Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-03-17

iuoucy lOE aufauCeueut. All DraEcnel
of business are not equally emolumental;
man is free to choose"
"Ah my little theorist! nothing shor,
of theoracy could ever bring men up tc
your standard"
u would have every man heed the whis
perings of the conscience which God ha:
planted in lis breast. Had you given Joe
Miller terms little easier you would be bet
ter satisfied with yourself, my husband
you know the conditions are hard
He went away satisfied in all, save wanting
his pay on every twenty-five cords But
knew he would not cut on such terms hall
as much as want. They will have to work
little harder, but when the get it done
they will have more money than they evel
had at once. 1t is fine chance for Joe
Miller to pay for his land. intend to give
them all the chopping they can do for a year;
he is slow, indecisive sort of "a fellow-one
of your honest sort, wife. Bah dispise
such men. They are mere fungi in every.
thing they undertake that requires tact and
perseverance-always poor"
The victims of too many good bargains
perhaps"
Mr.. Rankin bit his lip in chagrin.
''Your conclusions are forced and cruel, "
continued his wife. ''If you can afford to
pay Thomas Barnes one dollar per cord-and
you are not the man to pay it unless you find
it pro6table-you can and ought to pay
Joe Miller the same. He has large, needy
family, and he probably felt compelled to
make the most of the opportunity"
81 tell you, wife, he was delighted when
he cast up the amount, and found that he
could so nearly pay for his land. l told him
1 would give him on such terms all the chop
ping he can do"
Therein lies the wrong. You held up
glittering temptation, that the poor man
could not resist. Alas for poor human na-
turei 1t seemed SO easy to reach out and
grasp the-bubble for bubble it is. John
Rankin, you know he cannot fill that con-
tract without distressing his family, and you
could, as we'll as not, have given him more
time, as you will not draw the wood before
fall or winter"
He can fillit, if he tries hard"
"You have made no allowance for any
delays that may occur, and the mere fact of
putting the price at seventy five cents in
case of his failing to have it ready in the
time specified, shows that you entertained a
doubt, at least, about it. Twenty four dollars
to that poor man 10 a deal to lose, and there
is no telling what privations the family may
have to endure by this trying to fill the con-
tract. You will pay Thomas Barnes forty
dollars more for the same amount of work
than you will pay Joe Miller, and he is not
half so needy. The difference in drawing is
worth something to you, according to your
own estimate, to say nothing of the worth of
the woed as it stands"
That is nothing to him, as he is going
to clear bis land, whether have the wood
or not. :"
There was anger in his tone, for he had
silenced just such thoughts in his own breast.
Mrs Rankin could not see him deliberate.
ly wronging poor man without remonstra-
ting though she knew from bitter experience
that to her husband her words were as sound
ing brass.
1T may be nothing to HIM." SIZE said,
but to you know it is. He has taken up
a piece Of wood land, and to make the FIRST
payment, has paid out the last dollar he
possesses. To make out the required
amount, he sold his cow In the contract,
you give him fifty days, ,sand if the two hun
dred cords are not ready for measurement
in that time, you are to pay him only seven
FIVE cents"
THAT was put in as spur, for want
the wood, and would have agreed to pay
him one dollar, rather than not to have it /;
though L expect a man to do as he agrees
| always do"
Yes; but you are very careful as to what
you agree" said his wife with a meaning
smile.
''Ah therein lies one great secret of
success in business. l made sufficient al
lowance for hinderances. He and his boys
can put up six cords day, with ease: but
will allow them thirty FIVE days, and that
will give them fifteen days to work elsewhere
for bread. l am not so bad man, after
all, if do like good bargains"
''How do you make it fifteen days?'
"Humph! is not tho differences fifteen be-
tween fifty and thirty-fve?"
Would you compel man to work on the
Sabbath ?"
II did not think of the Sabbaths," STAN
mered Mr.. Rankin, looking greatly con-
fused.
He had no need to remark the pale, over
worked, heart burdened woman before him
that the Sabbath was not in all his thoughts.
She knew him better than he knew him
self; knew him to be a grasping, extortion-
ate man in his dealings with others, and she
trembled for the poor man that had, a few
hours before, left the house. She had rea
soned with her husband until reason seemed
futile, and every day she was conscious oi
losing confidence in his integrity. Sad mus'
be the day to that wife, who has a love and
reverence for truth and honesty, that bring:
home to her soul the sickening truth thai
her husband is unworthy of the sacred plac
es in her heart No true woman can rever