Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-04-03
JONES AND JOHNSON.
BY MARIA B. cUsHNIAN.

not a particle of difference between The Two
,lnces Vol they wore a different aspect
fohnsou,s buildings looked nice and tidy. His
door ward was clean, his house neatly painted,
his windows whole His barns were snug and
comfortable his orchard looked thrifty, and the
trees we're carefully dressed. Now, Mr.. Jones
had no more of family to support than his
neiehbor, vet the aspect of his house and arm
we're very different. Old rubbish was kicking
around in his yard, that should have been in
less unsightly places his house looked weather
beaten and neglected; rugs were 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 disfgurcd 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 found
himself wondering how it was that his neighbor
johnson kept along smoothly and quiet, yet
had everything in such perfect order
One rainy day in the fall, after harvesting
was over johnson was at work in his tool
chamber, when his neghbor Jones entered.
johnson" said the latter, after he had
watched the movements of his neighbours plane
q few moments, chow much did that sled of
yours cost? / have got to get one this VIM
ter.
"Oh, that cost me nothing made that my
self. got out the timber last winter so that
matters disposed of and l feel proud of it,
too. It's my first attempt
"Well, neighbor Johnson, don't see how in
the world you get aloug so. Your farm don't
produce any more than mined does, and don't
% believe you work as hard as T do. Your wife
don't niake'any better butterthan mine; your
sheep don't grow any.better wool. You raise
more fruit TO be sure"
81 have not so many trees as you"
mo, but the fruit is of q better quality, and
finds ready market"
"Yes because ! have taken pains TO obtain
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 so tight and comfortable.
"And suppose you are laying up money!"
muttered Jones, with crest fallen look.
"Certainly, am-about two hundred year."
$50 much !" exclaimed Jones, with look of
surprise; "why can't lay up single cent; in
fact I'm running behind"
"Let me tell YOU the secret" said Johnson,
in the kindest and most neighborly way. Last
summer saw YOU buy two new rakes and two
pitchforks; now, how much did they all cost
you?"
"Let's sec-two dollars and half"
"Well, now, my fork-handles got broke last
winter, so did some of my rakes. | brought
them right up here and when had leisure
just fixed them up. There was so much saved
mo, indeed ii rains too hard"
but am to work making my apple-boxes 1;
how are you getting yours ?"
"Grandison makes them for me and l am
to give him barrel of apples"
(Which is as good as two dollars. Now if
you have as good a sled as mine made it will
cost you at the 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 were
beginning TO open.
"Yes, neighbour
"Well if had tools might save good
many sums in the course OF year, but l never
have the money TO spare for them. Why,
these ere tools of yourn must have cost morn
fifty dollars"
"Just about that
Then I'm mighty afraid shall have to scrape
along with borrowed tools. l shall never have
that sum to spare"
"You don't understood. Let me explain the
secret. l should never have gone with fifty
dollar bill ard bought these things have
procured one at time with my grog and to-
bacco money"
with look of blank surprise.
EYES," said Johnson, with smile. "Now,
am going to give you lecture
am going to give you the benefit of my ex
perience. The first year | began on farm
used spirits by me, and now and then took Il
drink to keep up my strength, said to myself
In the long, warm days, in haying and harvest.
ing the bottle used to be patronlzed Literally.
But finally began to see that it was growing
hard for me to resist and so after deliberating
upon the subject came to the conclusion that
rum and tobacco did me no good and might dc
me much evil, and would leave them off, and
did. So commenced laying up the money
they cost me. / saw how much mi ht be saved
if could only do the work myself had been
obliged to pay for, and so l began buying tools
as / thought would come handy. AT the end
of the first year found had quite collection
and it had all come from money might other
wise have drank or smoked up, and | fell
healthier and happier than did the year before
l knew / had laid the foundation for future
good. Time passed on; my grog and tobacco
money kept coming in. 1t was now a hammer
then saw, then new auger, and anothe
plane bit. stock, &c., till now l have an excel
lent stock of tools ane they are not only
source of great profit, but solid comfort in thu
bargain. | believe friend Jones, IN giving VI
my grog and tobacco have been great gain
er. Now, do you not think you would do a
well without it,"
johnson" said Jones at length, after pro
tracted silence, II wish you had told me of thi
long ago."
~ was afraid it might offend you it was
delicate matter at hest"
II know it, but Edwin Jones, is not the maj
to be offended with neighbour for friendly ad
vice."
"WelI," said johnson, with look of extreme
qualification, "its never too late to mend, anC
if you get in a pinch where fifty or IA hundred
dollars will be of use to you, come 10 me-"
Mr.. Jones thanked his friend with suspi
cious moisture shining in his eye, and shortl,
after took his leave. The very next day h
went into town, AID instead of filling his brown
jug and empty box, he brought home ney
auger, and proud and happy man was he a
work with his own tools. Time passed away
and he soon found himself the owner of quite
little lot of implements This operated il
many ways for good. Now that he had IN
ability to fix up his buildings without borrow
ing tools, he began to take certain pride i,
doing it. He reset his windows, rooted his no.
house, built new pig pens, frightened his barn
and in rainy weather was never without
pleasant and profitable employment Ills COW
do not break through the harn-hoor now, am
they give as much milk, his bees make as muc
honey, his trees yield as good apples as hi