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Introductory Financial Accounting For Business 2Nd Edition Mark A Edmonds Full Chapter
Introductory Financial Accounting For Business 2Nd Edition Mark A Edmonds Full Chapter
Christopher T. Edmonds
University of Alabama–Birmingham
Thomas P. Edmonds
University of Alabama–Birmingham
Mark A. Edmonds
University of Alabama–Birmingham
Jennifer E. Edmonds
University of Alabama–Birmingham
Philip R. Olds
Virginia Commonwealth University
INTRODUCTORY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FOR BUSINESS
Published by McGraw-Hill Education, 2 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121. Copyright © 2021 by McGraw-Hill
Education. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent
of McGraw-Hill Education, including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or
broadcast for distance learning.
Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the
United States.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 LWI 24 23 22 21 20
ISBN 978-1-260-57530-9
MHID 1-260-57530-6
All credits appearing on page or at the end of the book are considered to be an extension of the copyright page.
The Internet addresses listed in the text were accurate at the time of publication. The inclusion of a website does not
indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw-Hill Education, and McGraw-Hill Education does not guarantee the
accuracy of the information presented at these sites.
mheducation.com/highered
This book is dedicated to our students, whose questions have so frequently caused us to
reevaluate our method of presentation that the students themselves have become major
contributors to the development of this text.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Christopher T. Edmonds
Christopher T. Edmonds, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting and
Finance at the UAB Collat School of Business. He is the course coordinator for the face-to-face and
online principles of accounting courses. Dr. Edmonds specializes in teaching and developing
engaging face-to-face and online introductory accounting courses. He is a frequent speaker at
conferences and universities on best teaching practices and has delivered over 30 professional
teaching workshops. His passion for helping students learn inspired him to create hundreds of
short videos teaching the fundamental concepts of accounting. This work led to the publication of
Courtesy of the first interactive video textbook for introductory accounting. Dr. Edmonds has received numerous
Christopher Edmonds
prestigious teaching awards, including the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, UAB
Faculty Student Success Award, UAB Transformative Online Course Award, UAB Loudell Ellis
Robinson Classroom Teaching Award, UAB Disability Support Recognition Award, and the Virginia
Tech Favorite Faculty Award. He has published four textbooks and has written numerous articles
that have appeared in publications, including The Accounting Review, Auditing: A Journal of
Practice & Theory, Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Issues in Accounting Education,
Advances in Accounting Education, Advances in Accounting, and Review of Quantitative Finance
and Accounting. Dr. Edmonds started his career as a web application developer creating software
solutions to put newspapers online. He began his academic training at Colorado State University.
He obtained an MBA from UAB. His PhD with a major in accounting was awarded by Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University. Check out his blog at www.accountingstepbystep.com.
Thomas P. Edmonds
Thomas P. Edmonds, PhD, is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Accounting at the University of
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He has been actively involved in teaching accounting principles
throughout his academic career. Dr. Edmonds has coordinated the accounting principles courses at
the University of Houston and UAB. He has taught introductory accounting in mass sections and in
distance learning programs. He has received several prestigious teaching awards, including the
Alabama Society of CPAs Outstanding Educator Award, the UAB President’s Excellence in Teaching
Award, and the distinguished Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for excellence in classroom teaching. He has
Courtesy of
written numerous articles that have appeared in many publications, including Issues in Accounting,
Thomas Edmonds the Journal of Accounting Education, Advances in Accounting Education, Accounting Education: A
Journal of Theory, Practice and Research, The Accounting Review, Advances in Accounting, the
Journal of Accountancy, Management Accounting, the Journal of Commercial Bank Lending, the
Banker’s Magazine, and the Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance. Dr. Edmonds has served
as a member of the editorial board for Advances in Accounting: Teaching and Curriculum Innovations
and Issues in Accounting Education. He has published five textbooks, five practice problems
(including two computerized problems), and a variety of supplemental materials including study
guides, work papers, and solutions manuals. Dr. Edmonds’s writing is influenced by a wide range of
business experience. He is a successful entrepreneur. He has worked as a management accountant
for Refrigerated Transport, a trucking company. Dr. Edmonds also worked in the not-for-profit sector
as a commercial lending officer for the Federal Home Loan Bank. In addition, he has acted as a
consultant to major corporations, including First City Bank of Houston (now Citi Bank), AmSouth Bank
in Birmingham (now Regions Bank), Texaco, and Cortland Chemicals. Dr. Edmonds began his
academic training at Young Harris Community College in Young Harris, Georgia. He received a BBA
degree with a major in finance from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He obtained an MBA
with a concentration in finance from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. His PhD with a major
in accounting was awarded by Georgia State University. Dr. Edmonds’s work experience and
academic training have enabled him to bring a unique user perspective to this textbook.
iv
Mark A. Edmonds
Mark A. Edmonds, PhD, CPA, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting and
Finance at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He has taught principles and advanced
accounting classes in face-to-face, flipped, and online formats. He is the recipient of the Loudell
Ellis Robinson excellence in teaching award. Dr. Edmonds began his career providing assurance
services for the internationally recognized accounting firm Ernst & Young. At the conclusion of his
professional service, he obtained his PhD from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He serves
as the education adviser on the board of the Institute of Internal Auditors Birmingham Chapter. Dr.
