He took me into a small room by the side of his kitchen, and showed me
what he called his "sinkin' fund stock."
"Here, ye see," said he, "is canned fruit and vegetables, smoked and
salted meat and fish, cheeses, biscuits, and a lot of other things that
will keep. None of these is this year's goods. Some of them have been
left over from last year, some from the year before that, and some is
still older. Whenever I git a little short, I put a lot of these goods
on board and sell 'em with the discount off,--twenty per cent for last
year's stock, forty per cent off for the year before that, and so on
back. So, ye see, if I have got anythin' on hand that is five years old,
I am bound to give it away for nothin', if I stick to my principles. At
fust me and my old woman tried eatin' what was left over; but discount
isn't no good to her, and she wants the best victuals that is goin'. Did
ye ever think, sir, what this world would be without canned victuals?"
I assured him that I never had, but would try to do so if possible.
The day proved to be a very fine one, and early in the afternoon the
people invited to the quilting party began to arrive, and by two o'clock
the affair was in full swing. The quilting frame was set up in a large
chamber at the right of the parlor, the "comfortable" to be quilted was
stretched upon it, and at the four sides sat as many matrons and elderly
maidens as could crowd together, each with needle in hand.
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