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“You will find few in Monto,” said Mr. Lee.

“Do you see that man on the other side of the street?” asked Mr. Berry.

“Who? Miller?”

“Yes; that’s the one I mean. I’ll call him over, if you have no objection, and ask him a question or two. I think he can say something bearing on the subject of our present discourse.”

The man was called, and he came over and entered the store of Mr. Jones, where the conversation happened to occur.

“Good morning, Miller! How are you to-day?” said Mr. Berry.

“Good morning! You’ve quite a party here. All friends, I see.”

“We seem to have met by one of those happy accidents that sometimes occur. How are you getting along now, Miller? You’ve been through some pretty tight places, I believe.”

“Yes; and, thanks to a good Providence! I am through them with a whole skin.”

“Cause for congratulation, certainly. We meet with some hard rubs in our journey through life.”

“Indeed we do. Adverse circumstances try us severely, and try our friends also. It has been so in my case. I thought I had a good many friends, until trouble came; but, as you know, there were few to stand by me when I most needed support.”

“But you met with friends?”

“Yes, friends in need, who are friends indeed.”

“And they were among those who had made no professions, and upon whom you did not feel that you had any claims?”

“Exactly so. This was particularly the case in one instance. Through losses, mistakes, and from errors on account of which I do not attempt to excuse myself, my business became embarrassed. What little real estate I had was thrown into market and sacrificed, but this did not meet my necessities. In the hope of weathering the storm, I removed from the handsome store I occupied into one at half the rent, reduced all expenses both in my business and family, but still I was not able, without the most untiring exertions, to meet my payments. More than half my time I was on the street, engaged in temporary expedients to raise money. I was harassed to death, and in daily dread of failure. In this unhappy posture of my affairs, I tried to get some permanent assistance from friends who were able enough to afford it, and who knew me well. But they were all afraid to risk any thing.

“One day I had been out from nine o’clock until two, using my best efforts to obtain sufficient money to meet my notes. I had a thousand dollars to pay, and could only thus far raise five hundred. Everywhere that I could think of going I went, but no one would help me through my difficulty. Dispirited and alarmed at the perilous position of my affairs, I returned to my store, in order to sit down and reflect for a few minutes. I thought over all my business acquaintance, but there were none upon whom I had not already called, that I felt free to ask for the loan of money. Things seemed desperate. Something must be done, or I would be ruined. Already the finger of time was past the mark of two. In less than an hour my paper would be dishonoured, unless I could in some way command the sum of five hundred dollars. I thought, and thought, until I felt stupid. At last a man whom I had never liked much came up before my mind. I had some little acquaintance with him, and knew, or supposed, that he had money. The idea of going to him I would not at first entertain. But things were desperate. At last I started up, determined to see this man.

“‘He can but refuse me,’ I murmured to myself.

“‘It is past two o’clock,’ said I abruptly, as I met him standing at his counter, ‘and I am still five hundred dollars short. Can you lend me that sum for a few days?’