LE LONG DU SENTIEE 



vice, I feel sure, and not with the idea 



of receiving help, that P called 



on a friend at the close of a lean sum- 

 mer. The situation was unfortunately 

 a common one, for these people place 

 the Christian before the Pagan virtues, 

 Faith and Hope often shoulder out chill 

 Prudence. Discounting the future too 

 light-heartedly, he had bought a horse in 

 June on the usual terms, a small down- 

 payment, balance in September, the ani- 

 mal to remain the property of the seller, 

 and possession to revert to him if the 

 last penny were not forthcoming. A 

 hundred and thirty-six dollars had been 

 paid, twenty dollars remained. Money 

 and horse were gone unless the Stranger 

 who had engaged him, and had suddenly 

 departed, should be mindful of a 

 promise, or a half promise or some 

 vague intimation of good will. The old 

 charretier knew not where to turn; his 

 harvest was past; no more could be 

 gathered in. P sat there looking 



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