Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-06-30
Sn gattrfstins Gale.
lFron the Dollar Newspsper-PhiiadelPhia
JONES AND JOHNSON.
A SKETCH FOR FARMERS.
BY MARIA B. cUSHMAN.

William Johnson and Edwin Jones were
both of them farmers, and they were also
near neiphbors. Their farms were beautI-
fully situated; the soil naturally productive.
So far there wns not particle of difference
between the two places, vet they wore
very dissimiiar aspect William Inhnson's
buildings looked nice and tidy. His door
yard was clear, his house neatly painted.
his windows whole. His barns and cut
buildings were snug and comfortable. his
orchard looked thrifty, and the trees were
carefully dressed. Now Mr.. Jones had no
more of a family to support than his neigh
bor, yet the aspect of his house and farm
was very different. Old rubbish was kick
ing around in the yard, that should have
been in less slightly places. his house look
ed weather-beaten and neglected, rags to be
seen in spots where panes of glass are ex-
pected 10 be found; there were large cracks
in his barn, through which the whinds of
heaven had free course. His apple trees
were disfgurtd by old bark and dead limbs;
in short, everything seemed to wear a look
of dilapidation and neglect. Edwin Jones
was hsrdworking man. yet everything
was at louse ends with him, and he often
caught himself wondering how it was tina t
his neigbbor Johnson kept along so smooth
y and qniet, snd yet had everything in such
perfect order.
'Good morning, Johnson said Jones, one
day in spring. as ne put his head in at tie
door, have you got an auger!'
To be sure,' returned Johnson, should
Mt know how to get along without one.'
well, / want to borrow it a little while.
have delayed sowing my grain now these
two days, because my harrow was broke,
and had nothing to mend il with
sAh! mine is already in the ground said
Johnson.
And 1t is high time,' returned the other.
What l am to do now don't know.
have lost ono of my steers
That's bad! how did it happen!'
HE broke his leg
Broke his leg! How. prayr
Why he returned, with n mortified sir.
swhy, the floor had got worn and shaky,
aud so he got bis leg through it, and snnp-
ped the bone right off; so | had to kill
him.
'Ah! Mr. Jones, such losses as these we
farmers should guard against. A little Is
Dor, st the proper time, would have saved all
that
4 know il, and I should have fixed the
floor long ago, if had had the tools. But
!, il no use crying for spilled milk. What
h done cent be helped
And that wss Edwin Jones' only consola-
sion. When thing was done, he satisfied
himself with the reflection that il could not
be helped, and seldom laid up his expert
ence for further use. blr. Johnson turned
towards the shed. and led the wav mp into a
light chamber. and Jones followed him -
Here was stout bench. all fitted for use;
upon it full set Of planes. saws, hammers
&c, while in Q rack against the petition
were arranged set of chisels, gimlets
screw-drivers, files. and hung around were
number of different sized augers. IL
short, everything that man could need for
repairing about the house. Mr.. johnson
supplied his neighbor with the required
article, and as he handed it 10 him, he re
marked
Il lent your boy small hammer a few
days sgo, which he promised to bring bacl
soon. have rather needed it about putin!
down the carpets
We'll, Johns sick; he is quite feverish
and we have had to send for the doctor. Fl
got cold. 'spuse, spattering through III
wet. Fact is, was rather careless abou
it. knew his boots wanted mending, an
| mean; to have carried them down to tn
vilsge and got them fixed, but forgot it
4 do all such little jobs myself neighbo
Jones' was the quiet reply. Il Ialways kee
a little leather on hand; then. when ther
is tapping to be done can fix it in feI
minutes. All these things can he attende
TO rainy days, when should otherwise b
i5ls,'