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“Such a stipulation must be signed, of course,” remarked Jonathan. “I’ve always had that in my mind; let me once get this business into my hands, and I’ll make it pay better than it ever has yet. Before ten years roll over my head, if I a’n’t worth forty or fifty thousand dollars, then I don’t know any thing.”

“You think it will pay like that?”

“Yes, I know it. I haven’t put out half my strength yet, for I didn’t want to let this Dutchman see what could be made of the business. He’ll catch at three thousand dollars like a trout at a fly; it’s more money than he ever saw in his life.”

On the next day, Jonathan told his partner that he wanted to have some talk with him; so they retired into their little private office, to be alone.

“Vat you want?” said the Dutchman, when they were by themselves; for he saw that his partner had something on his mind of graver import than usual.

“I’m tired of a co-partnership business,” said the Yankee, coming straight to the main point.

“Vell?” And the Dutchman looked at him without betraying the least surprise.

“Either of us could conduct this business as well as both together.”

“Vell?”

“Now, I propose to buy you out or sell you my interest, as you please.”

“Vell?”

“What will you give me for my half of the business, and let me go at something else?” The Dutchman shook his head.

“At a word, then, to make the matter as simple as possible, and as fair as possible, I’ll tell you what I’ll give or take.”

“Vell?”

“Of course, it would not be fair for the one who goes out to commence the same business. I would not do it. There should be a written agreement to this effect.”

“Yes. Vell, vat vill you give or dake?”

I’ll give or take three thousand dollars; I don’t care which.”

“Dree dousand dollar! You give dat?”

“Yes.”

“Or take dat?”

“Either.”

“You pay down de monish?”

“Cash down.”

“Humph! Dree dousand dollar! Me tink about him.”

“How long do you want to think?”

“Undil de mornin.”

“Very well; we’ll settle the matter to-morrow morning.”

In the morning, Jonathan’s friend came with three thousand dollars, in order to pay the Dutchman right down, and have the whole business concluded while the matter was warm.

Meantime, the Dutchman, who was not quite so friendless nor so stupid as the Yankee supposed, turned the matter over in his mind very coolly. He understood Jonathan’s drift as clearly as he understood it himself, and was fully as well satisfied as he was in regard to the future value of the business which he had founded. Two of their largest customers were Germans, and to them he went and made a full statement of his position, and gave them evidence that entirely satisfied them as to the business. Without hesitation, they agreed to advance him the money he wanted, and to enable him to strike while the iron was hot, checked him out the money on the next morning. One of them accompanied him to his manufactory, to be a witness in the transaction.

Jonathan and his friend were first on the spot.

In about ten minutes, the Dutchman and his friend arrived.

“Well, have you made up your mind yet?” asked the Yankee.

“De one who goes out ish not to begin de same business?”

“No, certainly not; it wouldn’t be fair.”

“No, I ‘spose not.”

“Suppose we draw up a paper, and sign it to that effect, before we go any farther.”

“Vell.”

The paper was drawn, signed, and witnessed by the friends of both parties.

“You are prepared to give or take?” said Jonathan, with same eagerness in his manner.

“Yes.”

“Well, which will you do?”

“I vill give,” coolly replied the Dutchman.

“Give!” echoed the Yankee, taken entirely by surprise at so unexpected a reply. “Give! You mean, take.”

“I no means dake, I means give. Here ish de monish;” and he drew forth a large roll of bank-bills. “You say give or dake–I say give.”

With the best face it was possible to put upon the matter, Jonathan, who could not back out, took the three thousand dollars, and, for that sum, signed away, on the spot, all right, title, and claim to benefit in the business, from that day henceforth and for ever.

With his three thousand dollars in his pocket, the Yankee started off farther South, vowing that, if he lived to be as old as Methuselah, he’d never have any thing to do with a Dutchman again.