Lessons in Life, For All Who Will Read Them | Page 9

The old store was given up, and a new one taken at about half the rent.
It so happened, that this store was next to the one occupied by Grasper,
who, now that he had got his own, and had been made sensible of the
indignation of the other creditors for what he had done, felt rather
ashamed to look his neighbour in the face.
"Who has taken your store?" he asked of the owner of the property next
to his own, seeing him taking down the bill that had been up for a few
days.
"Your old friend Layton," replied the man, who was familiar with the

story of Layton's recent failure.
"You are not in earnest?" said Grasper, looking serious.
Yes--I have rented it to Layton."
"He has just been broken up root and branch, and can't get credit for a
dollar. How can he go into business?"
"Some friends have assisted him."
"Indeed! I didn't suppose a man in his condition had many friends."
"Oh, yes. An honest man always has friends. Layton is an honest man,
and I would trust him now as freely as before. He has learned wisdom
by experience, and, if ever he gets into difficulties again, will take good
care that no one man gets an undue preference over another. His recent
failure, I am told, was caused by one of his creditors, who, in the eager
desire to get his own, sacrificed a large amount of property, to the
injury of the other creditors."
Grasper did not venture to make any reply to this, lest he should betray,
by his manner, the fact that he was the individual to whom allusion was
made. He need not have been careful on this point, as the person with
whom he was conversing knew very well who was the grasping
creditor.
A day or two afterwards, Layton took possession of his new store, and
commenced arranging his goods. Grasper felt uneasy when he saw the
doors and windows open, and the goods arriving. He did not wish to
meet Layton. But this could not now be avoided. Much as he loved
money, and much as he had congratulated himself for the promptness
by which he had secured his debt, he now more than half wished that he
had been less stringent in his proceedings.
It was the custom of Grasper to come frequently to his door, and stand
with his thumbs in the arm-holes of his waistcoat, and look forth with a
self-satisfied air. But not once did he venture thus to stand upon his
own threshold on the day Layton commenced receiving his goods.
When business called him out, he was careful to step into the street, so
much turned away from the adjoining store, that he could not see the
face of any one who might be standing in the entrance. On returning, he
would glide along close to the houses, and enter quickly his own door.
By this carefulness to avoid meeting his old debtor, Grasper managed
not to come into direct contact with him for some time. But this was
not always to be the case. One day, just as he was about entering his

store, Layton came out of his own door, and they met face to face.
"Ah! How are you, friend Layton?" he said, with an air of forced
cordiality, extending his hand as he spoke. "So you have become my
next-door neighbour?"
"Yes," was the quiet reply, made in a pleasant manner, and without the
least appearance of resentment for the past.
"I am really glad to find you are on your feet again," said Grasper,
affecting an interest which he did not feel. "For the misfortunes you
have suffered, I always felt grieved, although, perhaps, I was a little to
blame for hastening the crisis in your affairs. But I had waited a long
time for my money, you know."
"Yes, and others will now have to wait a great deal longer, in
consequence of your hasty action," replied Layton, speaking seriously,
but not in a way to offend.
"I am very sorry, but it can't be helped now," said Grasper, looking a
little confused. "I only took the ordinary method of securing my own. If
I had not taken care of myself, somebody would have come in and
swept the whole. You know you couldn't possibly have stood it much
longer."
"If you think it right, Mr. Grasper, I have nothing now to say," returned
Layton.
"You certainly could not call it wrong for a man to sue another who has
the means, and yet refuses to pay what he owes him?"
"I think it wrong, Mr. Grasper," replied Layton, "for any man to injure
others in his over-eagerness to get his own, and this you