Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-10-18
LEAVES FROM AN OLD JOURNAL,
And Some Of Its Contents. Interesting
Reading.

Reading.
Through the kindness of G. Cate, one
OF our old and respected residents, we
have had the pleasure of looking oyer
an old book of accounts, bearing date
September, 1881, and kept by Henry
Cate, while engaged in business at a
place known as Henry's Cross Roads,
in Sewer County.
The book came to Mr.. Cate among
other relics from his fathers effects,
to whom 1t passed in the way of bust.
ness, the elder Mr.. Cate having been
authorized to collect the accounts en-
tered in the old volume.
To some of our readers many of the
names will be familiar, and to all a
great deal of the contents of the book
will be amusing and interesting. The
prices charged for merchandise in those
days are greatly different from those
now prevalent. For instance On the
first page we find Patience Stockton is
charged for six yards of calico SS, six
tin cups 70 cents and 25 cents for pa
per of pins. Allen Bryan paid "a 80
for twelve yards of shirting and twelve
and half cents for six flints he has
credit for ninety eight gallons of apple
jack at 3Ss cents gallon, and twenty
six gallons of whisky at 25 cents gal
lon. Under date of October 90, 1881,
we find that Enoch Underwood paid
$S 10 for barrel of salt and 46 cents
for the barrel. Merritt Knight is cred
tied with twenty days work at $751; cents
a day, and charged 80 cents for four
tin cups. We find sugar sold at 1S
cents pound, -four $S 25 per barrel,
nails 1871 cents pound, and nutmegs
two for 25 cents.
Judging from the frequent entries of
whisky and cider, those articles must
have entered largely into the business
of the day.
Socks sold for so cents pair, lead at
l9i cents bar, spelling books from 25
to 90 cents, waters for sealing letters,
12t cents a box, one sad iron 81 80, tow
cloth % cents yard. Oats brought 80
cents a bushel and rags 8 cents per
pound. Jeans sold for from 30 cents to
81 yard. John Mulvany was paid 80
for one months work in the lead
Mines"
On September II John Hadley paid
80 for map Of the United States, and
on the same page is recorded the fact
that Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated
at Waterloo. On page ninety Simon
French is credited with yoke of steers
and a cart wheel, $50. James White
paid 81 for q bandbox and 75 cents
for one yard of jaconet. August 81,
1882, John Clendenon paid $25 for q
saddle. and silas George was charged
30 cents for hymn book, and 81 cents
for q vial of opedeldoc. John Duke
had the following charged to him: one
bar of lead 12i cents, one bible 81, one
paste board 12f cents. On page 2O7 we
find VIM. Henry charged SO 86f for one
kettle, 81 for bottle of castor oil, 81
for pair of stockings. and 80 cents for
two papers of pins.
On page 2SS appears this entry-Feb.
S5, 1888, to one negro girl, named EN-
lily, about eight years old. $500.
The latter part of the book contains
the accounts of physician, beginning
March 10, 1S47. In many cases the
kind of medicine given 10 entered, as
we'll as the number of visits made, ao
for instance: VIM. M. Bryan, Dr..
March 90, to dose wormseed oil (for
Emily % cents, visit. powder and blis-
ter, 81. Also charge of ten cents for
postage on q letter. On June 80 Elisha
Cate is charged SO so for setting a
legg for his son." Thomas Dotson, on
two occasions, paid So for pills and ai.
vice, and W. E. Bryan paid 80 cents for
pills for Peggy Ann.
In number of cases we find the
doctor gave his patients credit for pro-
duce of various kinds received as pay
for his services, which is not 80 much
at variance with the custom of the
present time.
Que feature Of the book that deserves
notice is the evident excellent quality
of the ink that was used more than
sixty years ago. The entries are az
clear, black and distinct as though Of
recent date, and show no sign of fa-
ding. The paper is yellowed by age,
but is firm and of good finish. The
binding is of heavy board, covered
with leather, and would, no doubt, out
last two more generations of people.
Instaad of lava the hutkarflv ha. /,