Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-10-31
Peter shook his head and replied:
Wheat is quoted in Cincinnati at seventy

'lndeedn Mr.. Gray looked surprised
tie did not feel SO, for he knew the price
quite as well as the farmer.
Yes said Peter, lit is quoted at seventy
nVe to eighty in my last number OF the Ca
zette.
II costs something to get the wheat to
market remarked Mr. Gray.
4 know does, but not ten cents busbel.
What are you paying for corn'
Mr. Gray thought for some moments and
then replied
twenty-five cents.'
Two far below the Cincinnati price, said
Peter.
'Ah! What is the price there2
Thirty cents
'We can't give that
'Yoh can do better than twenty-five cent?,
however; # not, must end market in Gin
cnnati, for both my wheat and corn
How much do you wantn asked Mr.. Gray.
i want as near the Cincinnati price as
possible. Say 'sevenry-two for my wheat,
and twenty seven or eight for my corn.'
I'VE can't pay prices like those, MIR. Miller.
We'd better give up business
Let me know the best you will do,' said
Peter.
The two partners held long consultation
and finally agreed to offer sixty-eight for
the wheat, and twenty FIVE fol tile corn. Pc
ter reflected on this for moment, and then
said .
Fll take 10 night TO think over the NATTER
With this resolution he went away. That
evening The man who held the mortgage on
Peter Millers farm, came over to say that
he wanted his money.
I'll pay you half said Peter, 'as soon as
sell my wheat and corn. But TO settle the
whole will be impossible this year
'But the man said he must have the whole.
Finally, however, he agreed to take hall, if
it were paid to him Immediately.
Freted by this application, Petermade up
his mind TO lei Gray & Elder have his wheat
and corn at their offer, provided they would
cash the amount over and above their bills
against him. So, on the next morning, he
started for their store. On his way he STOP
ped at the post Office and got his number of
the Gazette, which he pat into his pocket
without unfolding, and continued on his
way TO Gray & Elders. Neither of the men
happened 10 be in, and while waiting for
them, Peter took out his newspaper and
commenced reading. Almost the first para
graph that met his eye was the following
tLiportant rise il Whem. The news hy
the last steamer from Europe, which reports
probable failure in the crops, sent wheat
suddenly up from seveniy-flve cents 10 a
dollar. And even at the advanced rates,
holders seem little inclined 10 SELL
The farmer waited no longer for the grain
merchants, but refoding bis paper thrust it
INFO his pocket and went home. lie had
not been there over fifteen minutes when a
messenger came from Gray & Elder 10
know il he were ready TO accept their offer.
Tell ,hem,' replied Peter, that l cannot
take less than dollar a bushel for my
wheat
The messenger went back, but did not re-
turn again. This was as Peter had supposed
il would he. During the day, the man who
held the mortgage called again. Peter told
him Of the rise in wheat, aud said that if he
sold al the advanced rates, he would pay off
the whole debt
During the following week Gray s. Elder
advanced their offer 10 ninety cents. But
the farmer would not sell. The Guzette ar
rived, and showed continued frmness in
the market for wheat, aud an advonce for
corn. Peter also, in glancing hopefully over
the broad pages of the paper, cast his eyes
upon the advertising columns, and in them
saw the names Of a number Of miIlers and
! merchants advertising for wheat and corn,
and offering to pay the highest market
prices in cash.
Now said Peter Miller to the store-keep-
ers, if you will take my wheat at dollar,
and my corn at thirty eight cents, I'll SELL
Ifnot, IL hold on little longer
Gray s. Elder, after demurrng little,
closed the bargain. So, with the wheat and
other crops, the store bill was settled, the
mortgage paid off, and balance left with
which 10 begin the new year.
so much for a newspaper p said Peter
speaking TO himself, as he walked homeward
with the cancelled mortgage in his pocket,
after paying off the debt which had been
banging over him. So much for newspa-
per! | do believe, if I'd began taking pa
per ten or dozen years ago, I'd been rich
man o-day. Yes-Uncle Ben was right
| didn't know my business, proud as | was
Of being thought good farmer.'
So soon as this favorable change in affairs
took place, Mr.. and Mrs. Miller conferred
together about Henry and Ellen. The read
ing of a newspaper, weekly. for nearly
year, had gradually filled The mind of the
former with an entirely new class of Ideas
They now saw in education the only sure
way TO prosperity and social elevation for
their children and were mutually prepared
to make sacrifices for its attainment. When
the mother sad:-
Il think Peter, we ought to send Ellen
and Henry to school,
The reply vast
Just my own view. They must not re.
main at home week longer. Ellen has
been sadly neglected.
Indeed, she has. 1t troubles ME when
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