Courtesy of
Edmonds’s research focuses on alternative learning strategies and auditor decision making. Mark Edmonds
Jennifer E. Edmonds
Jennifer Echols Edmonds, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) Collat School of Business. Her primary teaching areas are financial and managerial accounting.
She has experience teaching in the undergraduate, MAC, and MBA programs and currently serves as
the course coordinator for the managerial accounting sequence at UAB. She has received the UAB
Loudell Ellis Robinson Classroom Teaching Award, as well as teaching grants from Deloitte, UAB, and
Virginia Tech. She created teaching resources for incorporating International Financial Reporting Courtesy of
Standards into Intermediate Accounting that were published online at the American Accounting Jennifer Edmonds
Association. Dr. Edmonds is also active in the research community. She has published articles in
prominent journals such as Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Advances in Accounting,
Research in Accounting Regulation, and The CPA Journal. Dr. Edmonds received a bachelor’s degree
in accounting from Birmingham-Southern College and completed her master’s and PhD degrees in
accounting at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Philip R. Olds
Professor Olds is Associate Professor of Accounting at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He
serves as the coordinator of the introduction to accounting courses at VCU. Professor Olds received
his AS degree from Brunswick Junior College in Brunswick, Georgia (now College of Coastal Georgia).
He received a BBA in accounting from Georgia Southern College (now Georgia Southern University),
and his MPA and PhD are from Georgia State University. After graduating from Georgia Southern, he
worked as an auditor with the U.S. Department of Labor in Atlanta, Georgia. A former CPA in Virginia,
Professor Olds has published articles in various professional journals and presented papers at
national and regional conferences. He also served as the faculty adviser to the VCU chapter of Beta
Courtesy of Philip Olds
Alpha Psi for five years. In 1989, he was recognized with an Outstanding Faculty Vice-President
Award by the national Beta Alpha Psi organization. Professor Olds has received both the Distinguished
Teaching Award and the Distinguished Service Award from the VCU School of Business. Most
recently, he received the university’s award for maintaining High Ethical and Academic Standards
While Advocating for Student-Athletes and Their Quest Towards a Degree.
v
AUTHORS’ VIEW OF
● PREPARING ACCOUNTING STUDENTS FOR
A CHANGING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Automated data capture, data analytics, and artificial intelligence are transforming the
business environment. Technology has greatly reduced or, in some cases, eliminated the
need for humans to be involved in recording and reporting procedures. Rather than gath-
ering information, today’s students will be required to analyze and interpret information.
They will have to make decisions early and often. In summary, instead of memorizing re-
cording procedures, today’s students must learn to think like business professionals.
Business professionals tend to think about bottom-line consequences: If I do this
or that, how will it affect my company’s net income, total assets, cash flow, and so on?
We use a financial statements model to teach students how to mimic this thought pro-
cess. The model arranges the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of
cash flows horizontally across a single line of text, as shown here:
Throughout the text, students are taught to show how accounting events affect the
statements represented in the model. For example, an $8,400 cash payment to settle
an interest payable liability would require the student to show the effects as follows:
In the statement of cash flows, the student is required not only to identify the item
as an inflow or outflow, but also to classify the item as an operating activity (OA),
investing activity (IA), or financing activity (FA).
This report shows that the video kept 96 percent of students tuned-in at the half-
way point and 85 percent of students completed the entire video. While there is always
viii
room for improvement, this video produced a high-quality result. We completed an
extensive analysis of all first edition videos and replaced select videos that had a finish
rate of less than 80 percent. The results of this analysis lead us to create new and/or
improved videos for learning objectives 1-1, 4-1, 4-7, 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 8-2, 8-5, and 8-8.
If you have questions or comments regarding the lecture videos, please contact
Chris Edmonds at cedmonds@gmail.com.
(1) Frank E. Ritter; et al., eds. (2007). In order to learn: How the sequence of topics
influences learning. Oxford series on cognitive models and architectures. Oxford/
New York: Oxford University Press.
x
WHAT WE DID TO MAKE IT BETTER
We profoundly appreciate the comments and suggestions provided by so many of the first
edition adopters and reviewers of Introductory Financial Accounting for Business. In response,
we made the following three major enhancements to the text and supporting materials.
a. + + n/a + n/a + OA
b. n/a + − n/a + − IA
The correct answer is “d”. Liabilities (Salaries Payable) increase. Expenses (Salaries
xpense) increase thereby decreasing net income and retained earnings. Cash flow is not
E
affected. Overall, the test bank revision includes more than 50 new questions. We have also
worked to make sure that consistent terminology is used across the text and test bank. We
understand that assessment is an important part of teaching and hope that these changes will
improve teaching and learning with the text.
Required
a. U
se a horizontal financial statements model to show how each event affects the balance
sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows. More specifically, record the
amounts of the events into the model. Also, in the Statement of Cash Flows column, clas-
sify the cash flows as operating activities (OA), investing activities (IA), or financing activi-
ties (FA). The first transaction is shown as an example.
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Assets = Liab. + Stk. Equity Statement of
Cash Flows
Notes Com. Ret.
Event Cash + Land = Pay. + Stk. + Earn. Rev. - Exp. = Net Inc.
