The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-11-09

| thought it would be just as well to
keep a monthly account at the store.
And Mr.. Skid himself preferred the
plan.' @a
~ can see very readily why Mr..
Skid should prefer it," said the wife,
with a significant smile. "In the first
place he knows that you are an indus
trious, steady and honorable man, and
that whatever you owe you will surely
pay. He knows that"
George was hattered, but he felt that
his wife had spoken no more than the
truth. ..s,
"And," pursued Hattie, "He knows
one thing more: He knows you will
buy more for credit than you would
for cash.
George made deprecatory motion,
but his wife continued:
"Mr. Skid knoaus. He is old in the
business. Over his good customers,
who open a monthly account in his
ledger, he has decided advantages.
He can persuade them to buy what
they would not buy if they had to pay
the cash down; and where they are to
have credit-where the trader is to
have the extra labor and expense of
entering and posting each separate
article, and, in the end, Of making a
full bill Of items-the buyer can not
with good conscience demand reduc-
ton from asked prices"
George smiled, and said he tn ought
she was mistaken. He was sure he
was doing well. 1t would he inconveni-
ent to pay for each little article as he
ordered it. And, furthermore, it
would be handler to settle his store
bills when his employer settled with
him.
Hattie did not press the matter. She
had brought the matter upon the tapis,
and she was willing to await the de-
velopment Of events.
"By the way, Mr.. Brown, do you
not want a box Of these figs? They
are fresh-I will warrant them-and
by the box | will put them TIP cheap"
So spoke Mr.. Skid, the store-keeper.
George knew his wife was very fond
of figs; and he loved them himself.
And he consented finally that a box
should be sent home. .~
On another day Mr.. Skid said:
"Ah, Mr.. Brown, my dear fellow,
have you tried this golden syrup7"
George had not tried the syrup. The
best quality of molassas had hitherto
him. But he was persuaded
to try it.
Or another day:
Look here Brown, shall Isend you
up a dozen of these Messina oranges7
A new cargo just in. You won't get
them so cheap again. Only thirty
cents.' .-s5z..,. .s,s..- 81
Only thirty cents! And George
knew how fond of oranges Hattie
was. Of course he would have them.
And SO the days passed on, and the
month came to a close. George Brown
was paid by his employers, and he set
at once about paying others. On his
way home he stopped in and got Mr..
Skid's bill. lii .E a
"You can take and look over it,"
said the trader, with a patronizing
smile.
"You will find it all right"
George had intended to pay it then
and there; but when he saw the long
column Of figures, and glanced his eye
at the sum total, his heart leaped into
his mouth. He was astounded. He hail
thought to himself as he came along
that Skid's bill would be about twelve
or fifteen dollars. After paying every
thing else he would have twenty
dollars left, which would satisfy this
last demand and leave something over.
He had just commenced housekeep-
ing, and did not expect to save much
at first. Vi.
But, mercy! now his expectations
and anticipations were knocked into
pieces as he looked at this bill. He
told Skid he guessed he would look it
over; and on his way home he exam
ined it; but he could find nothing
wrong in the items
but the sum total was poser: ttceaty-
sic dollars and fortyt'co cents.
For a long time after he reached
nome lie Ir1eu 20 convince fatJle
that nothing was the matter with him,
but at length he plucked up courage
and drew forth Skid's bill. He had
that his wife would be par
allied but, on the contrary, she only
smiled and said it was all right.
"All right?" echoed George,
All right so far as Mr.. Skid is
said Hattie. You re-
what I told you once before,
and now let's sit down and eat supper
and then we will look the matter
over"
After supper they went to work.
Hattie took the bill and blank piece
of paper, and followed the items down
with a pencil.
"First,' said she, lis a box of
figs at fifteen cents a pound. 1t was
very cheap, no doubt, but the eight
pounds came to a dollar and seventy
cents. Had you been required to pay
cash you would not have bought
them. You would, at least, asked me
if | liked them, and I would have
4