Put Yourself In My Place.

of waiting as I ought to have done until I had saved the money to build , I thought 1 would borrow a few hundred dollars . The interest on the money Avould not be near as much as the rent I was paying , and I would be saving something by it . I did

not think there Avould be any difficulty in paying back the money ; but the first year my Avife and one of my children were ill , and the expense left me without means to pay the debt . Mr . Merton agreed to wait another year if Iwould pay the interest

, which I did . This year I was for seven months unable to Avork at my trade and earn anything , and of course when pay-day comes round—and that will be very soon—I shall be unable to meet the demand . " " But" said the stranger" will not

, , Mr . Merton Avaifc another year if you make all the circumstances known to him ?" "No sir , " replied Mr . Bishop , "I saw him this morning , and he said he must have the and should be obliged to

money , foreclose . ' " He must be very hard-hearted , " remarked the traveller . " Not necessarily so , " replied Mr .

Bishop . " The fact is , these rich men knoAV nothing of the struggles of the poor . They are men just like the rest of mankind , and I am sure if they had but the faintest idea of Avhat the poor have to pass through , their hearts and purses

Avould open . You know it has passed ipto a proverb ' When a poor man needs assistance he should apply to the poor . ' The reason is obvious . Only the poor knoAV the curse of poverty . They know IIOAV heavily it falls , crushing the heart of manand ( to

, use my favourite expression ) they can at once place themselves in the unfortunate one ' s place and appreciate difficulties , and are , therefore , ahvays ready to render assistance as far as they are able . If Mr . Merton had the least idea of what I aud

my family had to pass through , I think he Avould be Avilling to Avait several years for his money rather than distress us . " With what emotion the stranger listened may be imagined . A UBAV world Avas being opened to him . He Avas passing through

an experience that had never been his before . Shortly after the conclusion of the meal , he rose to take his leave , thanking Mr . and Mrs . Bishop for their kind

hospitality . They invited him to stay all night , telling him he was welcome to what they had . He thanked them and said , ? I wil ] trespass on your kindness no longer . I think I can reach the next village before

dark , and be so much further on my journey . " Mr . Merton did not sleep much that night ; he laid awake thinking . He had received a ne < v revelation . The poor had always been associated in his mind with

stupidity and ignorance , and the first poor family he had visited he had found far in advance in intelligent sympathy and real politeness , of the exquisites and fashionable butterflies of the day . The next day a boy called at the cottage and left a package in a large blue envelope , addressed to Mr . Bishop . Mrs . Bishop was very much alarmed

when she took it , for large blue envelopes were associated in her mind Avith law and lawyers , and she thought that it boded no good . She put it away until her husband came home fromjiis work , when she handed it to him . He opened it in silenceread its

con-, tents , and exclaimed frequently , "Thank heaven !" " What is it , John ? " inquired his anxious wife . "Good news , Avife , " replied John ; " such neAVS as I have never hoped for or

even dreamed of . " " What is it—Avhat is it 1 Tell me quick ! I want to hear if it ' s anything good . " " Mr . Merton has cancelled the mortgage , released me from the debt , both interest and principal , and says any tinw I need further asaisstance if I will let him

know I shall have it . " " I am so glad 1 It puts neAV life into me , " said the noAV happy wife . " But Avhat can have come over Mr . Merton ?" " I do not know . It seems strange after the he talked to me yesterday

way morning . I will go rig ht over to Mr , Merton's aud tell him how happy he has made us . " , He found Mr . Merton in , and expressed

his gratitude in gloAViug terms . M "What could have induced you , be asked , " to show me so much kindness ? "I followed your suggestion , " rep lied