Student Active Learning Worksheet for Exercise 2-1B, Requirement a, Appears as Follows:
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Assets = Liab. + Stockholders’ Equity Statement of
Cash Flows
Notes Common Retained Net
Event Cash + Land = Payable + Stock + Earnings Rev. - Exp. = Inc.
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Assets = Liab. + Stockholders’ Equity Statement of
Cash Flows
Notes Common Retained
Event Cash + Land = Payable + Stock + Earnings Rev. - Exp. = Net Inc.
The instructor version of the Active Learning Worksheets is provided in an electronic format
using Microsoft Word documents. The Active Learning Worksheets provide innovative oppor-
tunities to improve classroom presentations. Just open a Word document and display any
Set B exercise or problem along with the corresponding solutions. With a couple of key-
strokes, you can hide any portion of a solution. The hidden data can be made to reappear as
the instructor discusses the solution. Not only will you avoid the annoying chalk dust, but your
students will appreciate a presentation that perfectly matches their working paper forms. A
short video that shows you how to implement this very attractive feature is available in the
instructor resources section of Connect.
Other Improvements
In addition to the three major enhancements described above we made several other
changes as described below:
Improved Readability — Improved readability through the use of more consistent terminol-
ogy and the reduction of duplicate terminology. In Chapters 1 through 12 we removed all refer-
ences to terms such as ledger, journals, and entries. This allowed us to improve our focus on
conceptual issues prior to the introduction of recording procedures. Procedural issues includ-
ing debit/credit terminology, journals, ledgers, closing, and other recording practices are in-
troduced in Chapter 13.
Reorganized Coverage of Business Liquidations — To reduce the possibility of information
overload in Chapter 1, we moved the coverage of business liquidations to Chapter 11.
Debit/Credit Decision Aid — Employed a three-step decision aid to teach students to use
debit/credit terminology to describe increases and decreases in account balances.
Added content related to end-of-period adjustments — In Chapter 2, relabeled “Event 6”
and “Adj. 1” and added a discussion of the adjusting process. All other events related to ad-
justments were labeled with the “Adj.” prefix. The goal here was to explain the need for end-
of-period adjustments and to label events so as to distinguish between those occurring during
an accounting period from the adjustments required at the end of an accounting period.
xiii
Redesigned Exhibits 3.2 and 3.7 — Replaced the display containing ledger accounts with a
display that shows data in an accounting equation. The change results in consistency in the
way content is shown across Chapters 1, 2, and 3.
Improved coverage of freight terms — In Chapter 5 we added content (text and new Exhibits
4-3 and 4-4) to better explain freight terms (FOB Shipping Point and FOB Destination).
Uncollectible accounts expense versus bad debts expense — While the account title bad
debts expense is frequently used in practice, the term is a misnomer because it is a receiv-
able rather than a debt that has turned bad. To avoid confusion in the early stages of the
learning process the author team has chosen to use the term uncollectible accounts expense,
which provides an accurate description of the actual expense. Even so, we have added a
footnote in Chapter 7 that alerts instructors to the term and provides an explanation as to why
we use uncollectible accounts expense rather than bad debts expense.
Double taxation — In Chapter 11 we revised the discussion regarding double taxation to
reflect the new 21% corporate rates.
Maintaining Currency
As with all new editions, we conducted a thorough review of all features and made extensive
changes to ensure that all content is current and relevant. The specific changes we made are
highlighted here.
xv
HOW DOES THE BOOK
generate revenue by selling goods. They buy the merchandise they sell from
companies called suppliers. The goods purchased for resale are called
(companies that sell to other businesses). Costco, JCPenney, Target, and Sam’s
Meanwhile, if Ford sold the car to AutoNation for $19,040, it earned a 10.5 percent gross margin
appears in a separate sidebar a few pages farther into the
on the sale, or $1,866 [$14,321 ÷ $145,653 = 9.8%; ($145,653 − $131,332 = $14,321)] [$19,040 × .098
= $1,866]. Like AutoNation, Ford still had other expenses to pay for besides the cost of goods sold. In
chapter.
2017, Ford earned 4.8 percent of net profit on each dollar of sales ($7,602 ÷ $156,776).
Most consumers significantly overestimate the profit margins of the companies from which they
Accounting for Deferrals 147
buy goods. Retailers, especially, operate with small profit margins, so inventory management, dis-
cussed in Chapter 5, is very important to their success.
FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
HOW DOES IFRS DIFFER FROM U.S. GAAP?
● FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Chapter 1 discussed the progression toward a single global
GAAP in the form of International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS). That discussion noted that the United
does not currently allow domestic companies to use
Real-World
States
IFRS; they
Data These boxed inserts expose students to IFRS and other international is-
Exhibit 4.11 shows the gross margin percentages and return-on-sales ratios for 10 companies.
must follow GAAP. Let’s briefly consider just howThree
differs from IFRS.
U.S. GAAP
of the companies are manufacturers that produce pharmaceutical products, and the
remaining 7 companies sell various products at the retail level. These data are for the compa-
sues in accounting.
The differences can be summarized in a nies’ few 2017
broad fiscal years.
categories. First, some differences are relatively minor.
Consider the case of bank overdrafts. Under IFRS, some bank
overdrafts are included as a cash inflow and are reported on
the statement of cash flows. U.S. GAAP does not permit this.
Conversely, some differences relate to very significant issues.
