Year: 1873




who presented a neatly folded paper,
and disappeared.


The butchers account as I live!"
exclaimed the astonished shoemaker.
" What is to be done, Hattie So much
money to be paid out, and very little
coming in; for some of my best custo-
mers have left ME, although my work
has always given satisfaction. If I
could only have as much employment
as usual, and the usual credit allowed
me, I could satisfy these claims; but
to meet them now is impossible, and
the acknowledgement of my inability
would send us on the downward path. ="


"We must do our best, and trust in
Providence" was the consoling remark
of his wife, as a second knock aroused
the fear that another claimant was
about to appear. .-...


But the benevolent countenance of
Uncle Joshua, a rare, but very welcome
visitor, presented itself. Seating him
self in the comfortable chair that Hat
tie fastened to hand him, he said in
his eccentric, but friendly manner:


Well, good folks, I understand the
world does not go on as we'll with you
as formerly. What is the trouble ?"


"There need be no trouble" was
the reply. If men would not try to
to the Affections which the Almighty
sees to be necessary for us. We met
with sickness and misfortune, which
we endeavored to bear with patience.
All would go we'll if those around us
were not determined to push us in the
downward path"


'.But there lies the difficulty, friend
Thompson. This is q selfish world.
Everybody, or at least majority, care
only for number one. If they see q
poor neighbor going down hill, their
first thought is whether it will affect
their own interest, and provided they
can secure themselves, they care not
how soon he goes to the bottom. The
only way is to keep up appearances.
Show no signs OF going behind hand,
and all will go we'll with you"


every true, Uncle Joshua, but how is
that to be done? Bills which I did
not expect to be called upon to meet
for the next three months are pouring
in upon me. My best customers are
leaving me for more fortunate rival;
in short, 1 am on the brink of ruin, and
naught but a miracle can save me-"


GA miracle which is very easily
wrought then, I Imagine, good friend.
What is the amount ofyour debts which
press SO heavily upon, and how soon
in the common course of events, could
you discharge them?"


They do not exceed one hundred
dollars" replied the shoemaker, /" and
with my usual run of work; I could make
it all right in three or four months"


We will say six" was the answer.
I will advance to you one hundred
dollars for six months. Pay every cent
you owe, and with the rest make some
addition to your house or shop, and
put everything about the grounds in
its usual neat order. Try this plan a
few weeks, and we will see what an ef.
feet it has upon our worthy neighbors,
No, no; never mind thanking me. ]
am only trying a little experiment on
human nature. I know you of old,
and have no doubt the money is safe
in your hands"


/Weeks passed away. The advice OF
Uncle Joshua had been strictly followed
and the change in the shoemaker's
prospects was indeed wonderful. He
was now spoken OF as one OF the most
thriving men in the village and many
marvellous stories were told to account
for the sudden alteration in affairs. II
was generally agreed that distant rel
ative had bequeathed to him legacy;
which had entirely relieved him from
his pecuniary difficulties. They had
never before realized the beauty and
durability of his work. The polite
butcher selected the best pieces of meat
for his inspection, as he entered, and
was totally Indifferent as to the time OF
payment. The teacher accompanied
the children home to tea, and spoke in
high terms of their improvement PRO-
nouncing them among the best schol-
ars in the school. The dressmaker
suddenly found herself free from tho
,,racc cf xyorl- ,p1 IN a frian11v OOta