River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-07-25


the disinterested legal adviser TO the
best of my ability.
Mcdonald suggested that we men 70
to the front room; but as part of my
plan depended on the women. pro-
tested against leaving them. and had
my way.
Mr.. Mcdonald placed his chair at
one end OF the table, and drew out
drawer. from which he took big ac-
count book. seated myself about
midway of the side of the table, and
Mr.. Ordway brought his account book
to the lower end.
Ordway began by saying: by
your request, neighbor, I've brought
my book. though | can't say it has
been very correctly kept If Mr..
Bailey says how much l owe you I'll
pay il. but no more"
/ wished he had said nothing. for
Aud Sandy put on his most beligerent
air. and said. dogmatically: IL shall
trust friend Bailey to determine how
much you owe"
set about with a pretence of sys-
TEN. but in reality very informally, to
get to the bottom of their differences.
/ took paper and patiently set down
debit and credit, as they each came
To il.
After we had gone through the ac-
counts of two or three years we came
TO a credit on McDonald's book OF
weeks work by Swedish man in
corn gathering, of which Ordway's
book showed no record.
The two men looked puzzled a bit,
and finally Mr.. Ordway turned to his
wife and said. Ruth, did we ever
have Swedish man hired?" why,
of course, James; don't you mind you
sent him-0laf we called him-to
work a week in Mr.. Macs corn, and
he made US all laugh so when he came
home saying he hadn't 'spik one word
all week, because they couldn't under
stand him? You remember it. Mrs.
Mcdonald, don't you?"
Certainly" said Mrs. Mcdonald.
81 remember you were down with
rheumatism. though, Alec. and knew
nothing about it. Ned made that en-
try in the book; is it not his writingP"
Its not mine" said Mcdonald.
shortly. his Scotch sense of justice ass
sorting itself. though as yet without
voice.
"Oh, yes. / do remember about
Olaf, said Ordway, but ! never put
that down; l never yet made charge
against a neighbor who was fiat on his
back and helpless"
"Oh. but right is right" said Nc
Donald, put it down. Bailey"
No. you won't, Bailey" said Ord
way. Il never meantt to make a charge,
and won't now"
well, not TO be too long with my
story. we went on through the books.
We found charges on one book for seed
corn that had been considered by the
other as an Offset for wheat. Once
there was an exchange of potatoes for
cabbages with a balance set down in
one book to one mans credit, which
the other man would not allow.
More than once we found help fur
nished by one man to the other when
the recipient gave credit, and the
neighbOr refused it. The wives We're
called to so often that they forgot their
cheerful visiting and listened. Mrs.
Mcdonald called to her husbands
mind how once when he was sick Ord
way had sent teams and brought in
their winters fuel. Ordway called to
her mind how Mcdonald had nursed
him tenderly through a fever, cOnse-
quent upon a broken leg. when no one
could lift him so carefully as her hus-
band.
Mcdonald gave several credits which
Ordway would not allow, and began
to fear that Macs bill would at least
appear Just; but presently we came to
a year in which Ordway had charged
a hundred bushels of corn, six shoats,
a young horse. and several smaller ami
mails, and Macs book was "a blank!
not an entry.
| glanced up at Mcdonald for expla-
nation, and his brows were knitted,
and he seemed striving to remember
something, but suddenly his face
cleared, and he exclaimed:
why. what an oversight! Not a
credit down. lis the year that Invent
back to Scotland! Ned was sick all the
time was away; my hogs all died of
cholera, aud the best horse | had was
stolen Meester Ordway, if / mistake
not. you should have "A charge here for
work? The others are all correct; pit
them doom, Bailey"
However, we came on down through
the years, and the books agreed very
well. The last page was reached at
last. and handed my figures to young
Mcdonald. requesting him to make a
clear draft of them, and We would both
reckon.
There was evidently small need of
reckoning; matters would have adjust
ed themselves without my aid. |
glanced at the old Scot, and saw that
memory was at work and would con-
quer.
Ordway was speaking to Mrs. Nc
Donald when quick steps in the hall
told us that school was out. A thick
set, broad-faced boy, whom I recog-
ufzed as Archie. opened the door, and
the moment he did so a little girl be-
hind him flung away the coat and hood
she was in the act of hanging on the
rack. and with a suppressed cry bound
ed toward Mrs. Ordway, flinging her
arms around her neck and covering
her face with kisses.
OF course, | knew it was little Mag
gle. Her mother spoke to her gently,
and both she and stusdy Archie came
to me and offered their hands in greet
ing.
When Ned had finished his copy we
went TO work, and were soon able to
announce the result, both having ar
rived at almost the exact figures at the
same moment, and Mr.. Mcdonald was
found TO be in Mr.. Ordway's debt an
even five pounds.
Though had anticipated some such
result from the books, | was hardly
Or epared for what followed.
Mcdonald rose to his feet, and. adj
dressing Mr. Ordway. said: ''Neebor.
l am man OF few words. as you weel
know. l hope you will believe me
when | say l truly th0ugM you owed