The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-07-04
JONES AND JOHNSON.
nv MARIA a. cusHMAN.

near neighbours. Their iarms were beau
tifully situated; the soil naturally produc-
tive. SO far there was not particle OF dit.
ference between the two places. Yet they
wore a very different aspect. Johnson's
buildings looked nice and tidy. His door
yard was clean, his house was neatly paint
ed. his windows whole. Ills barn and out
buildings we're snug and comfortable, his or.
chard looked thrifty, and the trees were care
fullv dressed. Now Mr.. Jones had no more
Of a family to support than his neighbor, yet
the aspect Of his house and farm were very
different. Old rubbish was kicking around
in the yard, that should have been in less un-
slightly places; his house looked weather-beat.
en- sand neglected; rags were seen in spots
where panes of glass we're expected to be
found there were large cracks in his barn
through which the winds OF heaven had free
course. His apple trees were disiigured by
old bark and dead limbs in short everything
seemed to wear look Of dilapidation 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, yet had every.
thing in perfect order. %
One rainy day in the fall. after harvesting
was over, Johnson was at work in his tool
chamber when his neighbor Jones entered.
"Johnson," said the latter after he had
watched his neighbor's plane few moments,
= how much did that sled Of yours cost? |
have got to have one this winter" /.
"0h. that cost me nothing made that
4 In haP ID af nj IN
that matters disposed Of; and | feel proud
of il too. It's my first attempt"
"Well, neighbor Johnson. don't see how
in the world you get along so. Your farm
don't produce any more than mine does. and
don't believe you work as hard as | do.
Your wife don't make any better butter than
mine; your sheep don't grow any better
wool. You raise more fruit, to be sure"
81 have not so many trees as you"
4" No, but the fruit is of better quality,
and finds ready market"
"Yes, because have taken pains to OBJ
tain the best gratis. My trees were the
same as yours when we started. My cows
give more milk than yours do in winter, for
they have warmer barn. | raise more pork
than you do, because my pens are tight and
comfortable, anu so on.
"And suppose you are laying up mo-
ney7' muttered Jones with a crest fallen
look.
"Certainly am-abont $500 year."
$50 much s' exclaimed Jones with a look
Of surprise: "why, can't lay up single
cent; in fact am running behind"
"Let me tell you the secret" said John
son, in the kindest and most neighborly way.
" Last sumner saw you buy two new rakes
and two pitchforks; now. how much did they
all cost you:'
"Let's see--two dollars and a half"
"weIi, my fork handle got broke last win.
ter, so did some Of my rakes. brought
them right up here. and when at leisure just
fixed them up. There was so much saved.
Nuw you have nothing at all to do to-day"
"No, indeed it rains too hard"
But am at work making my apple box
es bnw are you going to get yoursi"
Grainison makes them for me. and am
to rive him barrel Of apples
Which is as goud as two dollars. Now
IL YOU hire as gooda sled as mine made. il
will cost you Ut least twelve dollars. You
see how these little things count up"
And all this comes Of your having tools
to work WITH" returned JOnes, whose eyes
we're beginning 70 open.
"yes. Neighbour
"well, IL hsd tools [ might save good
many sums in the course of a year, but |
never have the money to spare for them.
Why these ere tools Of yOurn must cost
morn fifty dollars
aJust about that"
"Then I'm mighty afraid | shall have to
scrape along with borrowed iools. shall
never have that sum TO spare"
" You don't understand. Let me explain
The secret. should never have gone with a
City dollar bill and bought these things.
have produced one at time with my grog
and tobacco money"
"Grog aud tobacco money !" repeated
Jones. with look Of blank surprise.
"yes," said Johnson with smile. Now
am going to give you lecture. am 20.
ing to give you the benefit u my experience.
rhe FIRST year began on farm | used to
have spirits by me, and every now and then
take drink 10 keep up my strength, | said
10 myself. la the long. warm days, in haying
and harvesting, the bottle used TO be patron.
ized literally. But | finally began to see
that il was growing hard for me to resist; aud
80 after deIiberating upon the subject came
to the conclusion that rum and tobacco did
me no good, and might DO much evil, and |
would leave them Of. aud did. So com.
meneod laying up the money they cost me.
saw how much might be saved IL cUuld DO
the work myself, had been obliged to pay
for, aud 50 began buying such tools as
thought would come handy. AT the end Of
the fret year found had quite collection.
and Il had all come from money might 9th.
erwise drank aud smoked up. aud ! felt
healthier aud happier than the year before.
knew had laid the foundation Tor future
good. Time passed on. my grog and tobse.
co money Kept coming in. II was now a
hammer, then a saw. then au augur, and an
other pl.ne, a bit stock. &C.. till have now
an excellent stock Of tools aud they are
no, only source Of great profit, but solid
comfort into The bargain. 1 believe, friend