THE TIMES NEW BLOOMJIELD, 1A., NOVEMlJEli 29, 1881.
f he Two Merchants.
A ltTHUtt," eald Mrs.
lieeuiau, Ad
dressing her young husband, "it
Deems to me that Mr. Sharping, is
getting ahead of you iu business."
"Ah !" muttered the young man,look
Ing up from his paper.
' Yes," continued his wife, "he has
Just moved Into his big house, and I
expect we shall be Invited to the open
ing." "And are you not contented here,
Sarah V" asked Mr. Leeiuan with a
flight tinge of disappointment In his
tone.
"Oh, yes, I am contented ; but then I
should like to have you look as well
that is, to appear as well as William
Bharping does. You are as well ac
quainted in our town, and as geuerally
respected. Your store is as w ell situated
and you seem to possess all the advanta
ges you could wish. I wish you could
keep up with that Sharping."
Arthur Leeman was a young mer
chant located In a large flourishing vil
lage, where he had been iu business
nearly two years. He had been brought
u d bv virtuous parents, and his ideas of
justice and honesty were founded upon
deep moral principles.
Shortly before he entered business for
himself he married a beautiful girl
whom he had long and apparently loved,
and who had In return reciprocated that
love. He hud received from her two
thousand dolluM, which sum had gone
a arreat wav toward purchasing his
stock in trade.
He hadrented a small cottage, a neat,
retired abode and here he settled down
with every prospect of continued happl
ness; and this happiness he had a right
to exDect. for his wife was mild and
gentle, loving and true, and ever regard
ful of his welfare.
His expenses he carefully kept behind
his income, and, as might be expected,
liad made but little domestic show. His
comforts were all solid, based upon the
single idea of "content."
William Sharping also kept a store
in the village. He had commenced
about the same time that Arthur did,
but he seemed to have made more money,
for he spent more money iu his living,
nI as has already been intimated, he
was on the point of making a still great
or show of accumulating wealth.
Sharping's wife was an intimate friend
of Sarah Leeman, and hence the latter
felt moresensibly the contrast between
- her own and her neighbor's outward
' -circumstances.
In a few evenings William Sharping
opened his house for the reception of
' visitors, and of course Arthur and
Sarah were invited.
Arthur Leeman was wonder-struck by
the appearance of his friend's domestic
'equipment. The furniture was rich and
costly, and the carpets were all of the
very finest material. Large mirrors
hung upon the walls, golden lamps
adorned the marble mantle, and the
sumptuous ottomans and sofas offered
their temptations to the weary.
"What a splendid house they've
got,
the
haven't they V" remarked one of
guests to Sarah Leeman.
"Yes," replied Sarah.
And as ahe spoke she thought
her
interlocutor was drawing a comparison
between her own and Mrs. Sharping's
'domestic establishment.
. Sarah heard on all hands praises of
'the things on all sides of her, and she
"wondered why her own husband could
not do all this as well as Mr. Sharping.
"She let the spirit of envy drop into her
bosom before she was aware of it, and
' from that moment she became unhappy.
She took no more pleasure in viewing
the costly articles about her, and at an
-early hour she drew her husband away
from the company, and begged him to
go home. When she reached her own
snug, neat little sitting room she forgot
all the happiness she had enjoyed there.
She only thought of the contrast be
tween that and Mrs. Sharping's suberb
parlor.
"I'm sure I don't see hy we may
not make as good an appearance as the
Sharpings," she murmured, after she
-and her husband bad become seated.
"I can hardly afford it now, Sarah,"
returned Arthur.
"But why not as well as William
Sharping "
"Because Sharping has more money.
-He makes more money than I do."
"I don't see bow he can do that. He
must have some secret in trade that you
do not possess. O, I wish we could
&eep up with them 1 People will see
that Sharping is more prosperous, and
they will think him more of a business
man than you are ; and if he once takes
the lead in trade be will not only be
eure to Keep it up nut also to gain on
iila competitors. You know how people
like to trade at flourishing places ?"
Arthur Leeman began to think there
. was some force in bis wife's argument.
He, too, began to lose eight of the sweet
"content" he had been for two years en
joying, and Instead thereof he was look.
