J. J. Bell

Name: The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man
Author: J. J. Bell

The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

Summary

“The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man”, published in 1914, is a work by J. J. Bell. It explores elements such as opposeetion, Redhorn and Fairport.

Quotes from The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (J. J. Bell)

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Redhorn looked at his apprentice. "Jist you gang hame an' tell that to yer mither, an' see what she says," he said gently.
When Willie had gone he resumed stirring the paint.
"Five weans!" he murmured. "Criftens! that's a handicap—on Joseph Ridhorn!"
Few things evaporate so quickly as the public's interest in an individual; few so slowly as the individual's interest in the public. For a week or so Fairport wondered about P. Smith. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Redhorn, so gratifying to Mr. Danks, became known. Mr. Redhorn, being the sort of man who does not become popular until death has covered a few little weaknesses and uncovered many good deeds, was not an object for the united sympathy of the villagers and owners of villas in the vicinity. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Some expressed the opinion that the opposition would serve him right, others the pious hope that it might improve the quality of his workmanship and materials.
"It'll maybe learn him to feenish his jobs when he says he'll feenish them," said old Miss McPhun, who for seven weary years had been disputing the correctness of an account for painting a hen-house. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Redhorn shook his head. "It's a guid thing ye're gaun to be a penter, Wullie, or ye micht live to be what they ca' a high feenancier. But I may tell ye I've been the sole penter, paperhanger an' decorator in Fairport for upwards o' thirty year, an—weel, I ha'ena made a fortune. An' though ye're but an apprentice in the first blush o' youth, as the novelles say, ye ken as weel as I dae that there's no' enough business in Fairport to keep two penters busy."
"Maybe the folk'll no' gang to the opposeetion man," said Willie. "It's likely they'll stick to you." ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Willie glanced at his master and went over to the bench at the far end of the shop, where he began playing with a lump of putty.
At the end of a three minutes' silence, Mr. Redhorn, in a voice strange to his apprentice said:
"Wullie, mark ma words, I'm no gaun to lie doon to ony man in the pentin' trade. An', in the language o' yersel', I'm gaun to burst P. Smith inside o' a couple o' years!"
"My!" exclaimed Willie.
"What's the man like?" said Mr. Redhorn coldly. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Redhorn impressively, "politeness costs naething—in cash, at ony rate. When the man starts business here the eye o' Fairport'll be on you an' me as weel. Mind that! Be dignified, be discreet. Conceal yer feelin's o' righteous indignation. Pay attention to yer job, whatever it happens to be, as if naething extraor'nar was occurrin'. In ither words, let Fairport see that we dinna care a fig—help yersel' to jam, laddie—for a' the opposeetion in the world!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ And so far as work was concerned, he made a fair start. He was commissioned by the fishmonger to paint his shop inside and out, and he obtained the pier contract. It is true that after the former job was finished, Mr. Danks proposed settling the bill with a year's supply of fish, and, that being gratefully but firmly refused, withheld payment in cash until the creditor was fain to submit to a deduction of ten per cent. by way of discount. Then the second job must have resulted, according to Mr. Redhorn's calculations, in a net loss of £7. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Redhorn's refusal to accept cabbages instead of cash for the varnishing of a dinghy. "I was hearin' that the opposeetion man is frae the toon, so he'll be smart an' up-to-date, as they say. Ridhorn'll ha'e to look slippy if he doesna want to loss custom."
The village was full of rumours. The new man was "backed" by a powerful firm in the city; he was determined to capture the painting trade of Fairport; already he had secured the contract for painting the pier; sooner or later he would buy out Joseph Redhorn. As for Redhorn, he was thinking of retiring; he would retire at the end of the year ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ Willie's mother having received a copy, the boy took it along to his master, who chanced to be painting a summer-house. After a prolonged inspection Mr. Redhorn carefully folded and returned it.
"Wullie," he said slowly, "I've nae fault to find wi' the language o' Maister P. Smith, an' his motto is unreproachable. But the man that sends oot a circular on paper like that has nae mair artistic feelin's nor a—plumber." ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ What wud you advise me to dae aboot the opposeetion—when it comes?"
"Burst it," was the prompt reply.
"That wud be exceedin' excellent advice if the opposeetion was appearin' in the shape of a balloon; but as it happens to assume the form o' a human bein' conseederably younger nor masel' an', accordin' to Danks, supplied wi' plenty o' capital, I canna but feel that ye spoke hasty—"
"I meant that ye could keep on daein' jobs cheaper nor the opposeetion man till ye burst him." ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ But, ye see, Banks has never got ower his spite at me for no' takin' his nephew for ma apprentice instead o' yersel'. Moreover, he was aye cauld-heartit, like the fish he sells. Oh, ay, he was rale delighted to be the bearer o' the bad news. It's a curious thing," the painter continued, reflectively, "hoo humanity delights in inhumanity on what I micht ca' a sma' scale. It doesna rej'ice in a railway accident, but it likes fine to behold a man tummle on a slide; it doesna cry 'hurray!' when a bank breaks, but, apparently, it canna keep back a bit snicker when it sees a neighbour lossin' money. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, The Misadventures of Joseph — The Opposition Man (1914)

“ He took a puff or two. "Nevertheless, Danks is a cruel enemy. If I was a blackamoor that believed in the transfiguration o' souls, I wud say Danks was oreeginally a finnan haddie. But there's nae use talkin' aboot it, Wullie. We'll jist ha'e to try an' bear it."
"Ay," said Willie, "but what are ye gaun to dae aboot the opposeetion, when it comes?" ”

J. J. Bell

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