The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-12
JONES AND JOHNSON.
BY MARIA D. CUsHMAN.

w Hiidh ooHHSoi dHu LuWIH cOHes
were both farmers, and they we're also
near neighbors. Their farms were
beautifully situated, the soil naturally
productive. So far there was not par
tlcle of difference between the two places.
Yet they wore a 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 been in less unsightly 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; j;
his apple trees were disfgured by old
bark and dead limbs; in short. every
where seemed 10 wear 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
his neighbor Johnson kept along SO
smoothly and quietly, and yet had every
thing in such perfect order.
* X
One rainy day in the fall, after har-
vestins 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, chow
much did that sled of yours cost? /
have got 10 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 il, too. It's my first at
tempt.
Well, neighbor Johnson, don't see
how in the world you get along SO.
-FOUR farm don't produce any more than
mine does, and 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
" have not so many trees as you"
No, but the fruit is of better quail
ty. and finds ready Market"
Yes, because / have taken pains to
obtain the best gratis. Ny trees were
the same as yours when we started. Ny
cows give more milk than yours do in
the winter because they have warmer
barn. | raise more pork than you do
because my pens are tight and comfort
able.
And | suppose you are laying up
money - mutlered Jones, with a crest
fallen look.
Certainly lam. About two hundred
a year"
{" So much !" exclaimed Jones, with a
look ofsurprise /; &c why, L can't lay up
single cent--in fact am running be
hind"
Let me tell you secret, 4" said John
son, in the kindest and most neighborly
way. g Last summer | saw you buy
two new rakes and two pitchforks now
how much did they all cost you ?"
Let's see-two dollars and half"
We'll, 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. Now
you have nothing at all TO do to day"
No, indeed, it rains too hard"
But am at work making my apple
boxes how are you getting yours ?"
Grandson makes them for me and
| am TO give him barrel Of apples"
Which is as good as two dollars.
Now, il You have as good sled as mine
made, il will cost you, at least. twelve
dollars. You see how these things coun,
up"
I" And all this comes of your having
tools to work WITH" returned Jones,
whose eyes were beginning TO open.
:" Yes, neighbor."
" Well. il had tools might save a
good many sums in the course Of year /;
but | never have the money to spare for
them. Why, these ere tools of yourn
must have cost morn fifty dollars"
just about that"
4" Then I'm mighty afraid shall have
to sesape along with borrowed tools. i
shall never have that sum to spare"
You don't understand. Let me ex-
plain the secret. | should never have
gone with fifty dollar bill and bought
these tools. have procured ole at a
time with my grog and tobacco money"
" Grog and tobacco money ?" repeat
ed Jones. with a look Of blank surprise.
Yes" said Johnson, with a smile.
Now | am going TO give you lecture.
/ | am going TO give you the benefit OF my
experience. The first year | began 10
work on a farm | used TO keep spirits By
me, and now and then took drink, TO
keep up my spirits. said 10 myself. Ia
the long warm days in having and har-
vesting. the bottle used to be patroniked
literally. But finally began to see
that il was growing hard for me to resist.
and so, after deliberating upon tho sub.
ject, came 10 the conclusion that rum
and tobacco did ma no good. aud might
do me much evil. and | would leave
them of, and | did. So commenced
laylnW nm tha Innnpv thav rNSt ma