Village Squire, 1975-01, Page 11answer to this, there came one day Mr.
Brown.)
Mr. Brown was what might be called an
itinerant business man. He traveled with a
horse and Tight wagon and his business
interests were many. He dealt in rags,
bones, scrap metal, poultry, furs or what have
you.
His father had come from Austria with his
wife many years before. His name had been
Braun there. He changed the name to Brown,
dealt in all the above mentioned articles,
prospered and raised a family. Mr. Brown as
the oldest son had inherited the business.
He was a solid, cheerful, round faced,
deeply freckled man with little of the
traditional Semitic appearance. However it
could be said that when Charlie's ancestors
were painting themselves blue and coming to
the shores of their misty island with furs to
barter, Mr. Brown's forebears were there to
meet them, then as now sauve and
patronizing.
"I hear you have some furs Charlie, should
you like I take them off your hands?"
Charlie agreed that he had thought of this
too. He got the pelts and spread them on the
back of the wagon. Mr. Brown flicked them
over rapidly. It seemed that he barely looked
.t them.
"How much", he said, "How much do you
want for this merchandise?"
Charlie looked at the two mink the 'coon
the skunk and the four weasels. He was
surprised and flattered that they were
regarded as merchandise.
"How much will you give me?"
"Now Charlie, that I should buy and sell
both I cannot do, you should tell me how
much that you want."
Charlie mentioned a sum he had in mind
but he made the mistake of saying it
tentatively and without assurance. Mr. Brown
had awed him by his casual glances at the
skins. It seemed that he was in a hurry to
have this minor matter cleared up and get on
to more pressing affairs.
He threw up his hands in horror.
"You ask such a price for only two mink,
four weasels, one skunk and one coon. I tell
you this as a friend. I tell you frankly young
Charlie you are twice too high. Now tell me
the real price you want?"
Charlie had a flash of intuition which was to
come to his aid many times later in dealing
with Mr. Brown.
"That's the price I want. I want to buy a
pair of skates and a suit of clothes and pay
back Henry for my rifle and I want ten dollars
to buy Christmas presents and that's what it
ccmes to."
"Or, that you should do this to me who is
your friend. I will be frank and open with you.
I will make you one price and one price only,
because I must hurry on now. I will pay for
this merchandise all that I can."
He named a sum which took in everything
but the Christmas presents.
This was disappointing and there was no
doubt that Mr. Brown's attitude was
hardening but Charlie felt he should try
again.
"I can do with five dollars for the
Christmas presents." After all he could cut
down on Ed and Henry, it wouldn't hurt them
a hit
10, VILLAGE SQUIRE/JANUARY 1975
Mr. Brown zeroed in for the kill.
"Charlie I will be above board with you, on
this deal I may lose money but I want to do
business. You may ship these furs and lose
money for what do the big people care. This I
do not want to see. I will split the Christmas
money with you. Make it $2.50 and no more
said, that is the kind of man I am."
Mr. Brown often spoke of this, of how his
frankness and openess in business deals
continually kept him. in hot water. It was a
wonder that he made enough to keep the
horse and wagon on the road.
Charlie considered. l his splitting business
could work both ways.
"Make it $4.00 Mr. Brown."
"$3.00 Charlie, that is all."
"$3.50", said Charlie hanging in there."
"$3.25 and that is final. I should lose my
shirt."
As it wasn't possible to split much further
they closed the deal. Actually Mr. Brown had
given a few dollars more than he had
intended, but he would see the boy again.
There would be more furs.
Charlie was both relieved and disappoint-
ed. The money in his pocket was reassuring
but the Christmas presents had taken a
beating.
Then he had an idea. His mother was
having a birthday right away, he would buy a
present for her and Christmas could take care
of itself. She had been pretty good about the
skunk episode and cooking the coon and she
had overlooked minor smells related to mink
and weasels.
In a day or so Ed took a load of grain to the
village mill to be ground. Charlie helped him
bag the grain and load it on the wagon. Ed
was cynical.
"How come you're so helpful all of a
sudden."
"I want to go to town with you, I can help
unload it."
They left the grain at the mill to be ground
into chop. In various parts of the country it
was known as meal, hash or grist. In Charlie's
village it was chop but the mill was known as
a grist mill.
Ed went to the pool room, Charlie walked
around trying to decide what to buy. He saw
Mr. Schantz's sign, a big wooden watch
creaking on the end of an iron rod. It said
"Watch Repair" and indicated a narrow door
between the millinery shop and the hardware.
He entered here.
The store was long and narrow and
somewhat dusty. By courtesy it was called a
jewelry store and there were indeed trays of
rings and brooches and watches in open
velvet cases displayed under a glass counter.
Mr. Shantz came from a mysterious
screened area at the back. He was tall and
thin and straight. He looked pale and sad.
The juice was somehow all dried up in Mr.
Shantz. There was a glass in his eye that
made him look like a Prussian Count
Charlie thought.
He removed the glass and put on spectacles
that pinched his nose and peered over the
counter.
"Well Tcharlie
you, how are you
Poppa?"
Charlie assured
my boy it iss goot to see
and how are Momma and
him that all were very well
ti
Dear Customer:
We at Ball and Mutch Ltd. would like to take a moment out of
your hectic schedule during this holiday season to draw your
attention to our up -coming "EARLY BIRD SALE".
We offer a huge selection of high quality merchandise at all
times, and it is selections from this stock that is now being
offered at sale prices. So come on in and look us over - you'll be
glad you did.
Sale begins December 27th and lasts until the merchandise
that we have selected to reduce has been sold so be an early bird
and come in while the selection is at its best.
Finally we would like to pause at this time and express our
sincere appreciation for your ever increasing acceptance and
confidence in our merchandise. To our many friends, old and
new, our best wishes for a prosperous and happy New Year.
Yours sincerely,
The Staff and Management.
BALL and MUTCH LIMITED
.1/omit 7utniikinsa
CLINTON, ONTARIO PHONE *2-9505