Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1893 — SMALL DEBTS: [ARTICLE]

SMALL DEBTS:

OB WHAT $5 PAID. Mr. Henriott waasitting in big office one day, when a lad entered and handed him a Klip of paper. It was a bill for five dollars, due to hie shoemaker, a poor man who lived on the next square. “Tell Mr. Grant that I will settle this soon; it isn't convenient to-day.” The boy retired. Now Mr. Henriott had a five dollar bill in his pocket, but be fe't sure he couldn't part with it. He didn't like to be entirely out of money. Bo acting from this impulse, he had sent the loy away. Very still sat Mr. H. for the next five minutes, yet his thoughts were busy. He was not altogether satisfied with himself. The shoemaker was a poor man and needed his money as soon as it was earned—he was not unadvised of this fact. “I almost wish I had sent him the five dollars,” said Mr. Henriott, half audibly. “He wants it worse than I do.” He mused still further. “The fact is,” ho at length exclaimed, starting up, “it’s Grant’s money; and what is more, he shall have it." So saying Mr. Henriott took his hat and left the offige. “Did you get the money, Charles?” said Grant, as the boy enter, d the shop. There was a good deal of earnestness in the shoemaker’s tone. “No sir," replied the lad. “Didn’t get the money?" “No sir. “Wasn’t Mr. Henriott in?" “Yessir; but he said it wasn’t convenient to-day." “O, den! I’m sorry;" came from the shoemaker in a depressed tone. A woman was sitting in Grant’s shop when the boy came in; she had now risen and leaning on the counter; a look of disappointment was on her face. “It can’t be helped, Mrs. Lee,"said Mr. Grant. “I was sure of getting the money from him. He never disappointed me before. Gall in to-morrow and I will have it.”

The woman looked troubled as well as disappointed. Slowly she turned away and left the shop. A few minutes after her depaiture Mr. Henriott came in, and after some words of apology helpaid the bill. “Run and get this bill changed into silver for me," said the shoemaker to his boy the moment the customer had departed. “Now,” said he, as soon as the silver was placeci in his hand, “take Iwo dollars to Mrs. Lee, and three to Mr. Weaver across the street. Tell Mr. Weaver that lam obliged to him so» having loaned it to me this morning, and sorry that I had not as much in the house v hen he sent for it an hour ago.” “I wish I had it, Mrs. Elden. but I nssuie you that I have not," said Mr. Weaver the tailor. “I paid out the last dollar just before you come in. But call in tomorrow and you shall have it to a certainty.” “But what am I to do tod y?” said the poor seamstress. “1 haven’t a cent to bless myself with; and I owe so much at the grocer’s where I deal, that he won’t trust me for anything more." The tailor looked troubled and the woman lingered. Just at that moment the shoemaker’s boy entered. “Here are the three dollars Mr. Grant borrowed of you this morning," said the lad. “He says he is very sorry he hadn’t the mony when you sent for it an hour ago-“ How the faces of the ta lor and his needle woman brightened instantly, as if a gleam of sunshine had penetrated the room. room.

“ Here is just the money I owe y ou, ” said the formet in a cheerful voice, and he handed her the three dollars he had received. A moment afterwards and he was alone, but the glad face of the poor woman whose need he was able to supply, was distinctly before him. Of the three dollars received by the needle woman, two went to the grocer on account of her debt to him, half a dollar was paid to an old needy colored woman for scrubbing, and who was waiting Mrs. Elden’s return from the tailor’s to get hor due, and thus be able to provide an evening and a morning meal for herself and children. The other half dollar was paid to tne bakei when he called towards evenin -to leave the accustomed loaf. Thus the poor needle woman had been able to discharge three debts and at the same time re-establish her credit with the gro» eer and baker, from whom came the largest portion of the food consumed by the little family. And now let us follow Mrs. Lee. On htr arrival at home, empty handed, from her visit to the shoemaker who ow ed her two dollars foi work, she found a young girl, in whose pale face were many marks of suffering and care, awaiting her return. * The g rTs face brightened as she can-e in; but there was no answering brightness in r he face of Mrs. Lee, who immediately Baid: J . ,/I’m very sorry, Harriet, but Mr. Grant put me off until to'morrow. He said he hadn’t a dollar in the house. ” The girl’s disappointment was very great, for the smile she had forced into life instantly faded, and was succeeded by a look of deep sadness. “Do y« u *ant the money very badly?” asked Mrs. Lee, in a low, half-choked voice, for the sudden change in the girl’s manner had affected her. “Oh, yes, ma’am, veiy badly. I leit Mary wrapped ur> in a thick shawl, and a blanket wound all around her feet to keep