The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-11-04

the dogs. He was downrighvinsulting,
and no gentleman will stand that from
another, much less from vulgar me.
chanic. Mean 10 insinuate? lHumph?
Yes, did mean to insinuate." And
Mr.. Baker involuntarily quickened his
pace. "He will lose one good custom
err" he continued 10 himself. ''l've paid
him great deal Of money, but it is the
last dollar Of mine he ever handles"
Baker was as good as his word. He
withdrew his custom, from the offending
mechanic, and gave it to another. o>r1
R"l've got one Of your old customers,
Leonard" said friend in the same bus
mess to the mechanic some six or ght
months afterwards. 9A >He AIT
"Ha! who is itr' r'omia"o4ost. 54'tid
"Baker." "c1uH n'ud:". .ad fGsl'.
Leonard shrugged his shoulders. 81
"How came you to lose him?'1a
"I'll tell you how you can keep him.
"Well, how" "r ..rI >7ii 'a .a""
"lf your bill amounts to thirty dol.
lars, make it thirty-,hree and few odd
cents, by increasing the items: He will
want the Surplus knocked off, which
you can afford to do; then he will pay
it, and think you just the man for him."
"You lost him then, because you
would not abate any thing from true
bI.' "...neaf si' .e.r j.. '5t:e et
81 did" .." u.. ,-. .'l.n ..
"Thank you. But suppose my bill
should be twenty-six or seven, or eight,
what then? could not knock off the
dollars for the purpose Of making an
even sum-" 'llar.
"No. In that case you must add on
until you get about thirty" .'
"And fall back to that" ra.'c"..
"Yes. 1t wi! be knocking off the
odd dollars, which he will think clear
gain" ...,.. ."'.
"That would hardly be honest" ...r
"HardIy. But YOU must make it, or
lose his custom some day or other"
ri shall have TO accommodate him, !
suppose. If he will be cheated, it can't
be helped" 9nnm ..n. ~ .4.l
On the very first bill that Baker paid
his new tradcsnan he obtained an
abatement of one dollar and ninety
cents odd money, but actually paid
three dollars more than was justly due.
Still he was very well satisfied, imagin'
ing that he had made saving, of one
dollar and ninety cents. The not over.
scrupuious tradesman laughed in his
sleeve, and kept his customer. q
Having withdrawn his support from
Leonard, it was the candid opinion ol
Mr.. Baker that he was "going to the
dogs as he expressed it, about as fast
as q man could go. He often passed
the shop, but rare y saw customer.
mo wonder," he would say TO him.
self. IA man like him can't expect, and
don't deserve any CUSTOM" ,.. .
In the eyes of Baker, the very grass
seemed to grow upon the pavement be-
fore the door of the unfortunate trades
man. Dust settled ,hickIy in his win.
dow, and the old sign turned grayer
and grayeri in the bleaching air. g.,
"Going to the dogs, and no wonder,'
Baker would say to himself, as he went
by. He appeared to take streng in
terest in the gradual decay of the me-
chanic's fortunes. One day mercan-
tile friend said to him. q. r. ,.
"Do you know any thing about this
Leonardo" ...I ... .uu.r
"Why" asked Baker. t... 81.
"Because, he wants 10 make a pretty
large bill with me-" ,....,.a m.sa.
ION time?' .it. .....a.. $4,000.
eyes" ' ...u .a.a ..p na,.
"Don't sell him. Why the man is 60
ing to the dogs at railroad speed" 4o
"Indeed?" Ga#. ,-n.-.a-.r,-n..g
.Yes. I'm looking every day TO see
him close up. He might have done well
for he understood his business. But he's
so unaccommodating, and l might say
insulting to his customers, that he
drives the best ones he has away
used to make large bills with him, bu'
haven't dealt at his shop now for some
time" j"i | 90 115iGD SD ayu-
"Ah! Iwas no. aware Of that, an
glad | spoke to you, for shouldn't like
10 lose six or seven hundred dollars
a"Six or seven hundred! Is it possible
that he wants to buy so recklessIy
Take my advice, and don't think o
trusting him." .+.t o'i' a. ,97'I't @ge
osI certainly shall not.p t5iha -
When Leonard ordered the goods
the merchant declined except forlcash
"As you please" returned the me
chanitc indifferently, and went else
where. and made his purchases. lss7