The Old Flag (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1864 Excerpt: ..."I can't promise, sir," said Leonard. "If the sleighing lasts, I might draw you some the last of the week." And he drove on, as the doctor made no reply, saying to A DISCOVERY. 187 himself, "I wonder he don't buy it of Jim Baker. He wants to sell." If he had followed the doctor into his house, he would have found out the reason. The irritable little man was in a state of high exasperation. He had neglected to get a supply of wood at the proper time, and it was now getting short, and the weather was very cold. "Confound these wood-sellers " he exclaimed; " they are all a set of scamps." " Not all, I hope," replied his meek little wife. " That load I got this morning was a perfect shave It looked well enough on the outside, but it was filled in with wretched trash, --not a stick of it bigger than my arm, and as crooked as a pothook. And then it was piled so that there wasn't more than three-quarters of a cord. It was a miserable cheat throughout. No, I don't believe there's an honest woodseller in the town I've been cheated in eery load I've bought this winter; some 188 A GOOD NAME. times in quantity, and sometimes in quality, and sometimes in both. They're a swindling set." " The Baileys say young Roberts deals very fairly. Can't you get some of him?" "No there ain't the least accommodation about him. He won't bring a load only just when it suits his own convenience. But I won't buy another load of Baker, if I go without, --that's a settled thing " A few days later, Leonard drew him three cords of wood of so good a quality and so fairly piled, that even the faultfinding doctor was compelled to own he had been honestly dealt by. "If there is an honest wood-seller i...