"The Money Lender."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13462, 7 December 1907, Page 1 (Supplement)

"The Money Lender."

THE MOXEY-LEXDER. Mr. Ediiar was a money-lender and scrupled not in exacting the highest "street rate:;" of interest- that could be obtained. If good paper were offered and he could bnv it- from the needy seeker of cash at two or even thiej- j>er cent, a month, lie did not hesitate about ill.? transaction of any scruples of justice between man and inan. Below one percent, a month he rareiv mane any loans. Was Mr. Edgar a happy man? Ah. that is a home question. But- we answer frankly no. During his cf!i<_e hours, while "his love of gain was active—while good customers were coming, and good operations being affected, his mind was in a pleasurable glow. Positive unhappines Mr. Edgar often often experienced. Occassional losses, careful and shrewd as he was. were inevitable. These fretted him greatly. To lose a thousand dollars instad of gaining, as was pleasantly believed, some 60 or 70 was a shower of cold water upon hLs ardent love of accumulation, and he shivered painfully under the infliction. The importunities of friends who needed money and to whom it was unsafe to lend it, was also a source of no small of annoyance. And moreover, there was little of the heart's warm sunshine at home. As Mr. Edgar had thought more of laying up wealth for hLs children than giving them the true riches of intellect and heart, ill weeds had sprung up in their minds. He had not loved them with an unselfish love. ' and he received net- a higher affection than he brstowed. Oh, no. Mr. Edgar was not happy. Few gleams of sunshine lay across his path. Life to him in his own bitter, words,- uttered after some keen disappointment. "had proved a failure." And yet he continued eager for gain;would cut as deep, exact as much from those who had need of his in their business as ever. The measure of percentage was the measure of hLs satisfaction. One dav a gentleman said to him : "Mr. Edgar, I advised a young mechanic, who has been in business a short time, and who has to take notls for his. work, to call on you for the purpose of getting them cashed. He has no money in the bank, and is therefore compelled to go upon the street for it. Most- of his work is taken by one of the safest houses in the city;his paper is thereore. as good as any in fits market. Deal as moder<rtlv with him as yon can. He knows little about these matters, or where- to go for the accomodation he Heeds." "Is he an industrious and prudent young man?" inquired Mr. Edgar, caution and cupidity at- once excited. '"He is." "What's his name ?" 'tßlakeweU," "Oh. I know him. Yen* well: fend him along, and if his paper is good, I'll discount ir." "You'll find it first rate," said the gentleman. "How much shall I charge him ?" That was Mr. Edgar's first thought as soon as he was alone. Even has he asked . himself the question, the young mechanic entered. "You take paper money sometimes?" said the latter in a hesitating manner. The countenance oh Mr. Edgar became very grave. " Sometimes I do," he answered witli assumed indifference. •'I have a note of Deyden and Company's that I wish to discount," said Blakewell. "For how much?" "Three hundred dollars; six months;" and he handed Mr. Edgar the note. ' "I don't like over four months' no'»-s," remarked tlte money-lender, coldly. Then" he asked. " What* rate of interes'tjio you exnecfc to- pay?" " » ? ' * f "Whatever "is- usual. Ofcorrse T wish to get it 'done as low as possible. My profits are not large and every dollar I pay in discounts, is so ,mreh taken from the growth of my business and the comfort of my family." v "You havo a family?" "Yes sir. A wife and four children." - Mr. Edsrar mu3ed for a moment or two. An. unselfish thonght was struggling to get into his mind. "What have you usually paid on this paner," he asked. "The last- I had discounted cost me one and a-half per cent, a month. "Xotes of this kind are rarely marketable below that rate." said Mr.- Edgar. He had tliou eh t of exacting two percent. "If you will leave the note and call around in half .on hour. I will see what can be done." "Very well," returned the mechanic, as moderate with me as you can." For the half-hour that went by dn.rng the young man's abcence, Mr. Edgar walked the floor of his counting-room, trying to com® to some decision in regard to the note. Love of gain demanded two per cent, a month, while a feeble voice, scarcely heard, so far away did it seem, pleaded for a generous regard to the young man's necessities. The conflict taking place in his mind was a new one to the money-lender. In no instance before had he experienced any hesitation on the score of a large discount. Love of gain continued clamarous for two per cent, on the note :yet ever and anon the •low voice stole in pleading accents to his ears. 'Til do it for'one-and a half." said Mr. Edgar, yielding slightly to the claim of humanity, urged by the voice that, seemed to be comng nearer. _ Love of gain afteT a slight oposition was satisfied. But the low penetrating voice asked for something better stilL " Weakness ! folly !" exclaimed Mr.. Edgar, ''l'd better make him a present of the money at one?." It availed nothing. The voice could not be hushed. " One per cent. He couldn't get- it* done as low as that- in the city." •'He is a poor young man, and has a wife and four children." said the voice. " Even the abstraction of legal interest from his hard earnings is defect enough; to lose twice that sum would make a. heavy draught upon his profits, which, under the present competition in trade, are not large. Ha is honest and industrious, and by hLs useful labour is aiding the social well-being. Is it right- for you to get his reward—to take his profits and add them to your already rich accumulation ?" Mr. Edgar did net like these homeques tions, and* tried to stop hLs ears so that the voice could not- find an entrance. l>u • he tried in vain. . "Bank rates on this note, continued the inward voice, "would not much exceed nine dollars. Even this is a laige sum for a poor man to lose. Double the rate of interest, and the loss becomes an injury to his business, or the cause of seriously abridging the home comfort.'. And how 1 much will nine dollars contribute to your happiness? Not so much as a jot or tittle. You are unable now to spend vour income." The von" mechanic entered at the favourable ° moment. The money-lender pointed to a chair; then turned to his desk and filled up hurriedly, a cheque. Blake-glanc-ed at the amount thereof, as it was hauded to him and an of surprise came into his face. "Haven't you made a mistake, Mr, Edgar?" said he. " In what respect ?" "The note- was for three hundred dollars, six months, and you have given me ' a cheque for two hundred and ninety dollars and forty three cents. ' "I've charged you bank interest," said

