Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1878 — Done Brown. [ARTICLE]

Done Brown.

It seems incredible that a man born and raised in Annisquam, Mass., should have been done so concededly brown as the particular Caleb described to the Drawer, as follows, by a lady: A well-to-do resident of the village, Capt. W , wished to employ Caleb to saw some wood, three cards and a Half, in all, and promised to pay him 50 cents a day. Caleb owned no saw, but as the Captain had a good one it was agreed that Caleb should hire it, and pay for the use of it at the rate of ninepence a cord. At early dawn the next morning —it was in July—Caleb was at work. Those were the days of wide fire-places, and each log needed to be sawed but once. Before night he had finished the job, and went into Capt. W ’s house to Battle. “ Let’s see,” said the Captain; “ you were to have 50 cents a day; we’ll call it a day, though it isn’t sundown yet. That’s 50 cents for you. And you were to pay me ninepence a cord for the use of the saw; there’s 43$ cents due me. I say, Caleb, you don’t seem to have much coming.” Caleb looked dubious. He scratched his head thoughtfully, but presently a light seemed to break in upon his mind. “How unfortnit,” said he, “that you did not have half a cord more, /or then we could.’a come out just square!" — Editor's Drawer, in Harper's Magazine for July.