The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-15
STOVER'S MISTAKE
A STORY WITH A MORAL.

\ VI his ClOIueS. IL ludu 10 udplOSu
in garb filthy and ragged-that is one
thing; but the simple garb Of labor may
cover the best of men, Among the many
unfortunate mistakes which have been
made in this latter respect is the follow
ing, which happened within my own
knowledge and observation
Christopher Goodhue, at the age of
forty, amassed fortune in mercantile
pursuits, and had lost his health His
physician told him he must leave the city
and quit his present business.
"Of course you must have employment,
and that, too, of kind that shall exercise
your best business faculties. Now |
think, my dear Goodhue, l have just the
thing for you. You have been at
Walkers Falls, up in Franklin? ?"
eyes"
"Well, those large mill are for sale
both the woolen mill and the paper mill,
together with machine shop belonging
to them. The former owner is dead, and
his widow wishes to sell 5000, 900, L am
very sure we will buy the whole property.
You can pay that and yet leave enough
to make you independent And then, if
you buy, you will naturally improve two
or three excellent water privileges which
are now idle. Think of it, dear, sir A
very healthy, salubrious and invigorating
mountain air /; a retired and delightful To-
cation game of all sorts ready to your
rod and gun whenever you wish relaxa-
ton and recreation; and the very best
school in the country for your children.
Mr.. Goodhue was taken with the idea
but, like prudent man, he said he would
speak with his wife. He did SO, and the,
sensible woman, said: Let us go from
the city. Oh, we can be so happy in free,
fresh air; and not only you, but our chill
dren will be better and stronger"
So Chris. Goodhue went up to Walkers
Falls, in the beautiful village among the
mountains, and bought the mills together
with all the unimproved water power,
and within two weeks thereafter he had
removed thither with his family, and
entered at once heart and soul, into the
work of improvement.
Now, Molly" he said to his wife,
{" you know I have come up here for
healthful exercise and shall hire men to
do the drudgery of close Office work. We
must fix up around the house. l 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
for the work | do"
Mrs. Goodhue smiled, but the cheer
full tone of her husband, already vimmy
and robust, made her heart glad, and she
and the girls set to work cheerfully and
merrily upon the clothing for the new
laboring man.
People were rejoiced when they knew
that wealthy business man from the
distant city had bought the mills, en-
ploying nearly two hundred hands, which
were the life of the place, and the good
and prosperity of other business depen-
ded in great measure upon their thrift
and successful management.
The principal store at Walkers Falls
was kept by man named Ralph Slower
He had managed to work into the bulk
of trade through the partiality of the
former proprietor of the mills, with whom
he had shared the high profits on goods
sold upon orders to the employees of the
mills. He was an honest man, as the
world goes; but with him honesty is poll
cy, and nothing more.
Eben Shackford kept the other propel
store, and when say "proper store,
/ mean regular country store, wher'
goods of all kinds, qualities and varie
ties are kept, and where farmers can dis
pose of all sorts of transportable produce
Shackford was truly an honest ant
upright man. With him honesty wa
not so much principle as part Of hi
nature. He had not laid up money
His trading was mostly confined to al
old run of customers among the neighbor
ing farmers, while those who had none
to pay for their goods had been monopc
lized by the more stirring and schemin
Slower.
81 believe" said Stover, "I must G
and see Mr. Goodhue, and make som
arrangement for securing his custom an,
his orders. / calculate his trade and in