Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1895 — DOING WELL. [ARTICLE]

DOING WELL.

He Was Not Making Money, but ,Losing It Slower. Jack Negly was one of the mountaineers of the Cumberland whom I had known better perhaps than any of them, for Jack had borrowed a few dollars from me to buy a yoke of steers with, and the number of times he came to me to get the debt renewed brought me: Into very close acquaintance vflth him. He was a farmer in a small way, and he was never known to be out of debt He was a renter and at least every other season ho was occupying a different farm. By my advice he had moved the year before intb fin entirely new field, a t least a dozen milesTrom his usual haunts, and I half not seen him for several moths. When I did see him, at last, it was by accident, as business called me into his neighborhood. As I rode past his place he hailed me from the cornfield and came out to the fence. “Hello,” I exclaimed, “is this your farm?” “Yes, and I jist come over to tell you, Colonel, that I’ll be ready to pay part of that claim uv your’n before long.” “You must be doing well?” “I think I’m doin’ fust rate, and I’m powerful obleefced to you, Colonel, fer headin’ me this way.” “I’m always glad to help if I can.” “I knowed that, Colonel, and that’s why I come away over here so fer frum home. Hit’s kinder strange to me, but ez long ez I'm doin’ ez well ez I am agoin’ to stand hit.” “Are you making any money?” Jim's face brightened perceptibly. “No, I ain’t,'Colonel,” he replied hopefully, “but I’m losin’ it slower’n I ever done in my life afore.” It struck me as rather odd at first, but upon more mature reflection I concluded that Jim might have reason for his hopefulness.—Detroit Free Press.