Australian Tales - Setis

Don't Forget Your Poor Old Mother!
ONE afternoon, nearly twenty years ago, a young man was actively
engaged behind the counter of a general store, in the interior of New
South Wales. The day was wet, and customers were scarce; so Mr.
Bustle, who was a careful economist of time, as well as of his means,
employed himself in dusting and re-arranging the scanty assortment of
goods on his shelves — for he wisely endorsed the old adage, “that
goods well kept are half sold.” If rats and mice were not entirely
excluded from his premises, it was not the fault of Benjamin Bustle; and
they had not a very peaceable time therein. They were not allowed to
nestle their mischievous brood among the prints and calicoes on his
drapery shelves, nor to burrow undisturbed into the cheeses, packages of
starch, or other favourite commodities on the grocery side of his shop.
Mr. Bustle was an industrious man, and, although but a young beginner
in business, with a very small capital, at a time of almost general distress
and commercial stagnation throughout the colony, he was, nevertheless,
a thriving man, because he managed to live below his income. Thus he
gradually increased his stock, which, as I before stated, he took care to
keep in good saleable condition.
Mr. Bustle had just given the finishing touch to his haberdashery
shelves, on the afternoon referred to, and was standing gazing on his
little stock-in-trade (which he knew was all paid for), and wondering
whether he would have sufficient cash, by the ensuing week, to enable
him to replenish his store from the Sydney market, when in walked Mr.
Dubbs, a gentleman who resided in the neighbourhood.
“I have called to asked you, Mr. Bustle, if you will buy a bank draft on
London for £25,” said Mr. Dubbs. “I received it a day or two ago, and,
commercially speaking, it is of no use to me, for, you know, I am not in
business. I shall be glad if you will cash it for me. You shall have it for
£24.”
“If I bought it, I should have to resell it in Sydney,” said Mr. Bustle;
“and I do not know the present rate of exchange. I have no use for it
myself, for I am not in a position to import goods from England, though I
hope to do so some day. I am much obliged to you for offering the draft
to me, but I must decline purchasing it.”
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