Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 June 1912 — GENIUS WAS WASTED [ARTICLE]

GENIUS WAS WASTED

BRIGGS WOULD HAVE THRIVED IN WALL STREET, - - ... ■ Tired of Borrowing Mr. Dunham’s Sled, He Makes a Proposition for Buying It—Did Dun* ham Grab It? Mr. Dunham had just finished his morning chores at the barn and was going in to breakfast when Briggs, J the hired man, who had bought the neighboring Alden farm, appeared. He was a congenial person, with a wellpadded waistcoat and an engaging smile. "Morning!” said the newcomer, briskly. "Morning!” said Mr. Dunham. “I’m going to be neighborly right away,” declared Briggs, with an air of simple frankness. "I want to borrow your wood sled for the day. I’ve had no time to get settled yet, there’s so much to do I do* know which way to turn, hardly.' But I’ve got to get some wood down and I want to do it while the healing's good.” “That’s all right,” said Mr. Dunham. : "Take it and welcome. It’s out there under the shed.” A day two later the new neigh* bor came again. This time he had the oxen with him. He nodded cheerfully as he passed the house and re- ■ marking casually, “I s’pose ft’s all right to take the sled again?” hitched r up. This time he kept it two days. A week later he came when Mr. Dunham was away, and whistling merrily as he yoked bls steers, drove off ; without question. Dunham waited four days, and then had to go after the sled himself, On the next occasion when the new neighbor called, he found Mr. Dunham ? milking. against the stanchioa with his hands in his pockets, he began: ' "Dunham, I like that sled of yours. It’s new, ain’t It?” ' “Why, yes. It was new this season.” “Want to sell Itr . . 3 "No, I do’ know as I da” “What did it cost yer "I paid Smith >25 for making it, and I furnished part of the stock.” . / “Well, it’s worth it, and you ought to have some profit -on it, too. Now, 1 I tell ye what; I don’t feel right borrowing all the time, and I’d like to buy it. How would >35 look to your Dunham milked silently for a mo- al ment. Then he said, “Well, I guess >35 would be all right” 11 “Good enough!” cried Briggs, heartily. “It’s worth that to me. I ain’t | got the ready cash just now, but we can fix it up this way; I’ll take the 1 sled> over to my place, and any time: you want to use it, you come right over and get it, just the same as if 'twas yours. I’ll keep track of it and charge ye a reasonable amount each time you take it—say mebbe * dollar—and when it comes to |35, why, the sled’ll be mine, and we’ll be square. That’ll save you buying a new one, and I’ll feel better’n ’« if I was; O borrowing all the time. Is that all right?”—Youth’s Companion. I - ■—