Year: 1875

and prisoners those that don't do these
things don't go in, to put it mildly.
He don't say word about belief there,
Joseph; for He knows that giving away
property don't happen till q mans be-
lief is pretty strong"


Joe felt troubled. Could it really be
that his eternal insurance was going to
cost more money? Joe thought envi-
ously of Colonel Pung, president of
the Buugield railroad compauy-the
Colonel didn't believe in anything; so
he saved all his money, and Joe wished
he had some of the Colonel's courage


Joe's meditations we're interrupted by
the entrance of Sam Ottrey, a poor fell
low who owed Joe some money. Joe
had lent Sam a hundred dollars, dis
counted ten per cent. for ninety days,
ana secured by chattle mortgage on
Sans horse and wagon. But Sam had
been sick during most of the ninety
days, and when he went to Joe to beg a
few days Of grace, that exemplary bus-
mess man insisted upon immediate pay
ment.


1t was easy to see by Sans hopeless
eye and strained features that he had
not come to pay-he was staring ruin in
the face, and felt as uncomfortable as if
the amount were millions instead of a
horse and wagon, his only means of
support. AS for Joe, he had got that
hundred dollars and horse and wagon
mixed up in the oldest way with what
he and bis partner had been talking
about. It was. utterly unbusiness-liBe g
he knew it-he tried to make business
business, and religion religion, but he
could not succeed. Joe thought
briskly; he determined to try an ex-
pertinent.


"Sam, said he, "got the money!"


"NO," Sam replied luck's agin ne
I've got to stand it, suppose.


"Slm, said Joe, "Pll give you all
the time you need at legal interest"


Sam was not such a young man as
sentimental people would select to try
good deeds upon. But he was human,
and loved his wife and children, and
the sudden relief he felt caused him to
look at Joe in a manner which made
Joe find a couple of entire strangers in
his own eyes. He hurried into the
little Office, and when his partner looked
up inquiringly, Joe replied:


" I've got dividend, Squire-one of
those we were talking about.


"How's that asked the old man,
while Joe commenced writing rapidly.


"Ill show you," said Joe, handing
the Squire the paper on which he had
just put in writing his promise to Sam.


"Joseph," said the Squire, after
reaing the paper several times, to as
sure himself that his eyes did not de-
ceive him, " it beats the widows mite !;
she gave the Lord all she had, but you
have given Him more than you ever
had in all your life until today.


Joe banded Sam the paper, and it was
to the tesmster the strongest evidence
of Christianity he had ever seen in
Bungfeld. He had known of some hard
cases turning from the saloon and join
ing the church, but none of these things
were so wonderful as this action of joe
Caters. Sam told the story, in strict
confidence, to each of his friends, and
the good seed was thus sown in soil that
it had never reached before.


1t would be pleasant to relate that
Joe forthwith quit saving notes and sell
ing antiquated grease for butter, end
that he devoted the rest of his days and
money to good deeds, but it wouldn't
be true. Those of our readers who
have always consistently acted accord
ing to their own light and knowledge
are, of course, entitled to throw stones
at Joe Cater but most of us know to
our sorrow why he didn't always act
according to good promptings he re-
ceived. Our only remaining duty is to
say that when, thereafter, Joe's divi-
dends came seldom, he knew who was
tO blame