EXHIBIT 4.11
Both IFRS and GAAP use historical cost as their primary
method for reporting information on financial statements, Industry/Company
but Gross Margin % Return on Sales %
92 Chapter 2
some of the differences between IFRS and GAAP are simply Corbis/Getty The accountant’s
Images role in society requires trust and credibility. Accounting information is
136 Chapter 3
too complex to be covered. Examples of such items relate worthless if the accountant is not trustworthy. Similarly, tax and consulting advice is useless
to business combinations (when 2. one company
Alvarado buys another)
collected $18,000 of and itforeign
ifcash comes currency
from translations
an incompetent
for installation services (whenThe
butperson.
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company
high$10,500
ethical of
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● CHECK YOURSELF
CHECK YOURSELF 3.1
has subsidiaries that operate outside the United
consulting States).
services. sion state
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the recognition assumes
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Do not be overwhelmed by the lation
differences between IFRS and
revenue in Year 1. This beyond GAAP. They have
requirements
is confirmed many
by the moreand
of laws
balance rules
in alike than differ-
regulations.”
the unearned The American
revenue ac- Institute of Certified Public
ent. A person who has a reasonablecount understanding of U.S. GAAP should be
Accountants able to read
(AICPA) financial
requires itsstatements
members toprepared
comply with the Code of Professional Conduct.
Treadmore Company startedshown the Year
on the 4 accounting
Year 1 balance sheet. period with $580 of supplies on
under IFRS without too much difficulty. edm14440_ch04_182-237.indd
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hand.
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to subscribeBased
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These short question/answer features occur at the end of each main topic
The Institute of Internal Auditors
on this Code of Ethics.
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information alone, determine therecognized
4. Alvarado amount$20,000
of supplies
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operating expenses on theonly
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income statement and the $18,200 cash. In
amount of other
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flowAlvarado accrued $1,800
to be shown
other operating expenses. This is confirmed2.7
EXHIBIT
in the($20,000 − $18,200)
operating of accrued
activities
by the balance in the accounts payable
and ask students to stop and think about the material just covered. The
section of the statement account
of cashshown
flows.
Exhibit 3.10 shows that while
Answer
higher The amountratio
than its return-on-assets
on the Year 1 balance sheet.
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Professional Conduct: AICPA Code of Professional Conduct
recognized
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statement is the
answer follows to provide immediate feedback before students go on to a
1. percent
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words,5.7 percent).
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deferred $150 ($800
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Principle
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than its
the balance period. This
in return-on-assets
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theIn supplies
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their
their debt-to-assets
shown is oncomputed
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members
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ratios. Aflac financed 82 percent of its assets with debt compared to Exxon’s 44 percent.
$580 isBeginning
Financial leverage balance
the biggest factor $2,200
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but it is notpurchases
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The Public Interest= Principle
Members should accept the obligation to act in a way that will serve the public interest,
that affects this ratio. available for use honor the public trust, and demonstrate commitment to professionalism.
REALITY BYTES
Because financial leverage offers the opportunity to increase return on equity, why
doesn’t every company leverage $2,780itself Supplies available
to the maximum? There isfor use
a downside. $420
− Principle
Integrity When the Ending
To maintain and broaden public confidence, members should perform all professional
supplies balance = $2,360 Supplies used
WHY DID THAT BIG EXPENSE CAUSE THE STOCKresponsibilities
PRICE TO with the highest sense of integrity.
RISE?
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Objectivity and Independence Principle
of cash paid for supplies during
professional cash to purchase
responsibilities. supplies.
A member in public ● REALITY BYTES
A member should maintain objectivity and be free of conflicts of interest in discharging
practice should be independent in fact
write-off of assets, sometimes called a “special charge.” Such an and appearance when providing auditing and other attestation services.
announcement sends a signal to readers that the company’s earn- Due Care Principle
edm14440_ch03_126-181.indd 147 18/09/19 5:11 PM
ings will decrease as a result of the write-off. However, in many A member should observe the profession’s technical and ethical standards, strive
cases, this seemingly bad news does not cause the company’s continually to improve competence and the quality of services, and discharge professional
stock price to fall; in fact, it sometimes causes it to increase. Why? responsibility to the best of the member’s ability.
This feature expands on the topics by showing how companies use the
concepts discussed in the chapter to make real-world business decisions.
Consider the following January 27, 2018, announcement Scope and Nature of Services Principle
ACCOUNTING FOR PREPAID ITEMS
from General Motors Company (GM) related to its plans to close A member in public practice should observe the Principles of the Code of Professional
several plants and eliminate almost 15,000 jobs: Conduct in determining the scope and nature of services to be provided.
is located in Appendix E. Also, a general purpose annual report project is (Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
“I like the way the book stresses real world applications and makes the TARGET CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DREXEL UNIVERSITY
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
206 Chapter 4 Act. Yes ☐ No
Students need a roadmap to make sense of where the merchandising companies). The products sold by merchandising companies are called inven-
tory. The costs to purchase inventory, to receive it, and to ready it for sale are product costs,
which are first accumulated in an inventory account (balance sheet asset account) and then
chapter topics fit into the “whole” picture. A Look Back recognized as cost of goods sold (income statement expense account) in the period in which
goods are sold. Purchases and sales of inventory can be recorded continually as goods are
bought and sold (perpetual system) or at the end of the accounting period (periodic system,
reviews the chapter materials and a Look Forward intro- discussed in the chapter Appendix).
