“I am sorry, Mr. Gray” he began, with some hesitation of manner.

“Sorry for what?” sharply interrupted Mr. Gray.

“Sorry that I have not the money to settle your bill.  I have been disappointed——­”

“I don’t want that old story.  You promised to be ready for me to-day, didn’t you?” And Mr. Gray knit his brows, and looked angry and imperative.

“Yes, I promised.  But——­”

“Then keep your promise.  No man has a right to break his word.  Promises are sacred things, and should be kept religiously.”

“If my customers had kept their promises to me there would have been no failure in mine to you,” answered the poor mechanic.

“It is of no use to plead other men’s failings in justification of your own.  You said the bill should be settled to-day, and I calculated upon it.  Now, of all things in the world, I hate trifling.  I shall not call again, sir!”

“If you were to call forty times, and I hadn’t the money to settle your account, you would call in vain,” said the mechanic, showing considerable disturbance of mind.

“You needn’t add insult to wrong.”  Mr. Gray’s countenance reddened, and he looked angry.

“If there is insult in the case it is on your part, not mine,” retorted the mechanic, with more feeling.  “I am not a digger of gold out of the earth, nor a coiner of money.  I must be paid for my work before I can pay the bills I owe.  It was not enough that I told you of the failure of my customers to meet their engagements——­”

“You’ve no business to have such customers,” broke in Mr. Gray.  “No right to take my goods and sell them to men who are not honest enough to pay their bills.”

“One of them is your own son,” replied the mechanic, goaded beyond endurance.  “His bill is equal to half of yours.  I have sent for the amount a great many times, but still he puts me off with excuses.  I will send it to you next time.”

This was thrusting home with a sharp sword, and the vanquished Mr. Gray retreated from the battle-field, bearing a painful wound.

“That wasn’t right in me, I know,” said the mechanic, as Gray left his shop.  “I’m sorry, now, that I said it.  But he pressed me too closely.  I am but human.”

“He is a hard, exacting, money-loving man,” was my remark.

“They tell me he has become a Christian,” said the mechanic.  “Has got religion—­been converted.  Is that so?”

“It is commonly reported; but I think common report must be in error.  St. Paul gives patience, forbearance, long-suffering, meekness, brotherly kindness, and charity as some of the Christian graces.  I do not see them in this man.  Therefore, common report must be in error.”