PAGE 5
Will it pay?
by
“That’s a grave charge, Captain Jackson,” said Mt. Jones; “You must explain yourself.”
“I’m a plain spoken, and a straightforward sort of a man, sir.” The captain drew himself up, and looked particularly dignified. “The truth is, as I have said, I thought you were rather too sharp for me the last time. But I determined to try you once more, and to watch you as closely as a cat watches a mouse. I was on my way to your store, when I met an old friend, in business here, and, put to him the direct question as to what he thought of your fairness in trade. ‘He’s sharp,’ was the answer. ‘He will not take an undue advantage?’ said I. ‘Your idea as to what constitutes an undue advantage would hardly agree with that of Mr. Jones,’ replied my friend. And then he related the circumstance of your finding Armor in a tight place last week, and getting from him a lot of goods for two hundred dollars less than they were worth. I went to Armor, and, on his confirming the statement, at once placed my cargo in his hands. The commissions will repair his loss, and give him a few hundred dollars over. I’m afraid of men who are too sharp in dealing. Are you satisfied with my explanation?”
“Good morning, sir,” said Mr. Jones.
“Good morning,” returned, Captain Jackson. And bowing formally, the two men separated.
That didn’t pay,” muttered Jones between his teeth, as he moved on with his eyes cast to the ground, even in his chagrin and mortification using his favourite word–
“No, it, didn’t pay,” And, in truth, no operations of this kind do really pay. They may seem to secure advantage, but always result in loss–if not in lose of money, in loss of that which should be dearer to a man than all the wealth of the Indies–his self-respect and virtuous integrity of character.
On the evening of that day, a pleasant little company was assembled at the house of Mr. Smith, made up of the merchant’s own family and three guests–Mrs. Lloyd and her daughters. Through the advice of Mr. Smith, and by timely action on his part, a house of moderate capacity had been secured, at a great bargain, for the sum of three thousand dollars, to which it was proposed to remove, as soon as furniture, on the way from New Orleans, should arrive. The first story of this house was already fitted up as a store; and, as the object of Mrs. Lloyd was to get into business in a small way, the purchase of the property was made, in order as well to obtain a good location as to make a safe investment. With the thousand dollars that remained, it was proposed to lay in a small stock of fancy dry-goods.
In the few interviews held with Mrs. Lloyd by the merchant, he was struck with the beautiful harmony of her character, and especially with her womanly dignity. As for the eldest daughter, something about her had charmed him from the very beginning. And now when, for the first time, this interesting family were his guests for a social evening–when he saw their characters in a new aspect–and when he felt, through the quick sympathy of a generous nature, how grateful and happy they were–he experienced a degree of satisfaction such as never pervaded the breast of any man whose love of mere gain was the measure of his good-will toward others.
How different was the social sphere in the house of Mr. Jones on that evening! The brow of the husband and father was clouded, and his lips sealed in silence; or if words were spoken, they were in moody tones, or uttered in fretfulness and ill-nature. The wife and children caught from him the same repulsive spirit, and, in their intercourse one with the other, found little sympathy or affection. There was a chilling shadow on the household of the merchant; it fell from the monster form of his expanding selfishness, that was uplifted between the sunlight of genuine humanity and the neighbour he would not regard. Alas! on how many thousands and thousands of households in our own land rests the gigantic shadow of this monster!
“Will it pay?” is the eager question we hear on all sides, as we mingle in the business world.
“Has it paid?” Ah, that is the after-question! Reader, is the monster’s shadow in your household? If so, it has not paid.