Accounting for inventory includes the treatment of cash discounts, transportation costs,
duces students to what is to come. returns and allowances, and shrinkage. The cost of inventory is the list price less any pur-
chase returns and allowances and purchase discounts, plus transportation-in costs. The cost
of freight paid to acquire inventory (transportation-in) is considered a product cost. The cost
96 Chapter 2 of freight paid to deliver inventory to customers (transportation-out) is a selling expense. Sales
returns and allowances and sales discounts are subtracted from sales revenue to determine the
in the liability
amount account,
of net sales Interest
reported Payable,
on the incomeand a decrease
statement. in thereturns
Purchase stockholders’ equity,
and allowances
Retained Earnings,
reduce product cost. Theoretically, the cost of lost, damaged, or stolen inventory (shrinkage)
is anFinally, thisexpense.
operating chapter However,
introduced the issues
because thesesurrounding corporate
costs are usually governance.
immaterial Codesthey
in amount, of
ethics, the relevant
are typically provisions
included ofcost
as part of Sarbanes–Oxley,
of goods soldand the income
on the fraud triangle were discussed.
statement.
Some companies use a multistep income statement, which reports product costs separately
from selling and administrative costs. Cost of goods sold is subtracted from sales revenue to
A Look Forward determine gross margin. Selling and administrative expenses are subtracted from gross margin to
determine income from operations. Other companies report income using a single-step format, in
which the cost of goods sold is listed along with selling and administrative items in a single
expense category
Accrual accountingthatisiscomposed
subtractedof
in accruals
total fromand
revenue to determine
deferrals. income
This chapter from operations.
discussed accruals.
Chapter 3 will introduce deferrals. Recall that a deferral occurs when revenue or expense
recognition occurs in an accounting period after the period that cash was collected or paid.
Four specific deferrals will be discussed in Chapter 3. More specifically, you will learn how
deferrals related to supplies, prepaid items, unearned revenue, and depreciation affect finan-
cial statements. When you finish the next chapter, you will have a clear understanding of how
accrual accounting (including accruals and deferrals) differs from cash basis accounting.
edm14440_ch04_182-237.indd 206 18/09/19 5:17 PM
Video lectures and accompanying self-assessment quizzes are available in Connect for all learning objectives.
the amount of the accounts receivable balance that is likely to be uncollectible. The balance in
the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts account is then adjusted to equal the estimated amount
of uncollectible accounts. Uncollectible accounts expense decreases the net realizable value of
receivables (accounts receivable − allowance for doubtful accounts), stockholders’ equity, and
A Look Forward
practice to master basic accounting concepts. The
text includes a prodigious supply of practice
Chapter 8 discusses accounting for long-term assets such as buildings and equipment. As with
inventory cost flow, discussed in Chapter 5, GAAP allows companies to use different accounting
methods to report on similar types of business events. Life would be easier for accounting students
Problem 7-17A Accounting for uncollectible accounts: two cycles using the percent of LO 7-1
SERIES A & B
revenue allowance method
The following transactions apply to Jova Company for Year 1, the first year of operation: CHECK FIGURES
1. Issued $10,000 of common stock for cash. c. Ending Accounts
Receivable, Year 1: $48,000
2.
3.
Recognized $210,000 of service revenue earned on account.
Collected $162,000 from accounts receivable.
d. Net Income, Year 2: $113,400 There are two sets of problems and exercises:
4. Paid operating expenses of $125,000. Series A and B. Instructors can assign one set for
5. Adjusted accounts to recognize uncollectible accounts expense. Jova uses the allowance method of
accounting for uncollectible accounts and estimates that uncollectible accounts expense will be 1
percent of sales on account.
homework and another set for classwork.
The following transactions apply to Jova for Year 2:
1.
2.
Recognized $320,000 of service revenue on account.
Collected $335,000 from accounts receivable.
• Check Figures
3. Determined that $2,150 of the accounts receivable were uncollectible and wrote them off.
4. Collected $800 of an account that had previously been written off. The figures provide key answers for selected
5.
6.
Paid $205,000 cash for operating expenses.
Adjusted the accounts to recognize uncollectible accounts expense for Year 2. Jova estimates uncol-
problems.
lectible accounts expense will be 0.5 percent of sales on account.
Required
Complete the following requirements for Year 1 and Year 2. Complete all requirements for Year 1 prior • Excel
to beginning the requirements for Year 2.
a. Identify the type of each transaction (asset source, asset use, asset exchange, or claims exchange). Many problems can be solved using the Excel™
b. Show the effect of each transaction on the elements of the financial statements, using a horizontal
statements model like the one shown here. Use + for increase, − for decrease, and NA for not af- templates available in the Connect Library. A logo
fected. Also, in the Statement of Cash Flows column, indicate whether the item is an operating
appears in the margins next to these problems.
edm14440_ch07_324-375.indd 355
“There is a rich variety of material of all levels of 18/09/19 6:23 PM
xviii
m. What amount of cash flows from financing activities would Oaks report on the statement of cash flows?
n. What amount of net income would Oaks report on the income statement?
Common Retained
Company Assets = Liabilities + Stock + Earnings
REINFORCED?