Jng for what the world calls plenty,
Before Arthur Leeman retired that
night he told his wife he would exert
himself to outstrip his neighbor.
A few evenings after that, as Arthur
was returning home from his business
he had occasion to pass his neighbor's
store, and as be saw a light gleaming
through the chinks of his shutters, be
thought he would enter. Sharping was
there alone, and he had just closed his
ledger.
"Ha, Leeman, how are you V How's
business V" cried Sharping with the air
of a man who is well pleased with him
self. . "O, so, so," returned Arthur, reaching
over the counter to shake hands.
"I've done capitally to-day," resumed
Sharping. "A profit of fifty-eight dol
lars and thirty-three cents."
"Not clear net profit V" said Arthur,
opening his eyes.
"Yes clear profit. Ha, ha, ha!" and
the young merchant thus laughed to
himself as he leaped over the counter
and rubbed his hands exultingly.
"But I don't see how you did it," said
Arthur, In a tone of anxious wistful
ness.
"Ha, ha, ha ! What fools there are in
this world, Leeman. Just look here,"
rattled the successful merchant, as he
leaped over the counter and pulled a
piece of goods from one of the shelves.
"There what do you call thatV"
Leeman carefully examined the article
with an air of one who understands his
business.
"It's made to look like the finest silk,"
he said, "but the great body of cloth is
cotton. I never saw anything like it be
fore," he continued as he drew out a
thread and ran it between the nails of
his thumb and fore finger, thereby strip
ping off the flossy silken covering from
a stout thread of cotton.
"No, it's a new thing. I got it in
New York. Sold a piece this afternoon
fifteen yards for niueshillings a yard
Ha, ha, ha!"
"Nine shillings!" repeated Arthur,
in renewed surprise. " Why tbe stuff is
not worth seventy-five cents."
"Bless your body, I only paid forty
two cents for it. Got it at auction. It's
a new thing. Only think of It off
from fifteen yards I made a profit of six
teen dollars and twenty cents!"
"But the one to whom you sold it
must have thought it all silk."
'Of course she did. You don't think
she'd have paid that price if she hadn't V
But mind, I tell you this in confidence
You are one of the trade, you know,and
of course up to such things."
Arthur Leeman was not "up to such
thingB," but then he had not the manly
independence to Bay so. A new idea was
working its way darkly through his
mind.
, You didn't of course tell her It was
ally silk pure silk " he said half
carelessly.
"On, nol" eaid Bharping, with a
knowing nod. "Let me alone for that,
She wanted something rich for a dress
I took down that. -There," said I
"look at that just examine what you
want splendid article examine for
yourself." What do you ask V" she said
"Two dollars," said I. "Too high,"
said she. "But my dear madam, look
at it I must make myself whole." She
begged, I groaned about the ruinous
plan of selling below cost. But at last
she hit upon nine shillings. "Ruinous,"
said I; "but if you if you won't men
tion it if you'll promise not to tell of
it seeing It's you you may take it.
She promised and took it. Ha, ha,
ha!"
"Sixteen dollars and twenty cents,"
muttered Arthur aloud.
"Ay, a good round profit," added
Sharping. "But then we must do it ;
must live, you know ; and we might as
well have their money as anybody
They've got it to spare, else they would
not spend It.
When Leeman returned to his home
he fancied he had learned something.
He had, in fact, learned how William
Sharping made his money, and half of
that night he lay awake and thought of
it. -
The next morning he walked very
slowly toward his store. He was still
thinking of what he had learned the
night before, and was trying hard to
silence the "still small voice" that was
whispering to bis soul.
"It's only business after all," be said
to himself. "I may as well get a living
as other folks."
It wag with these words upon his lips
that be entered his store.
His clerk was there and the place was
clean and neat. He had been in the
store half an hour, and at the end of
that time his clerk asked him if be was
unwell.
"Unwell t What put that Into your
bead, Henry V" "
"Oh I thought you looked flushed
feverish. I didn't know but that you
might have caught cold."
"No, no, I am well."
Arthur Leeman turned away and
wondered if he had been showing all bis
feelings.
Somehow the store did not seem so
cheerful to him as usual. The neatly
arranged shelves and boxes, and the
choice goods did not look so invltiug as
was their wont.
