him all
that he needed.

By means of acquaintances of high social character, whom he fully
trusted as good Christians, never supposing there could be any degree of
hypocrisy, he became security for a Christian lady of good property to
the amount of _six hundred thalers_. The attorney assured him that there
was not a shadow of a risk in going security for her, as her property
would be more than ample to cover any claim.

Months elapsed, and the circumstance forgotten, when Mr. Loest was most
unpleasantly reminded by receiving an order from the Court to pay in on
the following Tuesday the _six hundred thalers_ for which he had become
security, under the penalty of execution.

He now discovered that he had been designedly mystified, and there was
no escape. The six hundred thalers must be paid before the next Tuesday.
He had just accepted a bill for _three hundred thalers_, to be paid for
on the ensuing Saturday. And in his first thoughts of his perplexity, he
hoped to get out of his dilemma by hurrying to a rich friend to obtain a
loan. On his way to his friend's home, he stumbled on another
acquaintance who had lent him _four hundred_ thalers on a mere note of
hand, and he saluted him with the news that he must try for repayment of
that sum on the following Friday, as he required it to pay for a parcel
of goods which would arrive that day.

"You shall have it," said Loest, as he hurried on to his friend. The
friend was at home, but before Loest could speak his errand, he is
addressed thus: "It is lucky you came, my friend, for I was just going
to send for you, to request you to make provision to pay me back the
_five hundred thalers you owe me_, for I must needs have it on Wednesday
to pay off a mortgage on my house, which has just been called up." "_You
shall have it_," replied Loest, calmly, yet his heart became heavier
every moment.

Suddenly it occurred to him that the widow of a friend just dead was
possessed of large means, and she might be inclined to help him. But
alas, disappointment thickened fast upon him. Loest owed the deceased
friend five hundred thalers for note, and three hundred thalers for
goods just delivered. As he entered the room of the widow, she handed
him an order from the court of trustees, under which he was bound to pay
up _the five hundred thalers on Thursday_, and, continued the lady,
before the poor man had time to utter a word, "I would earnestly entreat
you to pay the other three hu