Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-03-06
Gittrarp 6eIertions.
THE MILL PRIVILEGE.
OR,
How Mr.. 7. 0ver.reached Himself.


some thirty years ago, lived a man named
John Tatnal. He was a close-fsted,
digging man, and never serupled to make
the best end of a bargain at all points
within the limits of written law. He
re7er hesitated to make capital of other
veople's necessities, and any event that
could put dollar into his pocket was all
right with him.
Once neighbor lost fine OK just at
,bs time when he was in the act of full
filing a contract for cutting down and
hauling out timber. The contract was
vortb thousand dollars, and he was to
s,,isit one half of it if he did not have
al the logs in the river before the snow
rsIted in the spring. The loss of his
host ov would ruin him if he could not
make his place good. He knew that
Jobn Tatnan had plenty of oxen, and
he vent to him and stated his case. Now
John Tatnall had a number of old oxen
ghieh be had bought to place in drove
which be meant to drive to market so
be could have sold one just as well as
not. But he saw his neighbor's necessi-
t7 and he meant to profit by it. He
Eoud not sell unless he could sell a pair,
and not then without an enormous price.
The poor lumberman begged and en-
treated, but it was of no avail. There
was not another OK for miles and miles
about, for Mr.. Tatnall had bought them
hup. The neighbor could not allow
hs work to stand still, so he paid Tat
ml full double what they were worth,
slitook them away.
Them was he happened to think of
E; old OK. He knew it was better by
far than either of those he had bought
.; Tatnall, ard he drove it over to the
cattle dealers to sell it as he had no use
fcr It. Tatnall offered him twenty dol
lars for it-iust one-fth of what he had
obtained for the yoke he had sold We
viii 10. tell the conversation and banter
iug that followed, slfice it to say that
Tatnall got the OK, and that in the end
be made a profit of just seyenty-five
dollars of his poor and hard working
neighbor.
That was the character of the man, and
all the neighbors knew it. Yet he was
respected, for he had money, and many
people depended on him for work, though
their pittage for such work was beggarly
in the extreme. Mr.. TatnaIrs farm was
situated upon a large river, and he own
ed to great extent on both sides of it,
When be bought there he had some faint
idea that at some time there would be g
mill put up there, and thus greatly en-
hanee the value of his lot, for there wa;
quite afan in the river where he owned
and most excellent mill privilege wa
ihus afforded. But he never could builC
the mill, for he had not the money II
iPare, ror had he the energy. Abou
iFo years previous to the opening of ou
siory, some men had come to examin'
thari7er, and they talked some of buy
ng and building extensive mill works
4ainall knew that if such were done, tn
value Of all the good land about hin
would be advanced, and he bought up a
heeaad SO at the present tine he owne
&c. less than thousand acres.
One day, in early spring, just as tn
ICE had broken up, man called on Ta
naA, and wished to exame the mill priv
lege. His name was Lemuel Farm;
worth, and he was a man not more tia
Nrrty years of age, full of enterpris
aud integrity. Mr.. Tatnall accompanie
us visitor out to the river, and after e.
anlnlng the premises, the latter expires
81 himself much pleased with them.
Oh" exclaimed Tatnall, " this
aooat the finest privilege in the state
lie water power cannot fail, and you st
asFe would be power enough to drive
dozen mills
see, returned Farnsworth, but
VI not express all he thought. E
-s'ely acknowledged that the priyiles
q, good If l buy here" he conti
1d u should want some forty or ff
1e OF land to go with the water-lc
" should want lumber enough to D
uPaLl NY buildings, and some besides,
oSn, to commence work on"
lou can have all you want W
4ns $ reply, and shortly afterwar
returned to the house.
NOW what is your price % ask
- '"s~orth, after he had declined
giass of rum which had been por
''oui for him.
VI