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

Pretty goOQ TOT one Oay WOrk.
Farmer Rankin rubbed his hands briskly
together, after depositing in his desk con,
trsc, between himself and poor neighbor.
Pretty good, little wife. Do you know
bow fast the money comes in? There is
nothing like making good bargains. Pass
the apples and cider, James.
Mrs. Rankin looked up from her sewing
with troubled gaze. Il hope you have
not been too hard with him, John, his family
are very needy"
II have given fine job to him and his
bop. They can do well enough at eighty
seven and seventy Eve cents q cord for wood
ehopping 1 paid only Fifty cents per cord
l,st winter.
Il thought you were paying one dollar I?
said his wife
Il am paying according to my agree
ueuts," replied Mr. Rankin in a tone of
sight displeasure. There Was something in
his Tife's manner that reproved him, as he
watched the busy fingers. as they shot the
needy with sharp click through the cam.
hric
The children had retired, and Farmer
Rankin sat toying with the rich, mellow ap
pes before him, while his wife kept on at
her sewing.
john"
"WeuI''
Are you paying Thomas Barnes one dol
hrper cord for cutting wood in your woods?"
Yes
You will have to draw it three miles ?"
About that.
'Ycu are to pay Joe Miller eighty-sev
cents per csrd for wood cut in his woods,
and you have to draw it two miles and a
hslfg'
Yes. quite saving of time and money.
There, wife: | understand that peculiar
box Of ycars, which always warns ue of a
scture on ethics. I tell you 1 have done
vel enough by him. If can give a man
god job, and at the same time make it prof.
table to myself, you ought to be pleased.
Joe Miller wishes to clear his land. l am
to give him eighty seven cents per cord for
two hundred cords. | have paid fifteen dol
i,'s IN advance, and am to pay the balance
unOn as it is piled and measured"
1t viii take them a long time to cut that
much wood; besides cutting what they will
be obliged to burn in the mean time. And
what are the family to do while they are cut
ting it? They are dependent upon his daily
labor for their bread heard him tell you
that the money you paid him would scarcely
tuy the boots that he and his boys must have
before they can work"
That Is no concern of mine. If pay
When the work is done, it will be quite
snough-more than many others would do.
before commencing, they eau work out a
s' days and earn bread and meat to last
men through the time"
We are not to be guided by what others
you'd do. The question is, what ought we
% DO! Can you afford to pay Thomas
Barnes one dollar per cord2
Mr. Rankin WINGED under the peuetrat-
ing look OF his wife.
les, but could not get it done cheaper,
S'Aatls the least anybody is paying in or
1ll'Ty timber, and Barnes knew the market
pnee OF wood, and knew Just how much l
could draw in one day"
Ihen Ihomss Barnes understands the
worth OF labor better than Joe Miller"
les save just twenty six dollars on
"T ehoppIng, provided he fills the contract,
.Da hftyit not. Then the difference in draw
'Us aud furnishing the wood makes what l
l good bargain, said Mr.. Rankin, with
"s ss chuckle, as he quaffed glass of cider.
yrather, bad bargain, my husband, Z"
'4'a MIS- Rankin, with . half smothered
sn' Bargains are not to be estimated by
mars and cents only. If we cannot stand
l acquitted in our dealings with others,
are mlserably poor, heaping up dross in
''saa OF gold. | am sorry to see you taking
''ahtage of a poor necessity"
Nonsense y said Mr.. Rankin contempt
Ouay' Your nice distinction of right and
'''os VIII not bear the wear and tear of bus
iness.,'
ihey will bear the light of eternal truth
a Whatever can survive that ordeal can
=" The test of this poor perishable world.
"o'ulng to your expressed idea of conduct
business, you make it sin to accumu-
late wealth.
How so p
" there is no way of making bushes.
'uunerative through strict integrity, ther
wrong to accumulate wealth and i