MOEE BILLS. 
there could be only one thing clone, and that was to 
pay the account : they knew perfectly well the hotel- 
keeper would take no excuse, and no legal excuse 
could be otfued. Mr. Brown had not nineteen pence. 
So he sat down and wrote the whole statement of 
the c <se to Messrs. A. B. C. & Co., requesting them 
to allow him an advance of £19 7s. 8d., and forward 
the amount by checj^ue, charging the same in their 
accounts as advance of salary to himself — that he 
had never troubled them before, and was not likely 
irom the less-m he had just received ever to trouble 
them^again. Messrs. A. B. C. & Co., although strict, 
were just : they at once complied with his request ; 
they passed no opinion on the subject. Ail they 
said was: “As r^^quested, we enclose you our cheque 
for £19 7s. 8d., for which you can give us credit in 
your accounts.” This cheque Mr. Brown forwarded 
to the hotel-keeper in Kandy with the bill for receipt, 
which in due course was done and returned, thus 
ending this very unpleasant affair. 
In one respect it was ended, but not in another. 
It was only beginning. How is it that, when one 
is “hard up,” one’s creditors always send in their 
bills, with a request for immediate settlement. Is it 
a contagious disorder, or is it atmospheric, or is it 
like the cholera, a puzzle to ail scientific investi- 
gators? Be it what it may, it is a fact, and facts 
cannot be disputed, however rarely we may try to 
fathom or trace them out. Mr. Brovsm, when in 
Kandy, shortly before last Christmas, had entered My. 
Solopions’ store. He was in a genial humour, and 
wished a few supplies sent out, ip order to commenaorate 
the customs of the old couptry, and tp ask some oj 
his friends to visit him, as, whether he asked them or 
not, no doubt they would ask themselves— or, in other 
words, step in — and he must have something “by 
common ” — in the house ; so he ordered a few dozen 
of beer, some wine, a cask of salt beef, a cheese, a 
jar of butter and a few pots of jam, Mr, Solonions 
said this was not nearly a cartload, but Mr. 
Brown said he could not afford any further purchases. 
Mr. Solomons laughed, rubbed his hands, and 
said, the idea that he could not afford to make him- 
self comfortable was rather good ! Why, there was 
no hurry in paying —he could pay any time : he 
was only too proud to have a gentleman of his 
standing and position in his books — and he had no 
doubt when he mentioned the circumstanee it would 
bring him hosts of other customers — and he uncorked 
a bottle of sparkling champagne and asked, nay insisted 
on Mr. Brown drinking it up — there was nothing to 
pay ; he stood treat, Mr, Brpwn, under these circum^ 