During the first part of the day he
sold some common articles, such as
calicoes, lawns, thread, etc., but it did
not occur to him that even hero be
might have over-reached aslngle custom
er. Jie uiu not tninK or geitiug twelve
and a half cents for some of his bIx pen
ny prints. Sharping did it, but Leeman
was not yet initiated.
At laBt an opportunity was afforded
for Arthur to try his newly-discovered
plan of business.
Toward night a middle aged gentle
man entered the store and expressed a
wish to purchase some cloth for a pair
of pants. He was a stranger, having
but a few days before moved Into the
village.
I should like a piece that is good all
wool, thick and firm," he said as Arthur
led the way to the cloth counter.
The gentleman looked over the goods,
and at length his eye hit upon a piece of
dark, mixed doeskin. It felt firm and
thick, and it was in truth a handsome
piece.
" How is that i"' asked Arthur,
"I think it will suit me. It seem to
be firm and eood. Not quite bo soft as
clear wool generally Is."
"It is an excellent cloth a few day's
wear will soften it," saiu tue young
merchant, trying to appear candid
"What is it a yard?"
"Now, the cloth cost Arthur Just
thirty seven and a half cents per yard,
and he had Intended to sell it at forty
two, and had placed his private mark
uuon It accordingly. It was just half
cotton.
"One dollar," said he.
And the words as he spoke them,
struck startingly upon his own ear
"You may cut me off three yards,"
said the man ; and Arthur hid his face
as he did the work.
After the cloth was done up the gen
tleman paid for it three dollars It was
nearly two dollars more than It cost a
clear profit of nearly two hundred per
cent.
Arthur Leeman had always made it a
noint to be sociable with those with
whom he traded,
It was a five-dollar bill the gentleman
tendered in payment, and as he passed
it over he remarked :
"I suppose that is the lowest you will
take V"
"It is the lowest I ought to take,"
said Arthur, trying to hide hia tremb
limtness. for he had done something he
knew to be wrong.
"Very well," said the stranger; I al
ways wish to pay a fair living price to
every one with whom I deal, always
trusting," he added with a smile, "that
I shall be treated honestly in return
He took his change and left the store
Arthur took down bis blotter and
thought to enter the sale
be had just
made; but he hesitated
were all fair and honest.
Those1 pages
He dared not
place there the record of
honest act he had done I
wished the customer bad
the first dls-
O, bow he
not come!
How he wished he could recall the thing
he had done ! He bad tried the experi
ment.
"Why, what's the matter, Arthur V"
asked Mrs. Leeman, as her husband
drew back from the supper table that
evening; "you look unhappy."
"I am unhappy, Sarah," faintly re
plied Arthur; for he bad determined to
tell his wife his bitter experience.
"What is It V" anxiously uttered the
half-frightened wife, moving to her hus
band's side and placing her arm around
bis neck.
"Sit down, sit down, Sarah, and I
will tell you."
She did so, still keeping her arm
around his neck, and he told her the
story of his fall.
"I thought I would try to make money
as fast as William Sharping does," he
said. "Last evening I was in his
store and I discovered bis secret. If I
disclose it to you you will not tell of
It."
ttaran promised, and then Arthur re
lated to her all that had passed.
For a time she was silent. At length
she raised ber Hps to her husband's face
and kissed him.
"Forgive me," she whispered, "for it
was I who did this wrong. Ob, forgive
me, Arthur. Ob, I would rather live in the
meanest rags of penury and want than
to live on the wages of my husband's
dishonesty! I shall never be envious
again. I shall never think of bartering
sweet 'content for my neighbor's 'plen
ty. It was I who wronged you. For
give me."
It was a scene of mutual forgiveness
that followed, and that night both bus
band and wife prayed that they might
not beed the voice of the tempter again.
Ou the next day the first person who
came Into the store after Arthur arrived
was the man to whom the cloth bad
been sold the day before. The ' young
merchant felt a sudden trembling com
ing Into bis limbs, and the worst fears
sprang into bis mind. He feared that
his wickedness had been detected, and
that be should not have It in his power
to make free restitution. But he was
mistaken. The gentleman had only
come for some stuff for lining and faolng
to the pants he was going to have made.
Arthur's heart leaped again, for be
should have the opportunity he had
hoped for.