Steelman 720,000 = 400,000 + 200,000 + 120,000
Bingum 450,000 = 125,000 + 180,000 + 145,000
During Year 5, Steelman’s net income was $45,800, while Bingum’s net income was $22,300.
Required
a. Compute the debt-to-assets ratio to measure the level of financial risk of both companies.
b. Compare the two ratios computed in Requirement a to identify which company has the higher level
of financial risk.
c. Compute the return-on-equity ratio to measure the level of financial risk of both companies.
d. Compare the two ratios computed in Requirement a to identify which company is performing better.
e. Define the term financial leverage.
f. Identify the company that is using financial leverage to a greater extent.
COMMUNICATE (ATC) ATC 3-1 Business Applications Case Understanding real-world annual reports
Required
Each chapter includes an innovative section Target Corporation
Obtain Target Corporation’s annual report for its 2018 fiscal year (year ended February 2, 2019) at
http://investors.target.com using the instructions in Appendix B, and use it to answer the following
titled Analyze, Think, Communicate (ATC). This questions:
a. What was Target’s debt-to-assets ratio for its fiscal year ended February 2, 2019 (2018) and 2017?
section offers Business Applications Cases, b. What was Target’s return-on-assets ratio for 2018 and 2017?
c. What was Target’s return-on-equity ratio for 2018 and 2017?
Group Assignments, Real-World Cases, Writing d. Why was Target’s return-on-equity ratio higher than its return-on-assets ratio for 2018 and 2017?
Assignments, Ethical Dilemmas, Research ATC 3-2 Group Assignment Missing information
Assignments, and Spreadsheet Assignments. On January 1, Year 1, three companies purchased the same make and model copy machine. However, each
company made different assumptions regarding the useful life and salvage value of its particular asset.
We use icons to help students identify the
type of question being asked. Company A Company B Company C
Required
•W
riting • Internet “The strong Analyze,a.Think, Communicate
Divide the class into groups of four or five students. Organize the groups into two sections. Assign
one section of groups the copy machine data for Company A and Company B. Assign the other
xix
®
FOR INSTRUCTORS
No surprises.
The Connect Calendar and Reports tools keep you on track with the
work you need to get done and your assignment scores. Life gets busy;
Connect tools help you keep learning through it all.
• SmartBook 2.0
• Auto-graded Online Homework.
•U sing McGraw-Hill’s free ReadAnywhere App, access
your media-rich eBook anywhere, even offline.
•D ynamic links between the problems or questions you
assign to your students and the location in the eBook
where that concept is covered.
•A powerful search function to pinpoint and connect key
concepts to review.
In short, Connect offers students powerful tools and fea-
tures that optimize their time and energy, enabling them to
focus on learning.
For more information about Connect, go to www.mheducation.com/highered/connect,
or contact your local McGraw-Hill Higher Education representative.
• SmartBook
Within Connect, Smartbook brings these features to life by interleaving reading with
active practice. As students read, Smartbook encourages them to answer questions
to demonstrate their knowledge—then, based on their answers, highlights those
areas where students need more practice.
xxii
IMPROVE STUDENT SUCCESS?
• Online assignments
Connect helps students learn more efficiently by providing feed-
back and practice material when they need it, where they need
it. Connect grades homework automatically and gives immediate
feedback on any questions students may have missed. Our
assignable, gradable end-of-chapter content includes a general
journal application that looks and feels like what you would find
in a general ledger software package. Also, select questions
have been redesigned to test students’ knowledge more fully.
They now include tables for students to work through rather than
requiring that all calculations be done offline.
End-of-chapter content in Connect includes:
• Quizzes (multiple-choice questions)
• Exercises
• Problems
• Analyze, Think, Communicate Cases “Using the Lecture Videos would
allow me to delve deeper into
• Comprehensive Problems
the subject in class.”
• Lecture videos
—LINDA TARRAGO,
One or more lecture videos are available for every learning objective introduced
HILLSBOROUGH
throughout the text. The videos have been developed by a member of the author
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
team and have the touch and feel of a live lecture. The videos are accompanied by a
set of self-assessment quizzes. Students can watch the videos and then test them-
selves to determine if they understand the material presented in the video. Students can
repeat the process, switching back and forth between the video and self-assessment
quizzes, until they are satisfied that they understand the material.
• Excel simulations
Simulated Excel questions, assignable within Connect, allow students to practice
their Excel skills—such as basic formulas and formatting—within the content of
financial accounting. These questions feature animated, narrated Help and Show
Me tutorials (when enabled), as well as automatic feedback and grading for both
students and professors.
• Guided Examples/Hint Videos
The Guided Examples/Hints videos in Connect provide a video-based, step-by-
step walkthrough of select exercises similar to those assigned. These short videos
can be made available to students as hints by instructors and provide reinforce-
ment when students need it most. Microsoft Corporation
xxiii
• Capstone General Ledger Project
General Ledger Problems provide a much-improved student
experience when working with accounting cycle questions, of-
fering improved navigation and less scrolling. Students can
audit their mistakes by easily linking back to their original en-
tries and can see how the numbers flow through the various
financial statements. Many General Ledger Problems include
an analysis tab that allows students to demonstrate their criti-
cal thinking skills and a deeper understanding of accounting
concepts.
