The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1851-03-19

pspers but sir. we cannot feed our
srlves on paper. nor build houses with
paper"
!" Well, well. I see-sll CANNON,
you dog you. You are rich, you know
you are. | am sorry that thirty-hve
years ago did not make myself dry
goods clerk; but here I am. toiling,
year after year, and show but little for
II, while you sit at your desk and count
up your weekly receipts as they run
down-yes. fairly run down upon You.
All me. nothing but farmer, and not
worth much at that. Yardstick, I'll
give nv farm and all the balance Of my
property. for your share in your firm.
and all your property. at = venture
there"
/" Ny good friend, are you really en-
yioss Of my luck. as you call st; be
frank now, are you !"
Yes. I am. Yardstick. Ican't help
it. Here. it is only dig-dig-dig. 1
want. before l die. to be merchant"
F" And before die. I want to be a
farmer; so if we do not exchange pro-
perty. mind you. my good friend. it
will be your own fault. Nay! don't
stare so."
What. what! Yards,ick. you as
tonish me. You want to be farmer.
ha. ha a man good for a hundred
thousand before he dies, in a splendid
business. rolling up his pile. to throw
away his prospects and take hold of the
dirty piough-handle-good joke. ha !!
ha! You take my offer then, do you ?"
Hoehandle. my friend. sober word
or two with you. / have done business
thirty. years. Have sold millions Of
dollars worth Of goods. Have made
and lost much money. Have credited
large stocks of goods out. which l N.Y.
self bought on credit, and have stood
year after year over the brink of pent-
up volcano, expecting that those who
owed me would explode and blow me
to atoms. Sleepless nights = weary
days. Headaches and heart-aches.
Constant fear that could not keep my
chin above water. Obliged TO raise
money at high, exorbitant rates Of inte-
rest. to take up my paper with, because
nv debtors were so long winded in
their payments to me. Stocks depre-
ciated in value. Fashions changing.
Dishonest clerks spcculating from nv
money drawer. All. my friend, do
not wonder you stare with astonish-
mcnt. Let me hear you laugh, il has
a charm for me. Sunshine, sir a mer-
chants heart, if he cares for his repu-
tation and his credit. when embarked
in such a hazardous business as whole.
saler. has no sunshine. He don't know
the feeling. sir. Care. corroding care.
eats up his heart; weighs him down ;
turns day into night; he can't shake
it off; il is horrible night mare. He
goes to New York. sir; he buys fifty
thousand dollars worth of goods on
time, and gives notes. o.! those bank
notes--fearful words to man who has
credit at stake, and relies upon his
customers to pay their notes BY which
he may be able to meet his own. See
him, sir. fairly embarked like ship at
sea, and this ship surrounded on all
sides by huge icebergs. perfect noun
tains-no chance Of escape; by-and-by
he sees they are coming down upon
him; he is hensncd in; slowly and
quietly those huge piles advance stea-
dily they come; the ship will surely be
crushed. Aye, not chip left Of her
--down-down they come. Hold! a
little blue sky Is seen, she escapes, she
gets into tine sea once more.
The ship is like the merchant; the
monntains Of ice, the bank notes. the
bills payable; the blue sky, the bills
| receivable. But sometimes the bills
receivable are not met, and the ship is
crushed to atoms.
"How do you like the picture, my
friends Somuch for merchants life.
| We are not what we seem. Oar ex-
tensivc business is all on paper mere
trash ]; the great noise we make is pro-
duced from the emptiness Of our pre-.
tensions. Now, sir, will you take your
place at the desk, and let the cash rain
down upon your Nay, you are toe
sensible a man. Stick to the farm
you are lord, aye. king :, indepcn.
dent, owing no man; while the poor
merchant must cringe and fawn upon
banks and money lenders. Yes. sir,
90 down on his knees to get money t.
save his credit. Sir, producers can say,
we ask nothing Of the banks, nothing Of
merchants; both ask everything tina,
constitutes the whole comforts Of life
from US. Give me now your property
for mine, with my kind Of life with it
Nay, when tell you that one single
disastrous year, with the kind of bust,
ness l am doing, would sweep away all
am worth-will you exchange situa'
J tions with me 7"
Friend Yardstick, | thank you
but what a picture you have set before
me! I'll never despise the old farmer