"Ah, sir," he said, after the articles
Just called for had been wrapped up, "I
fear there was a small mistake made
yesterday, and I am glad you called, for
I wish it rectified.
I was not aware of any," returned
the stranger, wonderingly.
Step this way, sir," Arthur led the
way to the counter where the sale had
been made, and laying his hand upon
the piece of cloth from which he had
cut the three yards, he continued :
"You took a pattern from this piece 1"'
"Yes, sir."
"Well, sir I was very nervous very
uncomfortable at the time, and I made
a sad mistake. I should have asked
you but forty-two cents per yard for It.
It is part cotton. You may return it
and take another piece or I will pay
you back the difference, aj you please."
He choose to keep the cloth, and Ar
thur paid him back one dollar and sev
enty-four cents. He was very thankful
for the restution thus made, and remain
ed a long time and chatted with the
merchant. He proved afterwards to be
not only a good customer, but a valuable
friend to Arthur. .
That night Arthur Leeman was hap
py and bis sweet wife was never happi
er in her life, for she had learned the
real value of the blessing she possessed,
and she had gained once more she had
well-nigh thrown from ber the sweet
est treasure of life content.
lime sped on. Artnur Leeman re
mained strict in his integrity. One by
one, customers of William Sharping
dropped into bis store. They had learned
the real character of the dishonest mer
chant, and they fled from his counter.
In course of time Sharping was deeply
In debt nls great nouse was put up for
sale. Arthur Leeman bought it, and
when he paid for it he had the sweet,
holy satisfaction of knowiug that every
dollar of the purchase money had been
honestly earned by fair and virtuous
dealing.
Prayer's Certainty.
It would be a great pity if prayer
should somehow be abolished. How.
then, could we maintain any acquaint
ance with God V How could two men
get acquainted if they sat down together
day after day without asking a question
or saying a word ? The more we know
about the laws of nature, the more we
ought to feel that He who rules in na
ture can answer prayer without disturb
ing nature. Law does not interfere with
prayer, but lawlessness would, we pray
to One who allows no anarchy In nature.
" Oh the inexorable uniformity and un
feeling cruelty of nature!" A good
argument against praying to nature, but
that's all. Going through a factory we
do not say, " Oh machine, do this, or do
that ;" but we address the one who man
ages the machine. The machine, like
solidity of nature, is one of the negative
arguments for the existence of God.
Nature is not the God that our souls de
mand. If it is God's plan to Bupply
men's wants, then it Is his plan, also, to
answer their prayers; for their real
prayers are but the expression of their
wants. If it violates law to answer
men's prayers, it equally violates law to
purposely supply their wants. In fact
there is no middle ground between no
God and a prayer hearing God. Ad-
vance.
Assured Faith.
In Scotland, in an bumble cottage by
the loch, pld Nancy, an aged womau,
worn out with life, lay on her bed,
patiently waiting her final summons to
go to a mansion in the skies, to a home
not made with hands. On the table lay
ber constant and almost only compan
ions, her glasses and Bible. Among her
visitors was a young clergyman, who,
listening to her simple words, uttered In
cnuuiiise iaitn, leic mat neaveu was
near to blm and seemed to hear the joy
ful cries of the redeemed. One day he
said to her : " Nancy, suppose, after all
your prayers and watching and waiting,
your soul shall be eternally lost?" Nancy
with a wistful look, raised herself on her
elbow, and with her hand on her Bible,
said : " Is that all the far ye hae got me
mon V God would lose more than I
would. My Immortal soul would be lost
but Uod would lose his power and char
acter. If be breaks his word he makes
himself a liar, and all the universe will
rush into confusion."
American Ladles.
Ttre first impression Sara Bernhardt
received of the American ladies mani
fested itself thusly : "Oh I ze ladies, za
are so beautiful, such clear comnlexion I
nevare see before," all of which is due to
tne universal use or Hwayne's Ointment
fqr skin diseases, which insures a clear
and clean complexion, and a healthy
color. This recalls to mind the divine
precept "cleanliness is next to Godll-
ness.'
40 4t
T-Hmm-mmrmwmwinBmwiil wtmrn-.,,.. ens,.jMa' -
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Direction! in XleTen Language.
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