THE VALUE OF TIME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 25 March 1907, Page 4

THE VALUE OF TIME.

A STORY OF FRANKLIN'. Ono fine morning, wh-.n I''ranV;n was busy preparing his newspaper for the press, a lounger stepped into tho store, and spent an hour or more looking over tlifc books, etc., and finally, taking or.e in his hand, asked the shop-boy the price. "Half-a crown," was the answer. "Half-a-crown," said tho lounger, "can't you take less than that?" "No, indeed; that is the price." Another hour had nearly passed, when the lounger said: "Is Mr Franklin at home?"

"Yes, he is in the printing office." "I want to see. him," sarid the lounger. The shop-hoy immediately informed Mr Franklin tliat a gentleman wa v s in the store waiting to see him. Franklin was soon behind the countier, when tho lounger, with book in hand, addressed him thus: "Mr Franklin, what is the lowest you can take for that book?" "Thue shillings," was the ready an swer. "Three shillings! Why, your young man onty"7istvWt"mchalf-a-rrown." "True," said Franklin, "and I could have better afforded to have taken that then than to have been taken out of th:officc." The lounger seemed sin-prised, and wish ing to end tho parley of his own making, aid: "Come, Mr Franklin, I ell me what is the lowest price you can take for it?" "Three shillings and sixpence." "Three sliillings and sixpence' Why, you offered it yourself for three shillings." "Yes," said Franklin, "and I had better have taken that price then than three shillings and sixpence now." The lounger paid down tho price, and went about his business—if ho had any—and Franklin into the printing office.