The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-07-15
HARRY FARMERS TALKS.


We hurry back to the railroad and
follow another copy of The Farmer,
and find it in the mails of busy mer-
chant who does a large business in a
city. He was raised in the country.
Like many boys now living on the
farm, he thought that he had a hard
time, but his hard work and priva-
tions we're the best school master he
could have had. His wants were few
and he learned to save a part of all
the money he made and lay it up until
he had enough to commence business.
By the way. many boys in the coun-
try today if they would only deny
themselves a few luxuries, would soon
save enough money to buy a farm or
give themselves a good course in col
lege, one of the best investments that
they could make.
We sit in the office and notice how
much the merchant has to do. Here
are few things he must do and of
tentimes it continues for months and
days: 'Mark that barrel of sugar to
Jones & Co., Raleigh, N. c." eyes,
Smith & Co., of Asheville, are o. K"
"Ten agent at depot to give you that
cheese" Cant I sell you ten barrels
of patent fourw "No, sir; I do not
want any coffee today" "I will take
1000 pounds of meat at 934." "Take
this bill to Biggs & Co., and bring
me the money" eyes, eggs are worth
Is cents today" Excuse me one
minute" as he goes to the phone.
''Hello! No, I do not know that firm
in Georgetown. Mr.. S. probably has
done some business with them; good
bye"
Now, this merchant must continue
in this strain from about s o'clock a..
m, till p. m; then he goes to dinner
and is back at 2 o'clock and works till
5 or o'clock.
You may call it easy if you want to,
but you would gladly exchange his job
for the plow handles if you were
forced to FIJI his place one month.
Boys, it looks mighty easy sometimes
but if you could only see what he has
to endure for twelve months, how it
would change your opinion. How
many succeed? Why, just five out of
every hundred. You will find more
successful men farming than you will
merchandising.
He has every cent charged up that
is used. Two cents postage, five cents
car fare, three cents for lemonade, or
cigars. After the business of the day
is over, and perhaps he has sold thou
sands of dollars worth, he finds that
| his profits only amount to a few dol
lars. Suppose the farmer keeps a
strict account of all that he does and
charges up every cent of expense, he
would soon learn that many days his
profits would amount to more than
those of the big commission mer-
chant. And if the merchant does not
keep any accounts he will soon find
that he has no business, and will have
to become a hireling, and hireling in
the city means a far worse place than
in the country.
The farmer when night comes can
retire and sleep because he has no big
debts to pay or bad accounts to col
lect, which to fail in means ruin, but
can rest and get up feeling greatly
refreshed in the morning. But nc
man can succeed without counting
the cost. If you spend five hundred
dollars and only get back five hundred
and ten dollars you have only made
two per cent.
Let us take the train and go back
to the country where we find things
more quiet, and leave all the turmoil
of the city to those who want to wear
out soon and die young.
HARRY FARMER.
TO1,,,,, b11S 10 N ~