Year: 1874

/" cannot wait any longer. I must
have my money, and if you cannot pay
it 1 must foreclose the mortgage and
sell the place, said Mr.. Merton.


In that case. said Mr.. Bishop, So il
will of course be sold at great sacri-
flee, and, after all the struggles I have
made, my family will again be home
less. It is very hard. I only wish you
had to earn your money as I do mine /;
you might then know something of tbs
hard life of poor man. IF you could
only in imagination put yourself in my
place, think you would have a little
mercy on ne.


1t IS useless talking 1 extended
this one year, and can do so no long
er," 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 was gone. He had just
recovered from n long fit of illness,
which had swallowed up the means with
which he had intended to make the last
payment on his house. True, that gen
tleman 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 o.
This year he had been laid up for
several months, during which he could
earn nothing, and all his savings were
then needed for the support of himself
and family. Again he had failed, and
now he would again be homeless, and
have to begin the world anew. Had
heaven forsaken him an given him over
to the tender mercies of the wicked d?


After he had left the office, Mr. Mer-
ton could not drive away from his
thoughts that remark to which the poor
man in his grief had given uttersnce,
81 wish you had to earn your money as
I do NINE"


In the midst of row Of figures, So Put
yourself in my place" intTud d.


Once after it had crossed his mind,
be laid down his pen, saying, " Well, I
think should find it rather hard. I
have a mind to drop in there this after
noon, and see how it fares with his
family that man has reused my curl
osity."


About five o'clock he put on gray wig
aud some old, cast-off clothes, walked to
the residence of Mr.. Bishop, and knocked
at the door. Mrs. Bi, hop, q pale, weary
looking woman, opened it; 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 af-
fOrded. She then began To make prep
arations for tea. The cid gentleman
watched her attentively. He saw there
was no elasticity In her step, no hope In
her movements; and pity for her began
to steal into his heart. When her hus-
band entered, her features relaxed into
q smile, and she forced a cheerfulness
into her manner. The traveller noted it
all and he felt himself forced to ad-
mire this woman who could assume a
cheerfulness she did not feel for her
husbands sake. After the table was
prepared, there was nothing upon it but
bread, butter and tea. They invited
the stranger to eat with them, saying,
''We have not much to offer you, but a
cup of tea will refresh you after your
long journey"


He accepted their hospitality, and as
they discussed the frugal meal, he led
them, without seeming to do so, to talk
of their affairs.


"I bought this piece of land" said
Mr.. Bishop, Z" at very low price, and
instead of waiting, as / ought to have
done, until had saved the money to
bu4Aus Il LA4OuSnb = NOuiu DDIEOW Two
hundred dollars. The interest on the
money would not be nearly as much as
the rent was paying, and I would be
saving something by doing it. did
not think there would be any difficult
in paying back the borrowed money.
But the first year my wife and enc of
my children were III, and the expenses
left me without the means to paw the
debt. MIR. Merton agreed to wait an
other year, if would pay the interest.
/ did that. This year / was for seven
months unable to work at nay trade and
earn anything; F.; and Of course when pay
day comes around, and this Is very soon,
I shall again be unable to meet the de-
mand."


But" said the stronger, twill not
Mr.. Merton wait another year, if YOU
make all the circumstances known to
him? ?"


"No, sir" replied Mr.. Bishop, st
saw him this morning, and he said he
must have the money, and should be
obliged to foreclose.


." He must be very hard hearted, . re-
piled the traveller.


Not necessarily 50, said Mr.. Bish-
Old. "The fact is, these rich men know
nothing of the struggles of the poor.
They are men Just like the rest of man
kind, and ana sure If they but had tie
faiutest idea OF what the poor have to
pass through, their hearts and their