Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-22
A GOOD DAYS WORK.

do another,'' said Mr.. Barlow, rubbing his
hands together briskly, and with the air of a
man who felt very much pleased with himself
"And so have IL Mrs. Barlow's voice was
in lower tone, and less eXultanJ, yet indIca-
tive of spirit at peace with itself.
'sIet us compare notes." said Mr.. Barlow, in
the confident manner of one who knows that
triumph will be on his side, sand see which
has done the best days work."
.'You, of COURSE" returned the gentle
hearted wife,
awe shall see. Let the history of your
days doings precede mine.''
"No," said Mrs. Barlow, ''you shall give
the first experience
every Wells And, full of his subject, Mr..
Barlow began:
"You remember the debt of Warfield, about
which spoke few days ago 7''
"Yes."
ssI considered it dcsperate-would have sold
out my interest at thirty cents on the dollar
when L left home this morning. Now the
whole claim is secure. 1t was a sharp practice;
but the thing is done. / don't believe that
another creditor Of Wariield will get third
Of his claim.
srhe next operatiOn,'' continued Mr. Bar
low, 81 consider quite as good. About year
ago took fifty acres Of land in Erie county,
for debt, at valuation of five dollars an acre.
sold it to-day for ten. don't think the
man knew just what he was buying. He called
10 sec me about it, and l asked ten dollars an
acre for it at a venture, when he promptly laid
down one hundred dollars to bind the bargain.
If should never see him again / am all right.
That is transaction number two. Number
three is as pleasant to remember. / sold lot
Of goods, almost year out of date, to young
country merchant, for cash. He thinks he
has bargain: :and perhaps he has (; but would
have let them go at any time during the past
six months at a loss of thirty per cent, and
thought the sale desirable one.
"NOw, there is my good days work, Jenny,
and it is one to be proud of. | take some
credit TO myself for being, on the whole, a
pretty bright sort of man, and bound to go
through. Let us have your story now.'
The face of Mrs. Barlow flushed slightly.
Her husband waited few moments and then
said
''Let us hear of the yards of stitching, and
the piles of good things made"
'No-nothing Of that" answered Mrs. Bar
low with slight veil Of feeling covering her
pleasant voice. "I had another meaning when
spoke of having accomplished good days
work. And now, as my doings will bear no
comparison with yours, think of declining
their rehearsal.''
ga bargain is bargain, jenny said Mr..
Barlow s'Word keeping is a cardinal virtue. !
SO let your story be told. You have done
good days work in your own estimation, for
Mrs. Barlow still hesitated But after
little more urging, she began the story of
good days work. Her voice was little SUBJ
dued and there was an evident shrinking from
the subject about which she felt constrained
to speak.
"I resolved last night" said she, "after
passing some hours of self examination and
self-upbraidings, that would, for one day,
try to possess my soul in patience. And this |
bp tria al Hav 7
Mrs. Barlow looked up with timid, half
oashui air at her husband. She did not meet
his eyes, for he had turned them partly away.
"les, de- Jenny, go on" The husbands
Ouoyancy OF tone was gone. In it's place was
something tender and pensivc.
"Lttle Eddy was unusually fretful this
morning, as you will remember. He seemed |
perVerse, | thought-cross, as we call it. 1 !!
was tempted to speak harshly two or three
Imes but, bering my good resolution,
put on the armor OF patience, and never let |
nun hear tone of my voice that was not |
loVlng one. Dear little fellow When 1
went TO wash him, after breakfast, / found,
Just behind one of his ears, a small inf1amed |
DOLL 1t has made him slightly feverish and |
Worrisome all day. Oh, wasn't glad that
patience had ruled my spirit!''
"Aiter you went away to the store, Mary |
got into one of her bad humors. She didn't |
want to go TO school to begin with then she
couldn't find her slate ; and then her shoe
punched her. l felt very much annoyed but
'eealng my good resolution. l met her ir-
t"ation with calmness, her wilfulness with
patent admonition, her stubborn temper with
gentle rebuke and so I conquered. She
SIsSed me, and started for school with cheer
t iul countenance, her slate in her satchel, and
m mnef plnching shoe unheeded. And SO had
my reward.
But my trials were not over. Some extra
,."a,s,hng was needed. So called Ellen, and
W. ,uiu her that Mary would require frock and
wv pairs of drawers to be washed out, the ba-
u; Aome slips, and you some pocket handker-
''e's' saucy refusal lsaped from the girls