Connecticut western news., 1880-08-24
''' Throw it all out again I'll show

| but few sticks in the bottom of the wagon-box. With these he began to build the load, as he aptly termed it. Instead of laying sticks together all one way, he placed few on the bottom far apart, and others crosswise on those, also very far apart, clubhouse fashion. Then he called upon me for more wood.
 "'But, Mede, objected, this will never do.' ....
 "' Why won't it do 9 he demanded.
 "' It's cheating, isn't it ?
 "'It's no more cheating than the way Jake Meeker piles his wood is cheating Other folks do so. Only we make our pile little more hollow than common .-.
 1T couldn't deny the truth of this argument. And if others made the most of their wood by their skill in piling it, why shouldn't we do the same? | "Still l hesitated. A man might per- haps be excused for cheating little but we were preparing to cheat good deal.
 "sThe principle is the same, Medad said, when I mentioned my scruples | (pretty fellows we were to talk of principles) Tt aint cheating exactly but even if it is, it's what everybody does, in the way of business. Ye can't get along without it; mabby ye can in the next world, but ye can't in this. Who tells the bad points in anything he wants to sell? Don't everybody cover them up, and show ihe good points, and make the most of 'em? Of course they do. Hand me more sticks :!
 CT wasn't convinced in my heart and conscience by this plausible speech. But my cousin, who was year older than I, had great influence over me, and must confess that was little too anxious to get rich out of that wood So I merely said, Don't make the hollows too large, Mede, and handed him more sticks. ......
 "'I'l look out for that he said. Now you'll see.' .#..-.
 stAfter about half the load had been built hollow, he put our crookedest and meanest sticks over it, and then covered the whole with nice wood closely packed, filling the wagon, so that, to all appear ances, we had on fine compact load,
 "My father came out and looked at it a we drove out through the yard, and praised us for our industry. We'll, well, boys said he, you've got hand some load of wood, Imust say. I'd buy it of you, but suppose it will be just as well for you to take 1t to town and see what you can get for it.
 '"I think it will be better,' said Mede, with sly wink at me. What is such load as that worth 2
 ' sStove-wood like that-white oak solid load right through, said my father, running his eye over the wagon-box, ought to bring at least two dollars.
 "s We're going to get three for 1t, said my cousin.
 That's too much, said my father.
 Never, boys, try to get more for thing than it is really worth. ....... | "I knew that he always acted upon this principle himself and I felt some bangs of conscience as I thought of the empty spaces hidden in that load.
 But I'll tell you what you may do, he said. sDrive to Deacon Finch's store, and get him to look at your load. He knows better than I do what wood like that is worth in the village, and if he gays three dollars is about right for it, why my father added, with shrewd twinkle, 'get it if you canp
 "He knew very we'll that Deacon I II as we drove out into the road, my cousin laughingly said that the deacon was the last man he would ask to examine thai load.
 "But as we were driving into the vii lage, we met Deacon Finch in his chaise and the temptation to play asharp game on him was too much for my cousin For my own part, was feeling pretty sick of the idea of selling the load in it's presentshape to anybody {; and strongly objected to the proposed attempt on SC sagacious man as the deacon.
 "'It happens just right; don't yor see?' Medad insisted. He won't ge out of his chaise and it's splendid looking load, as you look down on it. I he buys it, he will tell us to drive it tc his house, and of course he won't go tt see us unload it.
 "So he drove up on the roadside, ant stopped the deacon as he was passing MT. Finch, he said, wouldn't you lik' i; to buy load of first-rate white-oal wood? Just look at it if you please
 "'I've wood enough said the dea con. But it's a nice-looking loat you've got; and I guess you won't hav any trouble in disposing of it. "s What IS such load as that WOrtl delivered in town ? asked Medad. w cut it ourselves
 "How much is there?
 ), "sI don't know; haven't measures it; just call it 8 load, said Medad. l "Good as that all the way through 3 queried the deacon.
 "sAbout the same,' said Medad 3 "Well, from dollar-seventy-five t = quarter; somewhere alon ) there,' replied the deacon.
 ? Willyou give us two and-a-quarter @ Medad was quick to inquire.
 !. "'I told you had wood enough @ But I like to encourage boys; I'll loo @ at your load And to the terror of o,1 t of us, very sure, Deacon Finch slowl e and deliberately got out of his chaise. k "I don't suppose anything in or
 looks caused him to suspect our honesty @ for my cousin did the talking, and must say could not but envy the co' @ and candid manner with which he ca 7. ried on his part in the interview.