Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-01-18
selling few goods when work was

y y
sharp one, but you won't fool me this
way again." said MIR. Crumb. 81
want to hire you another year if you'll
work on the old terms. But no fur,
mind you, this time, young man, no
twr
When the year was ont, Joe had
earned two hundred dollars.
81 was to have anything l wanted
but fur, was II" said he.
Eyes, and I always hold to my bar
gains.
"Then I'll take potash" replied
Joe promptly.
Now potash was rare and valua-
BILE article, but so heavy that Mr..
Crumb had never thought of Joe's
wanting it. Surely he couldn't carry
that to Boston on his back!
''Take the money, Joe: I'd rather
give you the money!" gasped Mr..
Crumb.
''No, thank you, sir, you said you
couldn't afford the money replied
Joe, touching his cap respectfully.
And then he rolled those cherished
barrels Of potash down to the river
and put them in bit Of canoe,
while Mr.. Crumb looked on in grief.
There were falls in the river, but Joe
didn' mind trifles. When he neared
the falls he just rolled his barrels
around them and dragged his canoe.
Easy enough if you only think SO.
And then when he came to the ocean
he shipped his little cargo. Potash
was just what the Boston people were
longing for, and they paid a great
price for it. Joe was able now to buy
quite stock of"notions," and set up
store in earnest. He made an addi-
ton to his little shop, too, and could
send for Betsey, who was glad enough
to come. He had been rather lonely
and it cheered his heart to see hel
high-topped comb nodding about the
house, and to hear her sing Denmark
and Sageden while he played the fid.
die.
| The Roscoe people had always liked
Joe, and now they we're quite bewltch'
ed by Betsey.
They ran in otter to see how these
two bright young folks got on, and
when they came they were sure to buy
lgoods, for Joe and Betsey didn't keeI
a short yardstick, were honest as tht
day, and polite to rich and poor alike
"Well, there's something uncom
mon about this" muttered Mr.. Cruml
to himself. "Joe is getting away m,
best customers. 1 won't stand it.
won't be outwitted by young chal
like that"
| He scratched his head upon it
Wasn't there any way to get rid o
[Joe? If he would only drink! Mr.
Crumb had made any number o
drunkards in his day; but Joe acouldn
ldrink!
| At last he went to the troublesom
chap, spoke as sweetly as he could
"Well, young man, what say you
going into partne ership with me? T.
furnish all the money and you may d
all the work."
1t was great offer, and Joe &C
cepted it on the spot.
"Hurrah!" said he to Retsey
"wasn't born for luck?"
But, as usual, he tried to deserv
his luck. He was so industrious, an
faithful, and obliging that Mr.. Crum
was really delighted, though he too
lgood care not to say so. The oil
customers flocked back, new one
came in, and never in his palmie
!. days had Jonathan Crumb made ha
as much money as was made now /
the firm of Crumb & Browning. b.
:, he wasn't grateful for this. Oh, nc
he was simply vexed because he hs
to share the profits with that "your
!, chap"
ssI'll get rid of him some way,
o thought he, rolling his bead-like bla'
l. eyes in deep thought. ''I'll outv
him yeti"
Hadn't he found out by this tin
4 that wide-ewake Joe wasn't to be OF
wltted? Had he forgotten the bea
er-skins and potash?
y "Joe," said he one day, "You al
y l have been together five years a
Is done a tol'able business-a tol'at
~ business.
"Yes, SIR"
d "And now, I've been wonderi
y whether or no you wouldn't like to b
t me OUT
"Buy you out, sir!"
'" This was amazing!
"Why, Mr.. Crumb, l haven't
W money, and you know it."
swell, then," said Mr.. Crumb
III ly, ''s'pose buy yoa out, if it's
s. the same? 1t kind of seems as if {
Ct of us could got along alone"
:, Joe almost dropped the sugar
:. was weighing, for he saw that ]
Crumb meant mischief.
"Look here," added the crafty
man, "the one that fetches in
money first is the fellow. Sixty da
-, notice. That's fair
Joe did not speak.
"And the other one has got
promise to leave town and never &C
F back. Now that's fair too, amt i