The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-17
A Parable of Business MeFR

There was once upon time man wht
kept a store and sold goods at wholesale ant
retail.
And he 5ecame melancholy because hi
customers were shy and sometimes bad.
And he said: Lo l am ruined, and tn.
sensation is disagreeable.
| And my ruin is the more painful to bea1
because it is slow in progress, even as watel
doth gradually become hotter in the pot where
in the lobster boieth, until the cIustaccous
creature sLrieketh out in his soul in anguish
Lo! it is better to be ruined quickly than
to endure this slow torture.
will give my money to the poor man
even to the poorest, which is he who printeth
newspapers, and will shut up my shop and
wrap myself in the sackcloth of desolation,
and pass my days in the purli ieus of broken
banks cursing the hardness of the times and
rending my garments.
And the howlings of Rome shall be as the
dulcet sound of dulcimers, and they who
blow flutes and instruments of music, COM
pared to the din it will make in the ears of
the wicked-eyen in the ears Of the bank
directors.
And even as lie said so did he; for he was
not like other mems sons who are foolish and
know it not, and they say they will do so and
so, and do it not, performing that which is
contrary.
For the sons Of men are tickle, and he that
is born of woman doth spite his face by di-
minishing the length of the nose thereof.
And 10 the printer-eten he who did
publish newspapers-was made glad by the
bounty of him who sold wholesale and re-
tail: and he did sound his praises and print
them moreover, and he did blow the trumpet
Of fame respecting that mans dealings from
the rising OF the sun even to the going down
OF the same.
And he-even the printer Of papers-did
magnify and enlarge upon the stock ofgoods
which the trader had in his store and pub
lish the variety, and the excellence, and the
newness, and the beauty, and the cheapness
thereof, till the people-yes! all o: them far
and near were amazed.
And they said 10 this man had gathered
from the east and the west costly merchan-
disc and wares of wondrous value-even the
workmanship of cunning artifcers-and we
knew it not.
Go to, then. We will lay ont our silver
and gold in those things which the printer
printeth of, and that which he doth publish
shall be ours. For this mans merchadise is
better than the bank notes of those who
promise to pay and therein lie; even banks
of deposit which beguile us Of our money
and swindle It's like sin.
But that trader is still sad, and he said,
the money that these people bring me for
the goods in my store; will | still give to the
printer, and thus will ruin myself, l will do
that which no man hath yet done in my
time or before me. [ will make the print
ING man whom all men scorn for his poverty,
rich, and he shall be clad in fine linen, and
shall rejoice.
And the sons of men shall seek him in
the market place, and the sheriff shal! shun
him, and the scotfers shall be rebuked and
shall take off tneiy hats to him that was
poor.
And he shall flash the dollars in the eyes
of the foolish and shall eat bank-note sand
witches.
Yea, even shall he light his pipe with rail
road script and cast his spittle on the boards
of other men.
For will ruin myself and he who adver
tises me shall enjoy my substance.
Bnt 10. the trading man-even he whA
sold merchandise, became rich, and even as
the unclean beast lieth in the mire, so stirred
he not by reason Of much gold.
And the people hockcd to his store from
the North.
And from the South;
And from the East,
And from the West.
And the printer rejoiced, and his fat did
abound.
But the trader could not become poor
and his melancholy ceased, and the smiles
of happiness were upon his face.
And his children did become mighty in
the lard by reason of the dollars which
many of the people who read his advertise
ments had poured into that traders money
bag.
Here endeth the first lesson.-Exchonge.