Australian Tales - Setis

strongly impressed with the idea that if business men in general would
face their perplexities as cheerfully as he did, there would be far less
commercial depression than there is at present. I had better state that I do
not vouch for the accuracy of the foregoing story, though I can solemnly
declare that I have both seen and felt “bills at four months,” which were
quite as valueless as Mr. Mopus's. Though it be apocryphal, it may help
to clear up the mystery which has perplexed many simple ones, and
explain how certain traders can afford to undersell their honest
neighbours, and live in furious style too.
Soon after leaving my friend's office, I saw a man hurrying down the
street towards me, with his head down, his clenched hands swinging
rapidly, and his whole mien as fierce as if he were in chase of a rogue
who had run away with his wife. I had known the man slightly for a long
time. Formerly he was a thriving mechanic, but of late years he had
called himself a “wholesale man.” It was supposed that the bulk of his
merchandise was kept in bond, for he displayed very little in his business
premises, and the piles of cases near the doorway echoed very
suspiciously if struck with a stick.
“What is the matter, Mr. Fluff?” I asked, as he stopped to speak to me.
“Matter, sir? why, everything is going to the dogs, and I am almost
bothered out of my wits,” he replied.
“That is very likely. Excuse me for speaking plainly, Mr. Fluff, but I
am sure it would be better for you to resume your trade; you will then
have less anxiety, and better health than you now have, and you will be
doing your part towards remedying the present commercial depression,
which is mainly owing to overtrading. The continual excitement of
carrying on a business such as yours with insufficient capital is wearing
your constitution much faster than the hardest work at your trade would
do. But what special trouble have you just now? if it is right for me to
ask the question.”
“I want to get this bill done, to take up another which falls due tomorrow.
Do you think you could find a friend who would oblige me, sir?
It is drawn by Bladders and Co. — first-rate marks — for £223. I will
take £200 for it. It has only sixty-nine days to run, and is perfectly safe.”
I told him that I should probably have to run sixty-nine days, or
perhaps seventy-nine, before I found any one to do his bill; and my
reputation would not be very safe while running on such an errand. I was
certain that no person, whom I could call my friend, would lend money
at such exorbitant interest, or have any bill transactions with Bladders
and Co. Moreover, I said that money jobbing was quite out of my line,
and advised him to get his bankers to discount the bill for him, if it
represented, as he said it did, an honest business transaction; but of
which I was more than doubtful, having had some experience of Mr.
Bladder's financial talents.