“Well, I hope you will succeed,” said Mr. Henry. “Fish are in good demand now, and I’ll give you five cents a pound for all you will bring me—large and small.”
Tom was satisfied with the price offered, and after holding a short conversation with the grocer concerning the business in hand, he left the store, and hurried toward the home of the fisher-boy. He found Bob just getting into his boat to begin his day’s work. In a few words, Tom stated the object of his visit, and concluded by offering Bob three cents a pound for all the fish he could catch. The latter at once accepted the proposition. Heretofore he had only received two cents a pound; and as he was not the only fisherman about the village, he not unfrequently found it impossible to dispose of his day’s work at any price.
“Well, then!” said Tom, after they had talked the matter over. “It’s a bargain. You are to bring me all the fish you can catch, and I am to give you three cents a pound for them, here at your house. Now, Bob, we ought to have that in writing. It will look more business-like.”
As Tom spoke, he drew from his pocket a memorandum-book and pencil. He had often noticed that his father carried these articles, and, not wishing to omit any thing that would make him appear like a business man, he had taken care to provide himself with every thing necessary before leaving home. He seated himself on the ground, and, after considerable study, drew up the following:
CONTRAK.
be it known by all Men that ime Agreed To take all the Fish you can ketch here at your house at three cents a pond every day When you Get them.
thomas newcombe.
This he signed with a flourish, and handed to Bob, who was astonished at the bad spelling and worse writing. But Tom evidently thought it just right, for he tore another leaf out of his book, saying, as he did so: “Bob, that’s yours to keep. Now I must have one too;” and he proceeded to write a second contract, which ran thus:
CONTRAK.