Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-01-18

THE MILL PRIVILEGE,
now NC. rArsALL ovERREAcnEp HIM
SELF.


now NC. rArsALL oyEnREAcuEp HIN
In ono Of the new towns OF Maine
some thirty years ago. lived q mar
named John Tatnall. lie was close
listed man. and never scrupled te
make tho best end OF every trade.
Once neighbor lost tine OK JUS
at timc when he was fulfilling .
contract for cutting down and hauling
out lumber. Tho contract was worth
n thousand dollars. and he was TO for
felt one halfifthe job was not done at I
given time. He know that Tatnall
had plenty Of oxen, and he went "a
lbuy one. Tatnall saw his neighbor's
necessity. and he meant TO profit by It.
| He would MOI sell unless he sold q
pair. and then at an enormous price
The poor man entreated, but u was ol
no avail, and he was compelled to pay
TatnalI double what the oxen were
worth. Then Tatnal bought tho odd
OK for one third Us value. making
seveniy.Gve dollars off his poor neigh.
Dor.
That was the character Of the man,
and alI his neighbors knew II. Yet
he was respected. for he had money.
and aany people depended on him
Cor work; though their pittance for
such work was beggarly in the ex.
tremo. Mr.. TatnaIPs large farm was
situated on a large river. and there
was good mill privilege on II. Two
years previous 70 the opening OF our
story, two'men came along TO examine
1.-THE fall Of the river. and they talked
OF buying and building extensive mil
works. 'ratnall knew that II such wa'
done, the value Of all good land about
him would be advanced. and he bought
all he could. SO At tho time he owned
a thousand acres.
One day In early spring, just a.
the ice had broken upa man called on
Tatnall, and wished to examine the
mill privilege. His name was Lemu
81 Farnsworth. thirty-fye. and full o.
enterprise and energy. Tatnall &C.
companied his visitor TO the river, and
after examining the premises, the lat
ter expressed himself very mucl
lpleased with them.
"0hP' exclaimed Tatnall, "this Il
the finest privilege In the State. The
water cannot fail, and there is powe,
enough to drive number Of mills"
"I see. returned Farnsworth, bu
he did not express oil he thought. Il
TX buy here" he continued, al
should want some forty or iifty acres
Of land TO 20 with the water lot, for
should want lumber enough to put "
all my buildings. and somc besides, o
my own. DC"
"You can have oil you want" wa
Tatnall's reply, as they returned L
| the house.
"Now what Isl your price?" askes
IFarnsworth, after he had declined 4
take a glass Of rum which had beer
poured out for him. "Well," re
turned Tatnall thoughtfully. 81 hav
lent thought much Of selling, for
have had some idea Of putting up
mill there myself"
This was ialsehood.
"But you win sell. / suppose?"
30 yes"
! "rhcn what will be your price?"
"Wcll. / have thought l would sci
1.-The privilege. with six acres Of land
for thousand dollars; and II yo'
want the fifty acres, should sa,
about seven hundred dollars more"
"But. my dear SIR" uttered Farms
worth, in surprise, "do you conside
Ihow this inill will enhance thclvalue o
your property"
4 Now Tatnall knew that this woul'
be vast benefit to him. The ncares
mill was now six miles of. and that
poor himsy concern. Such an es
Establishment he saw would draw quit
a village together in few years, ant
then his land would make him inde
pendently rich. But he thought h
had the power in,his own hands--ap'
he meant TO use IT,
"I cannot take cent less," no said
"If you will take the whole for seven
teen hundred dollars, you can hav
ill.,"
"Well." said sMr. Farnswsrth. %
have a pertner. aud / must see hin
first. l will explain the case to him
and see you again"
Tatnal began to mediate thus: 81
these two men have got their mind
made up on this mill, " he said to him
self. "they WON'T stop at trifles. Q
course they have got lots Of cash, Q
else they wouldn't be going into sue
extensive business. I'll feel of 'em.
Tatnall said this with sort {
chuckle, and he clasped his hands to
getherjust as though he had heIE
less man in his grasp.
Mr.. Farnsworsh soon returned, an
with him came his partner. They q
length concluded to pay the S170(
it was heavy sum-much NOR
than the property was worth. br
they had set their heart upon buildin
the mill in that section, and they di
not wish TO give it up.
"Ah. gentlemen" said Tatnal
with very bland smile. after their o
fer had been made. "that price Wa
not fixed one. You may now hay
the whole for twenty-five hundre
dollars
3, "But. SIR" uttered Ridgely, thl
I is monstrous. The mills may not r.
turn US cent for years. Why, 81
for six years. at least, you will mall
more by the mills than we."
'sThe property is worth what / ask,
said Tatnall.
"But YOU will take off something?
mot single cent less than twent,
hundred dollars"
Many man would almost have gi
en- them the mill privilege in conside