• Instructor Resources
The Connect Instructor Resources is your repository for addi-
tional resources to improve student engagement in and out of
class. You can select and use any asset that enhances your
lecture. The Connect Instructor Library includes access to:
• Solutions Manual
• Instructor’s Manual
• Test Bank
• Instructor PowerPoint® slides
• Media-rich eBook
xxv
SUPPLEMENTS FOR INSTRUCTORS
Assurance of Learning Ready c urricula guidelines detailed in the AACSB standards
for business accreditation by connecting selected
Many educational institutions today are focused on the
questions in the text and the Test Bank to the general
notion of assurance of learning, an important element
knowledge and skill guidelines in the revised AACSB
of many accreditation standards. Introductory Financial
standards.
Accounting for Business 2e is designed specifically to
The statements contained in Introductory Financial
support your assurance of learning initiatives with a
Accounting for Business 2e are provided only as a
simple, yet powerful, solution.
guide for the users of this textbook. The AACSB leaves
Each chapter in the book begins with a list of num-
content coverage and assessment within the purview
bered learning objectives, which appear throughout
of individual schools, the mission of the school, and the
the chapter, as well as in the end-of-chapter assign-
faculty. While Introductory Financial Accounting for
ments. Every Test Bank question for Introductory
Business 2e and the teaching package make no claim
Financial Accounting for Business maps to a specific
of any specific AACSB qualification or evaluation, we
chapter learning objective in the textbook. Each Test
have, within the text and test bank, labeled selected
Bank question also identifies topic area, level of diffi-
questions according to the eight general knowledge
culty, Bloom’s Taxonomy level, and AICPA and AACSB
and skill areas.
skill area. You can use Connect to easily search for
learning objectives that directly relate to the learning
objectives for your course. McGraw-Hill’s Connect
®Connect offers a number of
AACSB Statement powerful tools and features
McGraw-Hill Education is a proud corporate member of to make managing your classroom easier. Connect with
AACSB International. Understanding the importance Edmonds 2e offers enhanced features and technology
and value of AACSB accreditation, Introductory to help both you and your students make the most of
Financial Accounting for Business 2e recognizes the your time inside and outside the classroom.
xxvi
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Our grateful appreciation is extended to those who helped to make this
second edition possible.
We would like to give special thanks here to the talented people who prepared the supplements.
These take a great deal of time and effort to write, and we appreciate their efforts. Thank you to
Helen Roybark and Beth Kobylarz for reviewing the text. Thank you to Ann Brooks for authoring
LearnSmart. Jack Terry developed the Excel Templates. Thank you to LuAnn Bean for preparing
the PowerPoints and Instructor’s Manual and Helen Roybark for accuracy checking the Power-
Points and Instructor’s Manuals. We are grateful for to Jean Bissell for her work as the Lead Sub-
ject Matter Expert, and to Patricia Lopez and Beth Kobylarz for reviewing Connect content.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Tim Vertovec, Rebecca Olson, Jill Eccher, Brian
Nacik, Danielle McLimore, Erin Quinones, Zachary Rudin, Matt Diamond, and Susan Culbertson.
We deeply appreciate the long hours you committed to the formation of a high-quality text.
• Christopher T. Edmonds • Thomas P. Edmonds • Mark Edmonds
• Jennifer Edmonds • Philip R. Olds
We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to those who have provided reviews
for our second edition of Introductory Financial Accounting for Business:
Arek Arekelian, California State Stacy Kline, Drexel University Tracy Sewell, Gulf Coast State College
University, Dominguez Hills Jeffrey Lark, University of Georgia Vincent Shea, St. John’s University
Margaret Atkinson, Stark State College Mark Lawrence, University of North Sherrie Slom, Hillsborough
Robyn Barrett, St. Louis Community Alabama Community College
College–Meramec Tara Maciel, Mesa College Nancy Snow, University of Toledo
Marcia Behrens, Nichols College Theresa Meza, James Sprunt George Starbuck, McMurry University
Jaclyn Boichat, Johnson & Wales Community College Sean Stein Smith, Lehman College,
University Stephanie Morris, Mercer University City University of New York
Robbie Coleman, Northeast Rania Mousa, University of Evansville Gloria Stuart, Georgia Southern
Mississippi Community College Sia Nassiripour, William Paterson University
Rachel Cox, Oklahoma State University Rob Stussie, University of Arizona
University Leslie Oakes, University of New Linda Tarrago, Hillsborough
Caroline Falconetti, Nassau Mexico Community College
Community College Roshelle Overton, Central New Mary Teal, University of Central
Corinne Frad, Eastern Iowa Mexico Community College Oklahoma
Community Colleges Scott Paxton, Valencia College David Waite, Brigham Young
Ann Henderson, Georgia Southern Diep Phan, Beloit College University–Hawaii
University Edward R. Walker, University of
Wendy Potratz, University of
Bambi Hora, University of Central Wisconsin–Oshkosh Central Oklahoma
Oklahoma Angela Woodland, Montana State
Barbara Rice, Kentucky Community
Kevin Jones, University of California, and Technical College System University
Santa Cruz Jennifer Wright, Drexel University
Pinky Rusli, Montana State University
Pamela Jones, William Carey Jill Zietz, Concordia College
Melissa Schulte, University of
University
Missouri–Kansas City
Sara Kern, Gonzaga University
xxvii
BRIEF CONTENTS
xxx
Contents xxxi
An Introduction to Accounting
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After you have mastered the material in this chapter, you will be able to:
SECTION 1: COLLECTING AND ORGANIZING INFORMATION
LO 1-1 Identify the ways accounting benefits society.
