sometimes kept in dollars and cents,
sometimes in the English fashion, as above. Sometimes the charges are
made in one form, the credits in another. It was just as he got started,
I suppose, both moneys being in about equal circulation.

Captain Ben's spelling is interesting. He was by no means illiterate.
His writing is trim, his accounts in good form and correctly figured.
But it was more a fashion in that day to spell as pronounced, and his
orthography gives us a personal sense of the period.

"To plowin garding ... 2 shillin." You can almost hear him say that,
while "To haulin stun" likewise carries the fine old flavor.

We have heard much of the "good old times when things were cheap," but
Captain Ben's book proves that not all commodities were cheap in his
day. Calico, for instance, is set down at three and six a yard--that is,
eighty-five cents. Handkerchiefs at two shillings thrippence each,
sugar at a shilling per pound, which is more than double our war-time
prices. It is not well to complain, even to-day, remembering those
rates, especially when we note that in 1805 Captain Ben's labor brought
him only four shillings a day (six with team), and his sawing, in small
lots, but a trifle. Labor was, in fact, cheap at that period; also
unfortunately for Captain Ben--rum and brandy.

The book does not say where Ezekial Jackson kept his general store, but
that was where Captain Ben dealt, and his items of purchase are
faithfully set down. A good many men "swear off" on the New Year, but
Captain Ben didn't. He bought a "decantur," price two and six (ah me! it
would be an antique, now), and promptly started in having it filled.
Behold the startling credits to Ezekial Jackson during the first ten
days of 1806:

Jan. 1, By 2 lb. sugar 2 shillin
" 1, " 1 qt. brandy 2 shillin
" 5, " 1 qt. brandy 2 shillin
" 6, " 1 qt. brandy 2 shillin
" 10, " 1 qt. brandy 2 shillin

But perhaps this was too costly a pace, for the next entry is, "Jan. 15,
1 jug, 1 shillin," and on the same date, "One gallon of rum, 6 shillin."
That, you see, was somewhat cheaper and required fewer trips to town. On
January 20th the jug was filled again, and on the same date we find set
down "four and a half yards of chintz and one scane of silk." That
chintz and "scane" of silk look suspicious--they look like tranquilizers
for Sarah, his wife.

Through that month and the three following the li