Mr. Edgar, with a feeling of pleasure' at his heart so new that it sent ' a glow along every nerve and fibre of his being. "Bank interest-! I did not expect that," said the young man, visibly moved. "One per cent." I would have paid you cheerfull v. Eighteen dollars saved ! How much crootl that will do me! 1 could not have saved it —or. I might say, have received it-—move opportunely. Uhis ; s a kindness for which I shall remember your gratefully. (Jiasping the money-lender's hand, he shook it warmly. then turned and hurried away. - Only one previous transaction had thatday been made by Mr. Edgar. In that, transaction his gain was fifty dollars, and much pleasure had it given him. But the delight lie liad experienced was notto be compared with that lie now felt. It was to him a new experience in life—a realisation of that beautiful truth, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Evening was closing upon the day following. Tfc was the last day in the year, and winter ha<l commenced in real earnest. Snow had fallen for some hours Xow, however, the sky was clear, but the air was keen and frosty. The day to Mr. julgar was one in which more than the v- c ual number of good transactions had been made. On one perfectly safe note he had been able to charge as high as three per cent, per month. Full of pleasurable excitement had his mind been' while thus gathering in gain, but now. the excitement being over, he was oppressed. From whence the pressure came li2> did not know. A cloud usually fell upon his -spirts with the closing day; and there was not sunshine enough at home to chase it from the sky. As .Mr. Edgar walked a.long with his eyes upon the pavement, his name was railed. Looking up, he saw, standing at the open • door of a small house, the mechanic he had befriended the day before. "•Step in here just one moment," said the young man. The request was made in a way-that left. Mr. Edgar no alternative but compliance. So he entered the humble dwelling. He found himself in a small, unlighted room, adjoining one in which a lam]) was burning, and in which was a young woman, plainly but neatly drcsed, and four children; the youngest lying in a cradle. . The wollen coat in which her attention was centered, was a State shawl, which, after examining a few moments with a pleased expression of countenance, she threw over her shoulders | and glanced at herself in the glass. The J eldest of the children—a boy—was trying ! on Irs and his sister, two years younger, had a white mnff and warrii woollen shawl, in which her attention was completely ab'-orbed. A smaller chid had a cap, and she was the most pleased of any. "Oh, isn't father good to buy us all these: and we wanted them so much,'' said the eldest of the .children. "Yesterday morning when I fold him how cold I was going •to school, he said he was sorry," but. I must do withont a coat this winter, for he hadn't mbney enough to get all we wanted. How did he get more money, mother.'' "To a kind gentleman, who helped your father, we are indebted for those needed New Year's surprises," replied the mother. "He must be a good man," said the, boy. "What's his name ?" - "His name is Mr. Edgar." "I will ask God to bless him to-night when I say my prayers," innocently spoke out the. youngest of the three children. "What does all this mean?" asked the money-lender, as he hastily retired from the room he had entered. "If yoa had. charged me one per cent, on my note, tills scene would not have occured," said the mechanic. " With tho sum you s-o generously saved me I was able to buy these qomfort«. My heart"' bler-ised you for the deed, and if the good wishes of my family c:fn throw sunshine across your path, it will be full of brightness." Too much affected to'reply, Mr. Edgar returned the warm pressure of the-hand which had grasped his and glided away. A gleam, of sunshine had indeed fallen along the path of the money-lender. Hornj had a brighter 100k 1 as he passed his own threshold. i Ee felt kinder and more cheerful, and kindness and cheerfulness flowed back to him from all the inmates of his dwelling. He half wondered at the changed aspect worn by everything. His dreams that nighty were not of losses, fires, and the wreck of dearly cherished 'hopes, but of the humble home made glad by his generous kindness ; again the happy mother, the pleased children, and the grateful father were before him. and his own heart leaped with a new delight. "Tt was a small act, a very slight sacrifice on my part," said Mr. Edgar, .to self, as he walked in a musing mood, toward his office the next morning, "and yet of how much real liappines has it bean the occassion! so much that- a portion thereof has flowed back upon my own .heart."

" A good act is twice blessed." It- seemed ar? if the words were spoken aloud, so distinctly and so uddenly were they presented to the mind of Mr. Edgar. Ah!if he will only heed the suggestion, made by some pvre spirit, brought near to him by the s-tirring of good affections in his mind! In it- lies the secret of true happiness. Let him but act 'therefrom and the sunshine will never be ahrent from his pathway.