Smyrna times., 1876-04-19

until you get above thirty"
"And fall back on that?"
" 1es.s 1t will be knocking off odd dol
lars, which he will think clear gain"
That would be hardly honest"
Hardly. But you must do it or los,
his custom some other day."
II shall have to accommodate him.
suppose. If he will be cheated. if can't h,
helped"
On the very first bill Baker paid to hi.
new tradesman, he obtained an abatement
OF one dollar and ninety cents odd money
but actually paid three dollars more than
was justly due. Still he was we'll nigb
Satlshed, imagining that he had made q
saving OF one dollar and ninety cents. The
not oVer-scrupulous tradesman LAUGHED in
his sleeve, and kept his customer.
Having withdrawn his support from
leonard 1t was the candid opinion of Mr..
n"Aef that he was "going to the dogs" as
ne expressed it, about as fast as a man
could go. He often passed the shop. but
rarely saw a customer.
No WONDER" he would say to himself
"A man like him can't expect. and don't
deserve CUSTOM"
In the eyes of Mr.. Baker. the very oross
seemed to grow upon the pavement before
the door of the declining tredesman
Dust settled thickly in his window. and the
Ola sign turned greyer and greyer in the
bleaching air.
Uoing to the dogs and no wonder,
Baker would say to himself, as he went bv
lie appeared to take strange interest in
watching the gradual decay of the mo.
cnanlc's fortunes. One day mercantile
friend said to him:
DO you know anything about this
Leonardo"
WhyP asked Baker.
"Becausehewants to make pretty large
bill with me-"
''On time?"
les, on the usual credit of six months"
Don't sell to him. Why the man ;s
going to the dogs, at railroad speed"
"Indeed!"
es, I'm looking every day to see him
close up. He might have done we'll. for bo
understood his business. But he's so I'm.
accommodating, and I might say, insulting
10 MS customers, that he drives the hest
OF them away. | used to make large bills
with him, but haven'tdealt at his sbop now
for sometime"
An! L was not aware of that I am
glad spoke to you, for l shouldn't like to
lose six or seven hundred dollars"
Six or seven hundred dollars is it nos.
sible that he wants to buy so recklesslv
Take my advice and don't think of trusting
him."
certainly shall not"
When Leonard ordered the goods. the
merchant declined selling, except for cash.
AS you please, returned the mechanic. |
indifferently, and went elsewhere and made |
his purchase
1t happened that Mr.. Leonard had very
pretty and very interesting daupbter. on
whose education the mechanic had bestowed
great pains; and it also happend that
Baker had son, who, in most things. was
chip of the old block" Particularly
was he like his father in his great love for
mPney; and scarcely had he reached his
fnhjority ere he began to look about him
with careful eye to good matrimonial
by which plenty of money
would be secured.
Adelaide Leonard, on account of her
beauty and accomplishments, was much
caressed, and mingled freely in society.
Young Baker had met her frequently. and
could not help being struck with her beauty
and grace.
"There's a chance for you," said friend :
to him, one evening.
" In Miss Leonardo"
"Yes."
"She's a charming girl" replied the
young man. % wonder if her father is
worth anything?" t
People say So" {
"Indeedp 6
Yes. They say the old fellow has laid c
up something quite handsome; and as r
Adelaide is his only child, she will of course C
get it ALL" t
81 was not aware of thatp o
After this, young Baker was exceedingly t
ttentive to Miss Leonard, and made per- o
eptible inroads upon her heart. He even e
vent so far as to visit pretty regularly at r
Ter house, and was meditating an avowal of
lis attachment, when his father said to him
ne day:
What young lady was that saw you !,
Fith on the street yesterday afternoon ~ !.
Her name was Leonard" :
"The daughter of old Leonard in -
treet?''
4" Yes, sr.r :,