The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-08-06
MisffIIaufnMs.
JOHN BOYDEN'S INVESTMENT,

John BOyden was young farmer,
who lived in a country village, and was
an honest honorable fellow, who be-
lieved in doing just as he promised and
only promising what he could perform.
In this respect, at least, he was the very
soul of honor. He would not have
wronged man out of Il cent, to use his
own phrase, no more'n he'd chop his
right hand off. And everybody knew
he felt what he said. They respected
him for his uprightness, and prophesied
that John would buy himself nice farm
some day, and make one of their best
men. For, Notwithstanding the rich.
ness of his heart, John was poor in
worldly goods. He had commenced in
life by working upon neighboring farms
by the day or week, and in a short time
had saved enough to furnish humble
little house which he had bought upon
long credit.
But an evil day came upon John. He
was engaged with neighbor digging a
drain on his premises, when a sudden
dash of rain drove them to the house.
"Don't you want to look at the paper,
John?" the man asked, passing him
the city sheet, which had arrived the
previous evening.
He took the paper, rather to pass the
time than for any other purpose, as he
was not given to reading extensively
While he sat listlessly running his eyes
down the columns, he came to that part
devoted to advertisements. He would
have turned the sheet, but at that mo.
ment his gaze was arrested by para
graph, headed,
1925 DOLLARS PER DAY TO AGENTS v'
He read the strange announcement
then re-read t,being very careful in re-
gard to the figures. Then he muttered
to himself, "Well, now if that DOM
beat all ] ever heard of-'twenty-fivt
dollars dayv / wish i could get int
such business. I'dbe content with ter
dollars-yes, or five either"
He read the paragraph attentively
There was surely an opportunity fol
him. An agent, one or more, was wan
ted in every town throughout the Uni
ted States. What If he should be the
fortunate one to secure this COLDER
| chance! He really trembled lest some
body else should see the paper and ge
the coveted agency.
"Twenty-iive dollarsa day, "he refiec
ted; "a hundred and fifty dollars ,
week; six hundred dollars month
seven thousand eight hundred year =
at that rate he would become rich MAJ
in no time! Literally his credulity wa
running away with him. The enormous
figures had turned his brain at the frs
sight. If he could but get that situation
he would ask nobody to trust him. Nei
ther would he work for such paltry wa
ges any longer, Already he began t
consider what farm he should purchase
None within the circle of his acquaint
ance seemed fully to meet his wishes
But there would be time enough to con
slider that, when he should have tn
cash in hand.
The rain had ceased by this time, an,
they were ready to return to their worl
or rather the employer was ready
John carefully tore the address of tn
agency party from the paper, placed
in his pocket, and worked through tn
long hours of the afternoon.
Upon reaching home his first though
was to consult his wife upon the subjet
but no thought ii would be an agrees
BILE surprise to her, when he shOul
have commenced to reap the harvest
SO he said nothing 10 her about 1t. ii
wrote to the concern, requesting a
agency extensive enough TO Occup
him continually; and added many otl
er things which he hal better not hay
written. t.
The following day he made preteA
ofa headache to visit the village pos
Office some two miles distant. He sa
4 his letter safely in the mail, and the
returned to his work. He assisted
the afternoon in building stone fenc
{ but the labor was hard, and John Bo,
. den was sure he had never perform'