Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-28
The Laborer is Worthy of His Hire.

1t is an old saying that cit takes two
to make bargain;n and while the truth
of this is universally acknowledged in
theory, how often in practice is the at
tempt made to abrogatc it and have the
bargain conform to the wishes of one
Nowhere is this more noticeable than
on farm. When u laborer engages to
serve u farmer for Il certain sum per day
or month, he contracts, in effect if not
in words, to give for that sum agreed
upon his best and entire services. He
makes a complete sale of his faculties
and powers of mind and body, so far as
they can be employed in the business for
which he is engaged to work. If II man
is by trade machinit, while he would
not be expected if hired rs 4 farm la
borer, to go to work in shop as n me-
chanic, it would he his daty to use his
knowledge and skill rs machnist so
far rs he could in keeping in repair the
tools and machines of the farm-plows,
harrows, rakes, renpers, mowers and
steam-engines if such there were. Ifit
is claimed that one capable of doing this
is entitled to higher pay than an ordi-
only plow and hoe and drive the
lt3lul attlu, VIC usStul, Jul asStlI
that the claim should be advanced
when the contract is made. Every one
has a right to his own labor, to use it
for himself and receive directly the
avails OF it, or to sell it to another for
such sum as is agreed upon; but when
the contract is made and the labor sold,
he has no more right to withhold any
thing he can do than he would have TO
withhold any portion of II hundred
bushels of wheat or a thousand pounds
of cheese that he had agreed to deliver
for certain sum of money. Neither
should the laborer think to quiet his
conscience with the thought that he can
do fair days work without giving his
best efforts, nor that if he hoes his row
as well and as quickly as his compan-
ions in the field, no more should be ex-
pected of him. What he is to do ornor
to do is not to be measured by the do
ings of another, unless it be so stipu-
lated in the bond. If his bargain is that
for two dollar a day he will work rs
many hours as Tom, Dick, or Harry,
and will perform rs much and as well rs
they do, it will be his business to see
that he does just that, and his employer
will have neither reason nor right to
ask or expect more. If You sell days
labor, and perform in the day only what
you could without extra -eXertion do in
half q day, you have stolen the value OF.
half n days labor from your employer
just rs truly rs if you had taken the
same value in money from his purse.
The other party to the bargain--the
employer-has his duties besides the
mere paying of the sum agreed He is
in duty bound to see that the labor he
requires may be performed with as
much ease and as little waste of physical
force rs practicahle; and to this end the
tools and implements he furnishes
should be of the best quality and most
improved patterns, and he will find his
interest promoted by looking after the
comfort of all in his employ. But the
bargain made between the employer
and the employed concerns them and
them only. 1t is well, perhaps, that no
other person should know what it is,
lest there be petty jealousies aroused,
rs in the parable of the laborer in the
vineyard, where those who had borne
the burden and heat of the day com
planned that others who had worked
less time received the same pay, seem
ing TO forget that they had contracted
for a certain sum- Very just was the
reply; ''Friend, 4 do thee no wrong;
didst thou not agree with me for a
penny? Take that thine Is aud go thy
wav. Is il not lawful for me to do what
viii with mine own?n These grum-
blers were OF the class that would have
but one party to a bargain, and that
party themselves. The family is a