Page:Tales in Political Economy by Millicent Garrett Fawcett.djvu/28

 as those who had attempted to use them. The teeth of the saw were bent, the edge of the axe was turned, the chisel was broken in half, and almost as many nails were broken and bent, or were knocked in in the wrong places, as were driven home exactly on the spot where they were wanted. These various misfortunes made everybody see how much better things would go on if the carpenter did all the carpentering that was needed by the little colony. If the carpenter hired the tools of Green, Green would lose nothing, for the carpenter could give him more for the loan of them than anyone else, because no one could make such good use of them as the carpenter. The carpenter would also be a gainer, because he would then be able to turn his skill in his trade to the best account, and would get all his wants supplied by his companions in return for the services he rendered to them. Finally, the entire colony would gain by the carpenter having the use of the tools; for instead of chopping off their toes, bruising their fingers, and spoiling the tools, with the worst possible result in the carpenter-