The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-27
Jones and johnson.


productive. So far there particle of difference
between the two places Yet they wore very differ
ent aspect. Johnsons buildings looked nice and tidy.
His door yard was clean his house neatly painted his
windows whole. His barn and outbuildings 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 neghbor yet the aspects of his house and farm
were very different Old rubbish wash kicked around in
the yard that should have been in less unsghtlv places:
his house looked weatherbeaten and neglected. rags
in spots where panes of glass were expected
to be found there large cracks the barn. through
which the winds OF heaven had free course His apple
trees were disfgured by old bark and dead limbs: in
short everything seemed to look Of dilapidation
and neglect
Edwin Jones was hard working man, yet everything
at loose ends with him. and he often caught himself
wondering how it that his neighbor johnson kept
along smoothly and quiet and yet had everything 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
"Oh that cost me nothing; made that myself I got
out the timber last winter that matters disposed Of
and feel proud of it too. It's nay first attempt"
swell, neighbor johnson, | don't see how in the
world you get along so. Your farms doat produce any
more than mine does, and don't believe you work as
hard 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
Il have not so many trees you
"No, but the fruit is of better quality, and finds a
ready market
eyes, because have taken pains 10 obtain the best
gratis. Ny trees the same yours when we
started My give milk than yours do in the
winter because they have warmer barn ] raise more
pork than you do because my pens tight and com
Portable and so on"
''And l suppose you are laying up money!" muttcred
Jones, with a crest-fallen look
Certainly Iam-about two hundred dollars year "
$50 much!n exclaimed Jones' with look Of surprise;
'why, can't lay up single cent in fact am running
behind"
'Let me tell You the secret said Johnson in the
kindest and most neighbory way. Last summer saw
you buy two rakes, and pitchforks; how much
did they all cost you?"
'Lets see--two dollars and half"
"Well, my fork-hande got broke last winter, so did
some of my rakes. brought them right up here, and
when at leisure, just fixed them up. Now, you have
nothing at all to do to-day"
"No, indeed; it rains too hard"
''ButI am at work, making my apple-boxcs; how are
you going to get yours?'
''Grainson makes them for nae and am to give him
a barrel of apples
(Which is as good as two dollars. Now if YOU have
good sled as mine, made, it will cost you at least
twelve dollars You how these little things count
up
"And all this comes of your having tools to work
with, returned Jones' whose eyes we're beginning to
open.
''Yes, neighbor.'
We'll if had tools l might save a good many sums
in the Of year, bnt never have the money to
spare for them Why, these ere tools of yourn must
cost MORN fifty dollars"
'Just about that"
IL r L,
with borrowed tools. shall never have that to
spare"
'You don't understand. Let me explain the secret.
should never have gone with fifty dollar bill and
bought these things. ! have produced one at time
with mygrog and tobacco money!
"Grog and tobacco money! repeated Jones' with a
look efblank surprise
''Yes, said Jones with a smile. tNow I am going
to give you lcctare. ] am going to give the benefit
fmy experience. The first year l began on a farm
ased to have spirits by me, and every and then
take drink to keep up my strength, said to myself
IN the long, warm days, in hayng and harvesting, the
bottle uscd to be paEonised libcraly. But finally
began to that growing hard for to resist
and So after deiberating upon the subject, came to
the conclusion that and tobacco did no good,
and might do much evil and would leave them off,
and did. So commenced laying up the money they
cost me. ] saw howmuch would be saved if could do
the work myself had been obliged to pay for and so
l began buying such tools as | thought would come
handy At the end of the first year found had quite
a collection, and it all came from the money might
have otherwise drank and smoked up and felt healthier
and happier than the year before. knew had laid
the foundation for future good. Time passed on and
nv grog and tobacco money kept coming in 1t was
now hammer, then saw, then auger and another
plane, bit-stock &C. till have now an excellent set
of tools; and they not only of great profit
but solid comfort into the bargain ] believe friend
Jones in giving up my grog and tobacco have been
great gamer. Now, do you not think you would do
we'll without its'
"Johnson said Jones, at length, after protracted
silence, II wish you had told me Of this long ago"
Il was afraid it might offend you it is delicate
matter at best"
Il know it, but Edwin Jones is net the man to be
offended with neighbor for friendly advice"
swell" said johnson, with look of extreme gratif-
cation ss never late to mend; and if you get in
pinch where fifty or hundred dollars will be of any
use to you come to me-"
Mr. Jones thanked his friend with suspicious moist
ire shining in his eve and shortly after took his leave
The very time he went to town. instead of relng
his brown jug and empty box he brought home a new
auger and aproud and happy was he at work with
his own tools Time passed away, and he soon found
himself the of quite little lot of implements
This thing operated in many ways for good Now that
he has the ability to fix up the building without borrow
ing tools, he began to take pride in doing it. He
reset his windows rooted his beehoEse built pig
pens, tlghtened his barn, ana IN rainy weather was
never without pleasant and profitable employment
His do not break through the barn floor now and
they give as much milk his bees make as much honey
his trees yield good apples his neghbor Johnsons
do; and all this is because he stopped his grog and
tobacco expenditures, bought his TOOLS and left off
depending on his neghbors; and so he is happy,
thriving and contcned farmer.
THE POPULATION OF HELL.-It he's been estimated
that there at this time on earth about 10 monso
Jews 10 millions Of nominal christians l4O millions Of