The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-02-06
For THE Tmes"
TOO SHARP, FOR Mr.. SHARP.

from. 4 ankee lanu, came INTO NEW lOrh
and attempted to turn O. penny and get
an honest living by procuring subscrib-
ers to various magazines and periodicals,
ON his own hook. That is, he would re-
ceive quantity of magazines from a
distant publisher, at a discount, and get
up his own list of subscribers about the
city, and serve them through the year
at the regular subscription price, which
would leave the amount of the said dis
count clear profit in his pocket, or
rather a compensation for his time and
labor. There are many persons in the
city who obtain alivelihood in the same
way.
Peters commissions being small, and
his capital still smaller he was obliged
to transact his business with great care
and circumspection, in order to make
both ends meet He adopted rule
therefore to make all of his subscribers
pay their years subscription in advance.
Such things could be done in those days,
when business was brisk, and people
were strangers to "hard times" In
canvassing for subscribers, one day,
through the lower part of the city, and
in the principal business streets, he OBJ
served store which had the sign,
- Solomon Sharp, Importer"
Peter entered the premises and showed
him copies of his magazines and re-
quested his subscription.
Mr.. Sharp took up one of the maga-
zines and after looking at it said, "what
are your terms, l don't know but l
would subscribe for this.
g Five dollars a year in advance" said
Peter, " to be delivered carefully every
month at your store or house."
But never pay in advance for these
things" said Sharp. 1t is time enough
to pay for thing when you get it. III
subscribe for it, if you have mind to
receive your pay at the end of the year,
and not otherwise"
"That's against my rule" said Peter;
. have all my subscribers pay in ad-
vance,
"Well, it's against my rule to pay for
any thing before 1 get it, said Sharp
" so if you haven't mind to take my
subscription, to be paid at the end of the
year, you won't get it at all. That's the
long and the short of the matter"
Peter paused little, and queried with
himself as to what he had better do.
The man was evidently doing a large
business, and was undoubtedly rich-a
wholesale dealer and importer-there
could not possibly be any danger of los
ing the subscription in such case; and
would it not be better to break over his
rule for once, than to lose so good sub
scriber?
"Well, what say ?" said Sharp; do
as you like; but those are my only
terms. will not pay for thing before
get it,
ION the whole, y said Peter, g 1 have
a good mind to break over my rule this
time, for l don t like to lose good sub
scriber when can find one. 1 believe
III put your name down, sir. Where
will you have it left ?"
"At my house," said Mr.. Sharp,
which was about mile and half from
his store away up town.
The business being thus concluded,
Peter took up his magazines, bade Mr..
Sharp good morning, and left the store.
No further personal intercourse occur
red between them during the year. But
Peter, who was his own carrier, as well
nc oonvasser 1,outIlarlV every month de-
livered the New England Magazine at
Mr.. Sharp's door. And in few days
after the year expired, he made out his
bill for the five dollars, and called at Mr..
Sharp's store for the money. He enter
ed with as much confidence that he
should receive the pay at once, as he
would have had in going with check
for the like sum into the Bank of the
United States, during that institutions
palmiest days. He found Mr.. Sharp at
his desk, and presented him the bill.
That gentleman took it and looked at it,
and then looked up at Peter.
"Ohl ali, good morning." said he,
s'you are the young man who called
here on this business nearly year ago.
Well, the year has come round, has it 2"
"Yes, believe it has said Peter.
'Well, bills of this kind,' said Mr..
Sharp, "are paid at the house. We
don't attend to them here; you just take
it to the house, any time when you are
passing, and it will be settled"
q Oh. very well, sir,' said Peter, bow