The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-08-12

conscience by this plausible speech.
But my cousin, who was a year older
than [, had great influence over me.
and must confess that was little
too anxious to get rich out of that wood.
So merely said. Don't make the hol-
lows too large, Mede,' and handed him
more sticks.
"'Tn look out for that he said.
Now you'll see.'
"After 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 appearance, we had on a fine, COM
pact load.
"My father came out and looked at
it as we drove out through the yard,
and praised us for our industry. We'll,
well, boys said he, you've got q
handsome load Of wood, 1 must say
I'd buy it of you, but 1 suppose it will
be just as we'll to take it to town and see
what you can get for it,
"'I think it will be BETTER said Mede,
with a slight wink at me. What is such
a load as that worth"
Stove-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
"'We're going to get three for it. ,
said my cousin.
".That's too much,' said my father.
Never. boys, try to get more for a
thing than it is really worth
81 knew that he always acted upon
this principle himself; and felt some
pangs of conscience as thought of the
ar, 81 l.
'''But I'll tell you what you
may do he said. Drive to
Deacon Finch's store and get him
better than L do what wood like that is
worth in the village, and if he says
three dollars is about right for it, why
nv father added, with a shrewd twin
kle, get it if you cant
Finch wouldn't say any such thing.
And as we drove out into the road, my
cousin laughingly said that the deacon
inc that load.
''But as we were driving into the
village, we met Deacon Finch in his
chaise; and the temptation TO play a
sharp game on him was too much for
NY CouSiu. COr NY OWu potSs was
feeling pretty sick of the idea of selling
body; and strongly objected to the
proposed attempt on so sagacious q
man as the deacon.
"H happens; just right; don't you
see?' Medad insisted. He won't get
out of his chaise; and it's a splendid
looking load. as you look down on it.
If he buys it. he will tell us to drive it
to his house; and of course he won't go
to see us unload it.
$50 he drove up on the roadside
and stopped the deacon as he was pass.
ing. Mr.. Finch, he said. would you
wood? just look at it if you please
, I've wood enough, said the
deacon. But it's q nice-looSing load
you've got; and guess you won't have
any trouble in disposing of it.
"What is such load as that worth,
delivered in town" asked Medad. We
cut it ourselves
... How much is there?'
"'I don't know; haven't measured
it; just call it a load said Medad.
"-Good as that all the way throughp"
queried the deacon.
"About the same said Medad.
"'Well, from a dollar -seventy-five to
to two -and-a- quarter; somewhere along
there replied the deacon.
"'Win you give us two o-and-a-quar-
ter for itP' Medad was quick to in
quire.
s.I told you I had wood enough.
But like to encourage boys; I'll look
at your load And to the terror of one
of us. very sure, Deacon Finch slowly
and deliberately got out of his chaise.
81 don't suppose anything in our
looks caused him to suspect our homes
ty; for my cousin did the talking, and
must say could not but envy the cool
and candid manner with which he car
ried on his part of the interview.
".You are MIR. Franks boys, aint
your said the deacon, going to the hind
end of the wagon.
"sI am Mr.. Franks son. Medad re-
piled, promptly. This is my cousin
.'.Good wood; well-split; pretty smart
boysn said the deacon, tumb!ing over a
few STICKS on top. Guess I'll take it. ;
Shall we deliver it at your houseP
Medad asked, almost too eagerly.
"'Wait minute! What's here"
cried the deacon, thrusting down his
hand and pulling up one Of the hidden
crooks. is there much like that?' And
he began to dig down straight into one
of our choice hollows.
See here, if you please" said Me-
dad, alarmed, you needn't take the
wood if you don't like it, but don't
spoil our Ioadr -
Spoil your loadr echoed the dea-
con, with indignant scorn, thrujting his
arm up to his shoulder. You wouldn't t
be afraid of my spelling an honest load;
but what sort of load is this? It's q
perfect cheat, and you are couple of
rascalsp- 49, -
I ".You needn't take it if YOU don't
want itn Medad repeated. more angry
than ashamed, L am sorry to say We
Just put it that way to make hand
some load of it; but we don't expect
anybody. to pay for it till they've seen
it thrown off,
seThe deacon did not, evidently. put
much faith in this falsehood; for he
reprimanded US again sharply as he
climbed back into his chaise.
Il guess he was about right, Mede,
said, as we watched him drive away.
We are a couple of rascalsr
.Pshaw! who caresp It's what
everybody does,' said Mede, buster
ingly; .what he does himself, every
time he sells goods out of his store. 1t
takes q rogue to catch a rogue. Wen
look out next time
HE laughed scornfully when l
begged him to drive home and reload
the wood in honest fashion. But he
was shy of making the sale where the
deacon would be likely to hear of it.
"'We'll GO over to the East Village
he said. It'll be dusk when we get
there; nobody will know us; and by
that time nobody can look into our
load
This plan was carried out in spite
of my too feeble objections. l drove
the horse, while Medad went from door
to door in the East Village, offering the
wood dog cheap he said, because it
was 40 near niuht and we Manied .ta sell