The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-08-03
THE LABORING MAN.
A Sketch for Storekeepers
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

NeNer JuuSe man Dy Ine Quai1Iy
Of his clothes. If.a man. is habited
| in garb filthy and ragged, that is
one thing; but the simple garb of Ia
Dor may cover the best of men,
Among the many unfortunate mis-
takes which have been made in this
latter respect is the following, which
happened within my own knowledge
and observation !.
Chrfssepher Goodhue, at the age
of forty, had amassed fortune in
mercantile pursuits, and had lost his
health. His physician told him he
must leave the CITY, and quit his pres
ent business. Said the old man of
medicine
a"Of course you must have em-
| ployment, and that too, of a kind
that shall exercise your b:st business
faculties. Now L think my dear
Goodhue, 1 have just the thing for you.
You have been at Walker Falls, up
at Franklin ?" .---.. 49,.
eyes" &, s--
'Well-those large mills are for
sale-both the wooden mill and the
paper mill, together with machine
shop belonging to them. The former
owner is dead, and his widow wishes
to sell. Two hundred thousand dol
lars cash, l am very sure you will
buy the whole property. You can
pay that, and yet have enough left to
make you independent of want OF
forced labor while YOU live. And
then, if you buy, you will naturally
improve two or three excellent water
privileges which are now idle. Think
OF it, my dear sir;-A healthy, salu-
brious and invigorating mountain air ;
a retired and delightful location; Fl @h
and game of all scrts ready to your
rol and gun whenever you feel like
relaxation and recreation, and the
very hest school in the country for
! your children.
| MIR. Goodhue was taken with the
idea; but, like prudent man, he said
he would speak with his wife. He
did so, and she sensible woman, said,
ID t us get ont from the city. o.
we can be very happy in the free
fresh air but not only you, but the
children and myself will be better and
stronger.
So Christopher .Goodhue went W
to Walkers Falls, in the beautiful
village among the mountains, and
bought the mills, together with al
the Improved watcr-power: and with
in two weeks thereafter he had remOv
ed there with his family, and entered
| at once, heart and soul, into the work
of improvement. ...
"Now, Molly" he said to his wife
''yoI know I have come here fol
healthful exercise, shall hire men to
do the drudgery Of close office work
We must fix up around the house.
am going to dig and hoe and delve in
the garden. So YOU must make me a
pair of blue overalls and frock /
must dress fo- the work do"
Mrs. Goodhue smiled, but the
cheerful tones of her husband, already
vimmy and robust, made her hear
glad, and she and the girls set tt
work cheerfully and merrily upon the
clothes for the new laboring man,
| People were rcioiced when they
knew that wealthy business maj
from the city had bought the mills
because those same mills, employing
nearly two hundred hands, were the
life of the place and the real good
and prosperity of other business de
| pended in great measure upon thell
thrift and successful management.
The principal store at Walker
Falls was kept by man named
Ralph Stove. He had manage tC
work into the bulk of trade through
the partiality of the former proprietor
of the mills, with whom he had shar
ed the highest profits on goods sole
upon orders to the employees of the
mills. He was an honest man as th'
world goes; but with him Honesty
was Policy and nothing MORE -i,s 4
Eben Shackford kept the othel
proper store-and when I say 'propei
store,' 1 mean regular country store
where goods of all kinds, qualities an6
varieties are kept and where farmers
can dispose of all sorts of transporta
BILE produce. Shackford was truly ar
honest man-honest from the very in
stincts of his heart. With him hon
esty was not so much n principle as ;
part of his nature He had not laiC
up money. His trading was mostl.
confined to an old run of customers
among the neighboring farmers, Will
those who had money to pay 10,
their goods had been monopolized b.
the more stirring and scheming Sto
yer.
'sI declare" said Slower, "I mus
90 and see Mr.. Goodhue, and mak'
some arrangement for securing hi
custom and his orders. I calculat
his trade and his influences will b.
worth more than a thousand dollar
a year clear profit. He must hav
got settled down by this time anc
ready for business. l wish L kney
what sort of man he is But
guess 1 shall know how to take hin
\ after 1 have studied him a while
1 can read human nature pretty easi
! ly.." '..A
The trader was preparing to leav
the store when laboring man enter
ed the store-a man 'habited in blu
overalls and frock, and wearing al
old straw za.zs.ass.--s@z-s---7-~
''Mr. StoyeryI think, !, said the ney
conner,