Good Security.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 22, 29 May 1902, Page 13

Good Security.

'Mister, do \on lend money here?" asked an earnest young voice at the office door. The lawyer turned away from his desk, confronted a ele.ti-eved, poorlydressed lad of twelve years, and! studied him keenly for a minute. ' Sometimes we do — on gpod security,' ho said gravely. The littlo fellow explained that he had a chance 'to buy out a boy that's crying papers.' He had hialf the money required, but he needed to borrow the other iifleen cents'. ' What security can you offer ? ' asked the lawyer. The boy's brown hand sought his pocket and drew out a paper, carefully folded in a bit of calico. It was a cheaply-printed pledge againstl tho use of intoxicating liquor and tobacco As respectfully as if it had been the deed to a farm, the lawyer examined it, and handed over the re. cj uired sum. A friend who had watched the transaction with .silent amusement, laughed as the \oimt> borrower departed ' You thmk that I know nothing; about him,' smiled the lawyer. ' I know that he came manfully, in what ho supposed was a. business way, and ti led to negotiate a loan instead of begging the money. I know that lie has been under good influence. or he would not ha,ve signed th.it pledge , and that ho does not hold it lightly, or he \vould| not have cared for it, so carefully. I agree with him thai one who keeips* himself from such things has a character to offer as a security.'