California Farmer and Journal of Useful Sciences, Volume 36, Number 13, 28 September 1871 — WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID. [ARTICLE]

WHAT FIVE DOLLARS PAID.

Mr. Herriot was sitting in his office one day when' a lad entered and banded bim a small Blip of paper. It was a bill of $5, dne to hie abocmaker, a poor man, who lived in the next square. " Tell Mr. Grant that I will settle this soon. It isn't convenient to-day." The boy retired. Now, Mr. Herriet had a ve-dollar bill in his pooket, but he felt as if be couldn't pert with it. He didn't like to be entirely out of money. So, acting from this impulse, he had sent the boy away. Very still sat Mr Herriot for the next five minutes. Yet bis thoughts were busy. He was not altogether tatisfied with himself. The sboetnaker waa a poor man, and needed his money as aoon as earned. He was not unadvised of the fact. "I almost wish I bad sent tbe $5," said Mr. Haniot at length half audibly. ' "He wants il worse than I do." He mused btill farther. " The fact is," be at length exclaimed, starting up, "it's Grant's money, and not mine; and wbat is more he shall have it." So Baying, Herriot took up his hat and left the office. "Did you get tbe money, Charles?" said Grant, as the boy entered tbe shop. Tbere was a good deal of earnestness in the shoemaker's tone. " No, sir," replied the lad. " Didn't get tbe money V » No, air." " Wasn't Mr. Herriot in?" " Yes, sir; but he said it was not convenient today." "Ob, dea-, I'm aorry," came from the shoe" maker in a depressed voice. A womau was sitting in Grant's shop when the boy came in ; she had now arisen, and was leaning on the counter ; a look o! disappointment was in ber face. " It can't be helped, Mrs. Lee," said Grant. "I was Bare of getting the money from him. He never disappointed me before. Call in to-mor-row, and I'll try to have it for yon." The woman 1 joked troubled as well as disappointed. Slowly sbe turned away and lift tbe shop. A lew minutes after her departure Herriot came in, ucd after some words ol apology, paid the bill. ' Run and get.tbiß bill changed,'' said Ihe shoemaker to his boy, tbe moment his customer bad. departed, "Now," said he, as coon as the change was paid in his bsnds, " take two dollars to Mrs. Lac, and three to Mr. Weaver across tbe street. Tell Mr. Weaver, that I am obligdd to him for having loaned it to me tbia morraiog, and Borry that I hadn't aa mucb in tbe bouse when be sent for it an hour ago." "I wish I bad it, Mrs. Edeleb, but I assure you I have not," said Mr. Weaver, tbe tailor. " I paid out the laßt. dollar just belote you came. But call io to-morrow and you shall have tne money to a certainty." "But wbat am I to do to day? I have not a cent to bless myself witb, and I owe so much at tbe grocer s wbere I deal, tbat he won't trust me for anything more. 1 ' The tailor looked troubled, »nd the woman lingered. Just at this moment tbe shoemaker's boy entered. "Here are three dollors Mr. Grant borrowed of yen this morning," said the lad. "He says he is 6orry he hadn't the money when you sent lor it a while ago." How tbe faces of both tbe tailor aod the needlewoman brightened instantly, as if a gleam of sunshine had entered the room. "Here ia just the money I owe yon," said the lormer, in a cheerlnl voice, and he baoded tbe womau tbe three dollars he nad received. A moment alter he waa alone, bat witb the glad face of tbe woman whoee need be had been able to aupply diatioct before bim. Of tbe three dollara received by tho needlewoman, two went to the grocer on account of ber debt to bim ; half was paid to an old needy col» ored woman who bad earned it by scrubbing, and wbo was waiting for Mrs. Weaver's return from tbe tailoi's lo get her dnes, and tbuß be able to provide an evening s and morning's meal for herheraelf and children. Tbe other half dollar was paid to tbe baker when he called towards evening to leave tbe accustomed loaf. Tbus the poor needlewoman bad been able lo discbarge (oar debts, and at the same time re-establish ber credit wi'.h the grocer and baker, Irom wboni came the largest portion cf food consumed in ber little family. And now let me follow Mrs. Lie. On her arrival at home, empty-handed, from fie shoemaker, wbo owed ber two dollars for work, sbe found a young girl, in whose pale f ice were marks of suffering and care, awaiting ber return. The girl's countenance brigbteneri as she came in, but tbere was no answering brightness in the ccuntecance ol Mrs. Lte, who immediately said, " I am sorry, Harriet, but Mr. Grart put me off until to-morrow. He said he hadn't a dollar in tbe house." Tbe girl's disappointment was very great, for the smile she had forced into life instantly fidi-d, uud succeeded by a look ot deep distress. "Dj you want the money very badly ? asked Mrs. Lee, in a low, bal:-cboked voice, lor tbe sudden change in the girl's manner had affected her. "Oh! yes, ma'am, very badly. I left ary warpped up in my thick shawl, and a hlanke t wound all around he feet to keep them warm ; but sbe was coughing dreadful Irom tbe cold ot the room. "Haven'tyou a fire;'asked Mr. Lee, in a quick, surprised tone. "We have no coal. It was to buy coal I wanted tbe money." Mrs Lee struck her hands together and an

expression of pain was about psssing ber lips, when toe shoemaker's boy came in. " Here are two dollars. Mr. Grant sent tbem." "God bless Mr. Grant I This exclamation from Mrs. Lee was involuntary. On the part ol Harriet, to whom $1 waa due, a gush of silent tears marked the effect thus timely anpply of money produced She received her portion,andwithout trusting her voice witn words, hurried away to supply tbe pressing wants of home. A few doors Irom the reeidenoe of Mrs. Lee lived a man who some six months before had become involved in trouble with an evil disposed person, and bad been forced to defend himself by means of tbe law. He had employed Mr. Herriot to do what was requisite in the caae, for wbich service the charge was five dollars. Tho bill bad been rendered a few days before, and tbe mnn, who was poor, felt very anxious to pay it. He had the money all made up to within s dollar. That dollar Mrs. Lee owed him, and she had promised to give it to bim during this day. For hours he bad waited, expecting ber to come in ; but now hadoearly given her up. Tbere was another little bill of $3 which bad been sent in lo him, and he bad just concluded to go and pay tbat, when Mrs. Lee called with the balance of the money ($1) which she had received from tbe shoemaker, Mr. Grant. Half an hour longer and the pocketvbook of Mr. Herriot was no longer empty. His client had called and paid his bill. Tbe $5 had come beck to him.— Rural New Yorker.