Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-07-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE LABORING MAN.
A Sketch for Storekeepers.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Never judge man by the quality OF MS
clothes If man is habited 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
following, which happened within my own
knowledge aud observation
Christopher Goodhue, at the age of forty,
had amassed fortune in mercantile pursuits,
him he must leave the city, and quit his
present business Said the man of medi-
cine,-
'.Of course you must have employment,
aud that, too, of kind that shall exercise
YOUR best business faculties. Now I think,
my dear Goodhue, have just the thing for
you You have been at Walkers Falls, up
in franklin 2"
YES"
"WeIl,-those large mills arc for sale
both the wooden mill and the paper mill,
together with a machine-shop belonging to
them. The former owner is dead, and his
widow wishes to SELL Two hundred thou-
sand dollars, cash, am very sure you will
buy the whole property. You can pay that,
and yet have enough left to make you in
dependent of want or forced labor while you
live. And then, if you buy, you will natural
ly improve two or three excellent water priv
ileges which are now idle. Think of it, my
dear sir - \ healthy, snlubrious, and invig-
Grating mountain air retired and delightful
location fish and game Of all sorts ready to
your rod and gun whenever you feel like re-
taxation 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
-;.I,l L g., II Sba hln
woman, ad,-"Let us get out from the city.
o, we can be very happy in the free, fresh
air; and not only you, but our children and
myself will be better and stronger"
SO Christopher Goodhue went up to Walk
er's 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 | have come up here for healthful
exercise, shall hire men to do the drudgery
of close Office work. We must fix up around
the house. 1 am going to dig and hoe and
delve in the garden. So you must make me
pair of blue overalls and frock. l must
dress for the work l do"
Mrs. Goodhue smiled but the cheerful
tones of her husband, already vimmy and
robust, made her heart glad, and she and
the girls sat at work cheerfuly and merrily
upon the clothing for the new laboring man.
People were rejOiced when they. knew that
a wealthy business man from the distant 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 depended in
n Y,Do1 tbaJr thrift succeSS-
full management.
The principal store at Walkep's Falls was
kent by a man named Ralph Stover. He
had managed to work into the bulk of trade
through the partiality of the former proprie-
tor of the mills, with whom he had shared
the high profits on goods sold upon order TO
the employees of the mills. He was an honest
man as the world goes but with him Honesty
was Policy and nothing moro.
Eben Shackford kept the other proper
store,-and when 1 say, ''prcper store. l
mean regular country store, where goods of
all kinds, qualities, and varieties, are kept,
and where farmers can dispose of all sorts Of
transportable produce. Shackford was truly
an honest man-honest from the very inmost
instincts of his heart. With him honesty
was not so much principle as a part of his
nature. He had not laid up money. His
trading was mostly confined to an old run of
customers among the neighboring farmers,
while those who had money to pay for their
goods had been monopoIized by the more
stirring and scheming Slower.
al declare" said Slower, 81 must go and
see Mr.. Goodhue, and make some arrange
ment for securing his custom and his orders.
l calculate his trade and influence will be
worth more than thousand dollars year
clear profit. He must have got settled down
by this time, and ready for business. l wish
[ knew what sort of man he is. But L
guess shall know how to take him after
I've studied him a while. 1 can read human
nature pretty easily"
The trader was preparing to leave when a
laboring man entered the store-a man habited