The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-07-26
sCUDDRR's wAsrnFUL HASTE.
A Story With a Moral.

and was at work in his store, in which
the postofce was kept, from early
morning until weariness drove the
last loafer home in the evening. He
might have made successful business
man on large scale il opportunity
had opened the way for him, but be
cause he had not seen a way to engage
in large transactions he did not de-
spise the day Of small things. Begin
ming IS huckster who traded various
commodities to country housewives in
exchange for butter, eggs, old rags
and iron, he had built up trade that
proved profitable and in the end en-
abled him to start a modest store at
Bunkum, the stock of which enlarged
and included more and more different
lines until it became the regulation
general store, containing as many diff
ferent sorts Of goods as most of the de-
partment stores in the big cities. If
girl wanted yard Of ribbon she found
it at the store" il a boy wanted gun
or a watch or a fish hook Bob Urner
found supply tucked away about the
place; if a spool Of thread or log
chain were called for Mr.. Urner
promptly exhumed the article called
for and named the price. Besides sell
ing varied assortment of goods Mr.
Urner bought anything that was
offered for sale at his place Of business
at some price.
It may easily be imagined that the
goods in his small store were not given
a very good display, but as he was his
own buyer, seller, clerk, bookkeeper
and jaaitor he could lay his hand on
anything in stock that might be called
for, even if the accumulations of
months were piled on it, and as to dis
play, that was useless, for the people
Of Bunkum were so confident that
whatever they might want was to be
found at the store that they were not
afraid to call for it, knowing from long
experience that on some shelf, in rome
dra wer, under some counter or hang
ing from some hook in the ceiling the
article would be found in a short time
Squire Bunker dropped into the
store one morning to get his mail and
to his surprise not one of the usual
crowd was there. Even Hank Lister,
who, tradition related, only stayed
away while eating and sleeping, was
absent. Mr.. Urner was behind the lit
tie row of boxes which marked the
postofice report. He had just got to
point where he had discovered that his
salary for the quarter had increased
from G8 II to $11 O8, very gratifying
showing.
"Good morning." cried the postmas
ter, cheerily. as he turned to get the
'Equire's mail.
The same to you," replied the
Squire, ''hoW's business7"
Never BETTER" was the reply, I've
just been makin' up my account with
The Department" Gt takes double
breasted capitals to say this in the way
the postmaster diC)-'an' I find bust
ness is lookin' up. noticed the other
day in the paper that the postt flee re
ceipts are the best guide to judge bust
ness by an my business with The De
partment is nearly 40 per better'n it
was last quarter" "
That's good" said the Squire.
Then he looked around. You look
lonesome" he said, has there been an
eppy ydemic in the settlement"
NO." replied the postmaster, with
literally wide smile, ''but they's q
raisin' down to Smiley's an the boys
know they's to be good deal of eatin'
after it an all O. them wanted taste
o. Mis- Smiley's cookin', so I'm left
alone. I amt none sorry, either, for
wanted to git things in a little better
shape. Looks a little cluttered up
round the edges, don't you think3"
The Squire gave comprehensive
glance at the interior of the store.
''I don't know but it does" he said,
deliberately. 81 don't remembers I
ever see lady's bicy Gle suit a-hangin'
on plow handle down to them big
stores in the city, an ont b'lieve
they use the stove to show eff GUNNER
hats on"
The postmaster laughed in good
humored way. I'D rely like to keep
things lookin' little slicker," he said (;
but don't have time to tend to it an
I guess I sell about as much as I would
anyhow. You see faint like as if I
was in a big city where"-
Gimme five cent wuth o. t'backer
n clay pipe n do up-er do up
blame il ALL I come aWaV in such a