Hudson, Ohio, May 20, 1851.
Dear Son John,
— I learn by brother Jeremiah, who has just returned, that you have engaged
yourself to buy wool. I have no objection to your doing so; but an untiring
anxiety for your welfare naturally inclines me to remind you of some of the
temptations to which you may be exposed, as well as some of the difficulties
you may meet with! Wool-buyers generally accuse each other of being
unscrupulous liars; and in that one thing perhaps they are not
so. Again, there are but very few persons who need money, that can wholly
resist the temptation of feeling too rich, while handling any considerable
amount of other people's money. They are also liable to devote God's blessed
Sabbath to conversation or contrivances for furthering their schemes, if not to
the examination and purchase of wool. Now, I would not have you barter away
your conscience or good name for a commission. You will find that many will
pile away their wool, putting the best outside, and will be entirely unwilling
you should handle it all. I would at once leave such lots, unless that point is
yielded. I would have an absolute limit of prices on the different
grades. You can throw into different grades, pretty fast, a lot of wool, so as
to see pretty nearly whether it will average above or below the grade you wish
generally to buy. Do not let your anxiety to buy carry you one inch beyond your
judgment. Do not be influenced a particle by what you hear others have offered.
Never make an absolute offer to any one for his wool. If persons
will not set a price on it, which you feel confident you are authorized
to pay, you can ask them if they will not take so much, without really
making any bid. If you make bids, some other buyer will follow you, and get the
wool by offering a trifle more. A very trifling difference will very often do
as much towards satisfying persons as would a greater one. You will generally
buy to the best advantage where the wool is generally good and washed:
you can buy to better advantage by finding a good stand, and there buying no
more than you have the funds on hand to pay for. Do not agree to pay money
you have not on hand. Remember that. Say who you are employed to buy for
frankly if asked. The less you have to say about the why or wherefore the
better, other than that you are limited. A book containing the grading of
numerous lots of wool is with me at Akron, to which you can have access; it may
be of service to you about knowing how different lots will average. Buy you a
superior cow, one that you have milked yourself, and know to give a good
quantity of milk, before getting a horse. The getting of a horse will get for
you numerous absolute wants you would otherwise not have. All well. Shall want
to know where to find you.
Your affectionate
father,
John Brown.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 85-6
No comments:
Post a Comment