The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-05-18
prALoouE BETWEEN FAnnrR ASD SHOE

MAKER.
Farmer. Good norning, neighbor; have
gu finished my shoes?
Shoemaker. Yes, and hope you brought
me the cheese according to agreement.
F. To be sure did. But look We, neigh
bor shan't be gulled any longer. You must
hereafter make my shoes at % cents pair less,
OF | won't have them ofyou.
Sk. WHY I.eighbor, what are you at? It
REQUIRES all my time, at present prices, to make
comfortable living so that your prices would
soon make me bankrupt. The reduction you
propose is more than the profit.
f. Now that's fine story but I've got my
ewes open and you shant take me in any more
Itake the n II. Patriot, from which | learn
that duty on an article for protection is tax
on the consumer, and goes into the pockets
of the mechanics. This is so plain that it is
strange never thought of it before. The du-
ty is % cents pair. Now do you suppose that
| am going to pay you all that the Shoes cost
you, and your profit on them, and % cents be-
sides Not |. shall serve all alike, for there
is a tax'for the benefit of all of you-the halter,
tailor, harness-maker, cabinet-maker, rope-mak-
err, &c. | shall save many dollar by getting
off this protection. What glorious fellow
this Patriot man is, to let us into these secrets
and show US how you wrong US.
S. Why neighbor, are you in earnest
r. In earnest why should not be when
have been so much imposed on?
S. Now, neighbor, you know we live by
helping one another. | can't afford to lose your
custom; what must be done to keep it F.?
F. What must be done Why. take off the
% cents duty, tax, protection or whatever the
Patriot man calls it, and be content to live witt
fair profit in honest way, and will buy
your shoes; for TO give every one his due
Chang the duties) you make better shoes thar
any body.
s. Well, but you know l take your produc'
in pay.
F. Well. suppose you do; is not my pro
duce as good as your shoes
S. But what was going to say-as | TAX
your produce in pay, you should, TO make
fair between us, take off the 80 duty, tax, pro
lection that we pay you on your produce.
F. Agreed But if the farmer was protect
ed, the Patriot would have told us of it.
S. Be that as it may, we now understan
each other. To make our dealings Just, we ar
to repeal the tariff as TO our trades; that is,
am to deduct the duty from the price of ever
pair of shoes you buy of me and you are t
deduct the duty from every article of produc
which take of you in payment.
f. That's it exactly How ready the me
chanics are to grow honest when they are foun
out.
S. How much cheese did you bring me-
F. Two hundred pounds
S. What is it WORTH
e. Nv wife said must get ten cts. u ID
though il is not her best, which, like shrew,
woman as she Is, she keeps at home.
S. That is rather high, but [ will take it q
that price, deducting the duty.
f. Oh yes-what is it
S. Nine cents per pound
f. Nine cents deduct 5 cents from 10
Why my wife, pleasant as she is, would loo
cross enough to turn all the milk sour i'll hin
ed such thing. Do you think | am such
fool as to sell cheese for cent a h..
s. This is bargain of your own seeking
was conten! with things as they were.
Portsmouth Journal.