"He's doing well now, I believe," said the merchant.

"He's managing to keep soul and body together, and hardly that."

"He's paying off his old debts."

"I know he is; but I blame him for injuring his health and wronging
his family, in order to pay a few hundred dollars to men a thousand
times better off in the world than he is. He brought me twenty
dollars on an old debt yesterday, but I wouldn't touch it. His
misfortunes had long ago cancelled the obligation in my eyes. God
forbid! that with enough to spare, I should take the bread out of
the mouths of a poor man's children."

"Is he so very poor?" asked Mr. Petron, surprised and rebuked at
what he heard.

"He has a family of six children to feed, clothe, and educate; and
he has it to do by his unassisted labour. Since he was broken up in
business some years ago, he has had great difficulties to contend
with, and only by pinching himself and family, and depriving both of
nearly every comfort, has he been able to reduce the old claims that
have been standing against him. But he has shortened his own life
ten years thereby, and has deprived his children of the benefits of
education, except in an extremely limited degree--wrongs that are
irreparable. I honour his stern integrity of character, but think
that he has carried his ideas of honesty too far. God gave him these
children, and they have claims upon him for earthly comforts and
blessings to the extent of his ability to provide. His misfortunes