Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-11
An oLo-TIME COUNTRY STORE.
Judge Harris, en- Early STAFFORD Mer-
chant, and the Goods He Handled.

Portus Baxter of Chicago, there has
reached the Herald office an old book
containing the accounts of Mr.. Baxter's
grandfather. Hon. Jedediah HYDE Harris.
who, born in Norwich, Conn.,, Dec. 2.
4 1884, went to STAFFORD at the age OF 20
and took charge OF q store, which his
father bad established ct that place. The
account book, running from May, 1908.
to May, 1910, figures up grand total of
| s676.5s and shows the miscellaneous
stock in trade Of country store in those
days.
In the book we find Mr.. Jedediah H
Harris debtor, among other things, for
l cases Of knives and forks, s1.3s; tin
candlestick, cents; 3 dozen plates, 70,
So and So cents, respectively; sugar bowl,
20 cents, pitcher, AZ cents; quart mug, IL
cents; milk dipper, cents; skinner, S
cents; 3 sets coffee cups, 20 cents; bean
pot, IL cents, and So pounds of butter,
40 cents. Nowadays one pound, instead
OF five, more nearly represents 40 cents
worth of butter, but in those coed old
times anybody could have buttered his
bread on both sides. 10 he liked il so. and
eaten it with a relish undisturbed by
dread OF bankruptcy.
Mr.. Harris, however, paid s1.13 for a
pound of Hyson tea, $3.50 for six yards
of tow cloth, 1881 for III yards Of blue
broadcloth, S1.s1 for 4sz yards Of calico,
$3.50 for "curting Calico" IS for hat,
30 cents for Pair Of short stockings,
s2.20 for 10 pounds OF loaf sugar. 20 for
boots, SITS for q surtout in Boston and
50 for brass kettle.
He could, though, buy a quart OF West
India rum for 25 cents, pint for is
cents, quart Of brandy for SO cents and a
barrel of cider for q. so; but such items
appear only at very discreet intervals in
the list OF which Falstaff might well
complain of the deal of bread for so little
sack.
A small cheese cost 70 cents in 1908;
1414 pounds of bacon, $l.1e; = pound
ginger, 10 cents; 4 pounds of dried ap-
pies, 30 cents; busbel Of wheat and rye,
SO cents; SIS pounds OF pork, 80 cents;
5 pounds of beef, rs cents; / busheI OF
wheat, 81; quarts OF molssses, 81 cents;
4.pounds maple sugar, "a cents; doz-
en- eggs in May, % cents; / hushel of
corn, 90 cents; a pound of candles,
cents; a barrel of clear pork (194
pounds), S17; 21l5 pounds of veal, 81
cents; peck OF salt, So cents; ~ bushels
of potatoes in May, IS; COW, S12; tur-
key, 81 cents; bed tick and feathers,
ga; gallon OF molasses, so cents, and a
cord OF wood. rs cents.
"Mr. Harris" said Hon. James Barrett
in an article en- the late Senator Morrill,,
twas Familiarity known as Judge Harris,
having been judge of Orange county
court before judge OF the supreme court
was required to be chief judge of the
county court.
"Beiore attaining his majority, be
went from Plainfeld, n. H.,
to STAFFORD upper Hollow and set
up in business as a merchant. He
had had the ordinary schooling of
his time and had improved it we'll. He
started with the clear purpose of securing
success by assiduous devotion to business
and he early developed an orderly system,
which was pursued with .carefuiness and
vigor as well as with sterling upright
ness. He sold for the purpose OF resliz-
ing Legitimate profit and with the full
purpose of being seasonably paid for
what he sold. Most OF the merchandiz-
ing trade in those days was by barter or
on credit. The credits with him we're
short and accounts that could not be i'm
medistely paid were settled at short in
tervals and balanced by notes on interest,
which he was careful to have paid OF Sc
cured while the debtor had means where
OF payment or security could be enforced.
prosperity attended him from the out
set. While prosecuting his business, he
was at the same time gratifying a fond
ness for reading and an ambition to be-
come intelligent in matters of general
and common interest, especially on those
pertaining to the political and financial
interests Of the country and to the bust
ness interests of the state. In due course
he came to be regarded as the most clear
headed man Of the town and to be the
peer of the best in the state.
"Between 1910 and 1880 be was much
in the legislature in both branches. He
was also member Of the Constitutional
convention in 1914, and OF the council Of
censors in 1927. In 1874, his name stood
first on the list Of presidential electors
from Vermont, when James K. Polk was
elected. Judge Harris held the office of
president of Orange County bank at Chel-
sea and served STAFFORD as its town treas
urer 80 years.
In 1914, as captain Of an infantry COM
pany, he went with his band OF volunteers
to Plattsburg to repel the British, but ar
rived Just after the enemy had retreated.
"During the greater part of his BUSH
ness life all kinds OF spirituous liquors
were dealt in as openly and with as little
scruple as any other commodity. This
was so throughout the country; yet he
was total abstaiDer although temper
ance societies and pledges of total abstin-
ence had not been invented until be had
been in business some 30 years. Firmly
grounded upon the principles Of sound
morality and the social virtues, he made
no compromise with vice. Approaching
the importance Of improvement in mind
and manners, be gave no comfort to idle
ness or the mis-spending of time; and he
was vigorously urgent that young men
should do their utmost to become useful
and virtuous citizens.
"Such a man, young Justin Morrill,,
from his dawning childhood, had before
him as the most conspicuous and most
regarded person of the village and town,
who took him, q boy Of sixteen, into his
store as q clerk, and five years later into
partnership, which association continued