


The old gentleman watched her at
tentiyely. lie saw there was no elias
ticity in her stop, no hope in her move
ments, and pity for her began to steal
into his heart. When her husband
entered, her features relaxed into q
smile and she forced a cheerlulness in
her manner. The traveller noted it all,
and he was forced 10 admire this woman
who could assume a cheerfulness she
did not feel, for her husbands sake
After the table was prepared. there
was nothing on it but bread ana butter
and tea. They lnuited the stranger to
with them, saying, we have not much
to offer you, but cup Of tea will re-
,resh You after your long Journey


He accepted their hospitality, and, q;
they discussed the frugal meal, led them
without seeming to do 50 to talk Of theil
affairs.


i bought this piece of land SAID
Mr.. Bishop, at very low price, anC
instead OF waiting, as l ought to have
done, until l saved the money TO build
l thought / would borrow few. hun
dred dollars. The interest on tht
money would not be near as much a:
the rent was paying, and could bt
saving something by it. l did not think
there would be any difficulty in paying
back the money; but the first year my
wife and one of my chlldreL were i'll
and the expense LETT me without means
to pay the debt. Mr.. Merton agreed t
wait another year if l would pay tn,
interest. which | did. This year l wa
for seven months unable to work at ny
trade and earn anything, and Of course
when payday comes around-and tha
will be very soon-I shall be unable tC
meet the Demand


: But, said the stranger, will not Mr.
Merton wait another year, if you make
all the circumstances known to him?'


No sir replied Mr.. Bishop, 1 saw
him this morning, and he said he mus
have the money and should be obligec
to foreclose.'


He must be very hard-hearted,' re-
marked the traveller.


Not necessarily so, remarked Mr.
Bishop. The fact is, these rich mel
know nothing of the struggles Of th'
poor They are men just like the res
of mankind, and lam sure if they hat
but the faintest idea Of what the poo
have to pass through, .her hearts ant
purses would open. You know it hal
passed into provcrb-When a poo
man needs assistance, he should appl,
to the poor The reason is obvious
Only the poor know the curse ofpover