told his tale and
produced his certificate, which was instantly clutched by the injured
merchant. "You wrote a pamphlet against us once!" exclaimed Mr. Grant. The
suppliant expected to see his parchment thrown into the fire. But this was
not its destination. Mr. Grant took a pen, and writing something upon the
document, handed it back to the bankrupt. He, poor wretch, expected to see
"rogue, scoundrel, libeler," inscribed; but there was, in fair round
characters, the signature of the firm.

4. "We make it a rule," said Mr. Grant, "never to refuse signing the
certificate of an honest tradesman, and we have never heard that you were
anything else." The tears started into the poor man's eyes. "Ah," said Mr.
Grant, "my saying was true! I said you would live to repent writing that
pamphlet. I did not mean it as a threat. I only meant that some day you
would know us better, and be sorry you had tried to injure us. I see you
repent of it now." "I do, I do!" said the grateful man; "I bitterly repent
it." "Well, well, my dear fellow, you know us now. How do you get on? What
are you going to do?" The poor man stated he had friends who could assist
him when his certificate was obtained. "But how are you off in the
meantime?"

5. And the answer was, that, having given up every farthing to his
creditors, he had been compelled to stint his family of even common
necessaries, that he might be enabled to pay the cost of his certificate.
"My dear fellow, this will not do; your family must not suffer. Be kind
enough to take this ten-pound note to your wife from me. There, there, my
dear fellow! Nay, do not cry; it will all be well with you yet. Keep up
your spirits, set to work like a man, and you will raise your head among
us yet." The overpowered man endeavored in vain to express his thanks; the
swelling in his throat forbade words. He put his handkerchief to his face
and went out of the door, crying like a child.

DEFINITIONS.--1. Ware'house-man (English usage), one who keeps a wholesale
store for woolen goods. Scur'ril-ous, low, mean. Li'bel-er, one who
defames another maliciously by a writing, etc 2. Au-dac'i-ty, bold
impudence. Sig'na-ture, the name of a person written with his own hand,
the name of a firm signed officially. De--fi'cien-cy, want. 3.
De-lin'quent, an offender. Parch'ment, sheep or goat skin prepared for
writing upon. 5. Stint, to limit.

NOTE.--l. Acceptance. When a person upon whom a draft has been made,
w