Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-12-04

Is the last bill he ever has against me- :" muttercd
Baker to himself, he walked away. "If that's his
manner OF treating customers he'll go to the dogs
He downright insulting, and no gentleman will
stand that from another, much less from vulgar me-
chanic. Mean to insnuae! Humph! Yes, dId mean
to nsinuatc And Mr. Baker involuntarily quickened
his pace. He'll soon 90 to the dogs Pve paid him a
great deal oil money, bur it is the last dollar Of mine he
handles"
Baker good his word. He withdrew his
custom from the offending mechanic, and gave it to an
other
''Ive got OF Your old customers Leonard" said
friend in the same business to the mechanic six
eight months afterwards
"Ah! who is itln
"Baker."
Leonard shrugged his shoulders
How came you 10 lose hint"
III tell you how you can keep him.
SWELL, howl"
% If your bill to thirty dollars, make it thr-
ty-three and few odd cents, by increasing of its
items. He will want the surplus knocked off, which
you can afford to do; then he will pay and think you
just the for him."
90 You lost him, then, because YOU wouldn't abate
anything from true bill"
g did"
" Thank you But suppose my bill should be twenty
six, or seven..or eight what thenP couldn't knock
off the odd dollars for the purpose of making il even"
No. In that you must add until you get about
thirty"
And fall back to that!
- Yes Ii will be knocking Off the odd dollars which
he will think clear gain"
" That would hardly be honest"
'' Hardly. But You do it, or lose his custom
some dav or other"
90 shall have to accommodate him. suppose If he
will be cheated, il can't be helped"
! On the very first bill that Baker paid TO his
tradesman he obtained abatement of dollar and
ninety cents odd money, but actually paid three dollars
moro than was Justly due. Still he was very well sat-
isfed ina ginning that he had made a saving Of dol
lar and ninety cents The not ver-scrupulous trades
man laug he'd in his sleeve and kept his customer.
Having withdrawn his support from Leonard, it was
the candid opinion of Mr.. Baker that he " going
the dogs" as he expressed it, about as fast as man
could go. He often passed tho shop, but rarely
customer.
" No WONDER he would say TO himself "a man
like him can't ex pect and doesn't deserve cusomp
In the eyes OF Baker, the very grass seemed grow
upon the pavements before the door of the declining
tradesman. Dust settled thcky in his window, and the
old sign turned grayer and graycr in the bleaching air.
- Going To the dogs, and WONDER" Baker would
say to himself, as he went by He appeared to take
strange interest in watching the gradual decay the
mechanics fortunes. One day mercantile friend said
to him
"Do you know anything about this Leonardo
'WhyP asked Baker.
" Because, he wants to make pretty large bill
with me-"
% On time!"
"Ycs, on the usual credit Of six MONTHS
=" Don't sell him. Why the man is going to the dogs
railroad speed"
" Indecd!"
"Yes. I'm looking every dav 10 see him close mp
He might have done well for he understood his bust
ness But he's unaccommodating, and may say in
sung to his customers, that he drives the best ones
away. | used to make large bills with him, but havn't
dealt at his shop for time"
" All! was not aware OF that. l am glad spoke
TO you for shouldn't like to lose six hundred
dollars"
Six or seven hundred Is il possible that he wants
to buy so recklessyl Take my advice and don't think
of trusting him."
"I certainly shall not"
When Leonard ordered the goods, the merchant de-
cllned selling except Tor cash.
" As you please" returned the mechanic ndiereniy
and went elsewhere and made his purchases.
1t happened that Mr.. Leonard had very pretty and
interesting daughter whose education the mechanic
had bestowed great pains; and it also happened that
Baker had son, who, IN most things, was a1chip OF
the old block" Particularly he like his father in
his great love Of money and scarcely had he reached
his majority, he began to look about him with a
careful eye, to good matrimonial arrangement, by
which plenty of money would be secured
Adelaide Leonard, on account OF her beauty and
complishmens, much caressed and mingled free in
society. Young Baker had met her frequently, and
could not help being struck with her beauty
and grace.
" There is charm for you," said friend to him one
evening.
"In Miss Leonardo
ayes"
/" She's charming girl," replied the young man. al
wonder If her father is worth anythingf
"People say Sd"
90 Indeedw
eyes They say the old fellow has laid up something
quite handsome; and as Adelaide is his only child she
I a
" was not aware of that"
" 1t is all so, believe"
After this, young Baker was exceedingly attentive TO
Miss Leonard, and made pcrceptble nroads upon her
heart. He went FAR visit pretty regularly
at her house, and was meditatng avowal OF his at
tachment, when his father said TO him one day
=" What young lady was that saw you with in the
street yesterday afternoonl"
| I" Her name is Leonard
8. The daughter of old Leonard, in - streetf'
Eyes, SIR"
Mr. Baker looked grave, and shook his head.
DO you know anything about herl" asked the son.
Nothing about her; but know that her father is
going to the dogs as fast as ever man went"
60 Indeed! / thought he well off,"
Oh, no, I've been looking to see his shop shut up
hear Of his being sold out by the sheriff, every day
for these two years past"
O. Miss Leonard is a very lovely girl"
"Sbe's the daughter Of poor vulgar mechanic. If
you see anything very lovely in that Henry you have
a strange TASTE"
'' There is gansayng Adeaide's personal attrac-
TONS, replied the son, but if her father poor that
settles the matter so far as che and are concerned.
glad you introduced the subject for might have
committed myself, and when too late, discovered my
error"
"And sad error it would have been Henry In any
future Of this kind, hope you will be perfectly
frank with me. Ihave much more accurate knowledge
OF the condition and standing of people than You
possibly have"
The son promised to do as his father wished. From
that time the visits Of Miss Leonard abated and
his attentions her. when they i'm society," became
colby formal The sweet young girl, whose feelings
had really been interested felt the change and was for
time unhappy; but in few months she recovered her.
~olc lrsob fanlon oor fs,f al