The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-08-05
TIME VERSUS MONEY.
AsKETCu FoRTARD PEOPLE
BY sY1yANUs COBB, JR.

| "Well, Susan, I'm in luck at last" cried
Abney Lpham, entering the kitchen, where
his wife was at work. He threw his hat upor
the floor; then set down by the stove, and
| pulled out his pipe I'm made man after
all this time. Richard Groom has bought
the Thornley, farm, and will sell to me the
land this side Of the road. What dye think
of that ?"
Mrs. Lapham's eyes grew bright, and a
pleased expression irradiated her face The
land Ct which her husband had spoken was a
beautiful piece of dry, rich meadow, lying
along the southerly line of his farm, and ge
graphically, belonging thereto. Not only
was this land necessary to make up such q
farm as Lipham wanted, but it lay directly
between him and the main road, and he wish
ed to open passage that way. He had on
| several occasions offered far more than the
| land was worth to any one else,-or more than
| it was worth in the market,-but the former
owner would not SELL ~ }4
| "Mr. Groom ?" repeated Susan, querying.
| ly. He is the man who has bought the old
Cults estate?"
Yes" f@
go, I'm glad, Abner, you are to have that
land. It should never have been sold from
| this farm. You are sure Of it 2"
81 am if Mr. Groom is man of truth"
You can depend upon that, am positive"
Aud what do you know about HIM, Su-
san ?"
Why,-I heard him speak at our Confer
ence, last Sunday evening; and know he is
| a true man. There are men who can deceive
you-bad men who can appear to be good 3
but I never knew really good man to APP
pear bad IF you have Mr.. Groom's word,
you may depend upon it."
II have it, said Abner, whose pipe was
now well lighted and as he spoke he tipped
back at his ease
Have you turned the Aax, Abner 2"
Not yeti
You are losing glorious sunshine"
must have my smoke first. But-about
this land-I have the refusal of it until Sat
urday and am to have it for twenty dollars
an acre. Only think Il offered Thompson
thirty dollars for it.
'1,hat is certainly cheap, Abner; and I
hope you won't let it slip from you"
allow can I, if Groom is man Of his
word ?"
"That's the very thing" said Mrs. Lip
ham, seriously. And she came and stood by
the stove. q Mr.. Groom is not only man
of his word; but his word is his bond. Do
you remember the subject of his remarks at the
Confcrence?" sy e;
"No,--I wasn't paying particular atten-
ton"
"Ah Abner, there it is. You invariably
let slip the very thing you most need. If you
hear funny story atsthe village store, you
are sure to remember it but word of sound
philosophy Of life you do not heed"
"Well, we'll and what did Mr.. Groom
say that was so wonderful 2"
"Not wonderful, Abner; but simple and
common sense. He spoke of the value of
Time, and the need of Punctuality. He said
that time was Of more consequence than
Money. He would much rather man would
fail to pay note at the appointed time than
fail to keep an appointment in person. Mo-
ney not paid when due might be subsequently
collected, and with interest, too; but Time
lost was lost forever. He said that the man
who robbed him of his time did him full as
much practical wrong as the man who should
rob him of his money He closed his remarks
by saying that the man who habitually came
to his business appointments behind time was
one with whom it was unsafe to deal. At all
events, he said, you could never depend upon
such man; and with one upon whom he
could not depend he preferred to have as little
business relation as possible"
every good idca-very good" admitted
Abner, putting forth dense cloud Of smoke
"And one by which certain individual
Of my acquaintance might profit" vcntured
Susan.
"Bah! Don't be hitting there again ?