The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-09-08

es caped taxes to the amount of e
81, 900 a year, and insurance IN nearly
a like amount, thus really increasing
his income by nearly or quite $4,000 a
year more.
And time rolled on, and so did Uncle
Ben. He had leisure; he travelled; he
saw the wonders and the beauties
which during his previous useful life
had been denied him. He seemed to
grow younger and more sunny tenn
pered for the first two or three ears
after the great change. He became
public spirited and charitable, and, as
he had an abundance of leisure to visit
his friends and cultivate his social ma
ture his charitable acts were heralded
in the public prints; and many thought
him more of a philanthropist than the
average busy man.
But, finally, the novelty of the
change wore off. The sights had been
seen, the wonders marveled at, and
the beauties admired, and at last Uncle
Berj amin real I'D that it was almost
as bad to have absolutely nothing to
do, as to have absolutely no leisure.
One day, several years after the sale
OF the factory, Senator s., who lives
in a more Western State, called on
Uncle Benjamin, and, in the ours Of
conversation, asked him how he liked
the change anyway, and how it seemed
to be suited as he was after a life of in
dustry.
well" said Uncle Ben, Gin some re
spccts 1 like it very much. but in others
l don't like it quite so well; and some
times l think that if | could be sure of
the income, 1 would like the old fac
tory back again, if it could be run so
that l could be busy when I felt so in
clined, and have leisure part Of the
time too"
20, you want a little something to
do, then?' said the Senator. l see, l
see!
well, that's all right. Your work
was mostly in correspondence, making
purchases of material, making sales,
and experimenting the work Of others,
wasn't It'll"
Yes, " said Uncle Ben, Il did not do
much manual labor"
20, well" said the Senator, eff that's
all you want, 1 advise you to start a
National bank, that will give you some
employment, and it really pays quite
we'll"
But" said Uncle Benjamin, "Ihave
not the money. All my capital is in
vested in bonds, you remember"
"Oh, pshawm said the Senator, you
don't need any money to start a Ma
tional bank, if you are a bondholder;
in facs, if you had ever 50 much money
you could not start one until you be
came a bondholder. How much have
you in bonds nowY'
'Oh, about half a million" said
Uncle Ben. Il have invested my in
terest as fast as l could draw it, that is,
all l could spare above expenses, and
now that a law has been enacted max
ing them payable in gold, I'm glad I
did"
We'll, said the Senator, "all you
have to do ia to get four others to go in
with you just to fulfill the require
ments of the law. These men may in
vest or not, as you choose. All you
really have to DO is to go to the treas
ury department, make the proper ap-
plication for a charter, and deposit
your bonds, and this great and glorious
government will issue to you 80 per
cent. of the par value of your bonds in
National Bank notes on which you can
do business"
But" said Uncle B9rj amin, Il am
not sure that 1 would like to lose the
interest on my bonds. 1 might not
succeed in the banking business, you
know. Thirty thousand dollars inter
est is not to be sneezed at"
"Oh, dear" said Senator S. you
don't half see it yet. Bless your limo.
cent soul, you don't lose the interest
on the bonds You draw it right along
just the same. You also draw interest
on your bank notes, which the govern
ment furnishes you at one cent on the
dollar, and last, but not by any means
the least, the dear unsophisticated peo-
pie, most of them as innocent and pure
hearted as yourself, will come in and
deposit their money with you, and as
the law don't require you to keep much
of it on hand you can loan tour-ffths
o. that at good interest. too. and in.