Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-08-06
JONES AND JOHNSON.


William johnson and Edwin Jones were
both of them farmers and they were close near
neighbors Their farms were beautifully stu
ated; the soil naturally productive So far
there was not particle of difference between
the two places-yet they wore different as
pect. Johnsons buildings looked nice and
tidy His door-yard was clean, his house neat
ly painted, his windows whole His barns and
out-buildngs were snug and comfortable, his
orchard looked thrifty, and the trees were
carefully dressed. Now, Mr. Jones had nc
more of family to support than his neigh.
Dor, yet the aspect of his house and farm was
very different Old rubbish was lying
around in his yard, that should have been in
less unsightly places, his house looked wealth,
er-beaten and neglected, rags to be seen in
spots where panes of glass are expected to be
found; there were large cracks in his barn,
through which the winds of heaven had free
course. His apple-trees were disfgured by
old bark and dead limbs; in short, everything
wore, seemingly, look of diapidation and
neglect. Edwin Jones was hard working
man, yet everything was at loose ends with
him, and he often caught himself wondering
how it was that his neighbor johnson kept
along so smoothly and quiet, and had every
thing in such perfect order.
Good morning, johnson" said Jones ono
day in spring, as he put his head in at the
door, "haye you got an augur p
"To be sure, said johnson, ~ should moi
know how 10 get along without one.
81 want to borrow it little while / have
delayed sowing my grain these two days, be
cause my harrow was broken, and had nothing
to mend it with
"Ah mine is already in the ground, re
piled Johnson
"And it is high time" returned the other
what am to do now don't know. have
lost one of my steers
"How p
''He broke his leg"
Broke his leg how, pray p
"Why, he returned with mortified air
''the floor had got worn and shaky, and so he
got his leg through ii, and snapped the bone
right off, and had to kill him"
"Ah, Mr.. Jones' such losses as these far
mers should guard against A little labor, a
proper time, would have saved all of that
fl know it, and should have fixed the hooi
long ago, If had the tools But II is no us,
crying about spilled milk. What is done can
be helped"
And that was Jones only consolation. Whel
a thing was done, he satisfied himself with thu
reflection that it could not be helped, and sci
dom laid up his experience for further use
Mr.. johnson turned TO the she'd and led th'
way into light chamber, and Jones followed
him. Here was a stout bench, and fitted TO
use upon it a full set Of planes, saws, ham
mers, &c, while in a rack against the partition
was arranged a set of chisels, gimlets, screw
drivers, and hung around were a number 0
different sized augurs. Mr. johnson supplie'
his neighbOr with the required article, and a
he handed Il TO him he remarked
~ lent your boy small hammer aIfew day
ago which he promised to bring back soon
have rather needed it about putting dow
the carpet
swell, Johns sick, he is quite feverish, am
we had TO send for the doctor. He got cold
| 'spose, spattering through the wet But tn
fact is. / was rather careless about il kne'
his boots wanted mendng, and meant +
have carried them down 10 the village and ge
them fixed but forgot il
81 do all such little jobs myself neighbo
Jones, was the quiet reply. ~ always kee
little leather on hand, then when there TAI
ping to be done can fix it in few minutes
All these things can be attended 10 on rain
days, when should otherwise be idle"