The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-12
JONES AND JOHNSON.
by MARIA b. CUSHMAN,

william johnson and Edwin Jones
were both farmers, and they were also
near neighbors. Their farms were
beautifully situated. the soil naturally
productive. So far there was not par
ticle of difference between the two places.
Yet they wore different aspect.
Johnson's buildings looked nice and tidy.
His door yard was clean, his house neat
ly painted, his windows whole. His
barns were snug and comfortable, his
orchard looked thrifty, and the trees
carefully dressed. Now, Mr. Jones had
no more of a family to support than his
neighbor, yet the aspect Of his house and
farm was very different. Old rubbish
was kicking around in his yard that
should have bean in less unsighdy places /;
his house looked weatherbeaten and neg
lected /; rags were put in spots where
panes of glass are expected TO be found ];
there Were large cracks in the siding
through which the winds had free course;
his apple trees were disfgured by old
bark and dead limbs in short, every
where seemed TO wear a look of dilapida-
ton and neglect. Edwin Jones was a
hard working man, yet everything was
at loose ends with him, and he often
found himself wondering how it was that
bis neighbor Johnson kept along so
smoothly and quietly, and yet had every
thing in such perfect order.
= x 4 x
One rainy day in the fall, after har
vesting was over, johnson was at work
in his tool chamber, when his neighbor
Jones entered.
Johnson" said the latter, after he
had watched the movements of his
neighbours plane, few moments, :" how
much did that sled of yours cost? /
have got TO get one this winter
Oh, that cost me noihing-I made
that myself. | got out the timber last
winter, so that matters disposed Of and
| feel proud Of it, too. It's my first at
tempt.
Well, neighbor Johnson, don't see
how in the world you get along SO.
our farm don't produce any more than
mine does, aud don't believe you work
so 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"
i" have not so many trees as you"
No, but the fruit is of a better quail
ty, and iads a ready market"
" Yes, because | have taken pains 10
obtain the best gratis. My trees were
the same as yours when we started. My
cows give more milk than yours do in
the winter because they have a warmer
barn. | raise more pork than you dc
because my pens are tight and comfort.
able
Z" And | suppose you are laying NJ
money p mutlered Jones, with a crest.
fallen look.
Certainly lam. About two hundred
a year"
So much !" exclaimed Jones, with ;
look OF surprise " why, | can't lay W
a single cent-in fact | am running be
hind"
Let me tell you secret" said John
sor, 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 sce-two dollars and half"
Well. now, my fork handles &C
broke last winter, so did some of my
rakes, brought them right up here
and when | had leisure just fixed then
up. There was so much saved Ne,
, you have nothing at all to DO TO day"
No, indeed, il rains too hard
, :" But | am at work making my appl
boxes; how are you getting yours ,"
" Grandson makes them for me an
, am TO give him barrel Of apples"
Which is as good as two dollar.
Now, il you have as good sled as min
r made, it will cost You, at least, lively
4 dollars. You see how these things coul
! up"
And all this comes of your havin
tools to work WITH" returned Jones
! whose eyes We're beginning to open.
. &" les, neighbor"
Well, if had tools l might save
a good many sums in the course of year
but | never have the money to spare {,
them. Why, these ere tools of your
n must have cost MORN fifty dollars"
n " just about that"
9 Then I'm mighty afraid | shall ha,
!, to sc;ape along with borrowed tools.
shall never have that sum to spare"
g You don't understand Let me e,
l. plain the secret. | should never hay
II gone with fifty dollar bill and bougl
these tools. | have procured ohe at
time with my grog and tobacco money.
Grog and tobacco money :" repea
ell Jones. with n look Of blank surprise
Yes" said Johnson, with smil
= :" Now am going to give you a lectur
. | am going TO give you the benefit OF n
Is experience The first year | began
Of work on farm | used to keep spirits b
q me. aud now and then took n drink,
! keep up my spirits, | said to myself,
: the long warm days in having aud la
vesling. tile bottle used to be patronih,
OF literally. But | finally began to S,
Is that il was growing hard for me to resis
,e and 50, after celebrating upon the SUI
\, ject came to the conclusion that III
= and tobacco did me no good. aud mig
i DO me much evil aud would lea,
p them of and | did. So commence