Tableau Dashboard Activity LO 1-7 Prepare and interpret information shown in an income statement.
is available in Connect for LO 1-8 Prepare and interpret a statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.
this chapter.
LO 1-9 Prepare and interpret a statement of cash flows.
LO 1-10 Identify the ways financial statements interrelate.
Why should you study accounting? You should study accounting because it can help you succeed in
business. Businesses use accounting to keep score. Imagine trying to play football without knowing how
many points a touchdown is worth. Like sports, business is competitive. If you do not know how to keep
Accounting is an information system that reports on the economic activities and financial condition of a
business or other organization. Do not underestimate the importance of accounting information. If you had
information that enabled you to predict business success, you could become a very wealthy Wall Street
investor. Indeed, communicating economic information is so important that accounting is frequently called
3
4 Chapter 1
Financial Resources
Businesses need financial resources (money) to get started and to operate. Investors and
creditors provide financial resources.
■ Investors provide financial resources in exchange for ownership interests in businesses.
Owners expect businesses to return to them a share of the business, including a portion
of earned income.
■ Creditors lend financial resources to businesses. Instead of a share of the business, credi-
tors expect the businesses to repay borrowed resources plus a specified fee called interest.
Investors and creditors prefer to provide financial resources to businesses with high
e arnings potential because such companies are better able to share profits and make interest
payments. Profitable businesses are also less likely to experience bankruptcy.
Physical Resources
In their most primitive form, physical resources are natural resources. Physical resources
often move through numerous stages of transformation. For example, standing timber
may be successively transformed into harvested logs, raw lumber, and finished houses.
Owners of physical resources seek to sell those resources to businesses with high earnings
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cacciarsi sull’antico e dirupato sentiero, il quale, abbandonato com’è,
va a smarrirsi fra antiche e folte selve di larici, molti de’ quali dalla
vetustà rovesciati s’accatastano qua e là, e formano barriera quasi
insuperabile, incontrandosi per ogni dove salti di torrenti e trabalzi
perigliosissimi. E allora appunto non sembravami di essere nelle
Alpi, ma mi figurava di trovarmi, che so io, nelle selvaggie foreste del
Brasile, essendo impossibile che la mia fantasia voglia rimanersene
un istante laddove realmente si trova, e, non badando al rischio che
correva ad ogni passo di rompermi l’osso del collo, io mi sentiva
rapito dal maraviglioso aspetto di quella solitudine, e faceva in prosa
della poesia lamartiniana, da mandare in ruina, pubblicandola,
qualsiasi librajo.
Attraversato il Vallese, toccato il lago di Ginevra, volli visitarne la
deliziosa riviera, e potete immaginarvi quante sentimentali
esclamazioni m’uscirono dal labbro al mirare Vevey, e tutti i luoghi
che l’appassionata immaginazione di Rousseau fece scena al suo
celebrato romanzo amoroso; e meritarono veramente di trovare un
pittore di quella forza e delicatezza squisita di pennello, poichè
vanamente si cercherebbe un’altra contrada ove l’amore può trovare
negli aspetti di natura sì sublimi corrispondenze con tutte le sue
fantastiche fasi, sieno esse di felicità o di disperazione.
Retrocedendo, pensai poscia di rientrare in Italia varcando il gran
san Bernardo. Avrete letto in molti giornali la diabolica pittura che
fece Alessandro Dumas della salita a quella montagna; è probabile,
per poco che siate dilettanti di romanzi, che l’abbiate parimenti letta
in Cooper nel suo Carnefice di Berna. Ma l’autore dell’Antony, e il
romanziere americano, credetemelo, hanno esagerato la fatica e i
perigli di quel viaggio, per produrre un effetto straordinario, così
come in certi quadri si rafforzano le tinte, anche contro natura,
affinchè facciano più efficace mostra di sè all’esposizione di Brera.
Non voglio sostenere che, durante la cattiva stagione, nel valicare
quell’alpe non si corra pericolo d’essere sepolti sotto qualche
valanga, ma per sei o sette mesi dell’anno vi si arriva alla cima con
tutta facilità e agevolezza; e conosco io migliaja di sentieri per le valli
a noi contigue, ove l’andata è assai più disastrosa e a rompicollo che
sul gran san Bernardo, e pure sono calcate ogni dì da brigatelle di
signorine dai piedini dilicati che vi vanno a sollazzo in partite di
piacere. Ho veduto colassù, la famosa stanza dei morti, che
chiamano carnajo, e non dipenderebbe che dalla mia volontà di
farvene una descrizione bellissima d’orrore, e d’innestarvi qualche
episodio drammatico, ma v’attendo a un altro varco.
Lasciato l’ospizio, e quegli ottimi Padri, giù corsi a Saint-Remy, e la
sera era di già nella città d’Aosta. Alla mattina successiva, desto per
tempo, mi recai a visitare la torre del Lebbroso e le stupende
antichità romane. Mi parve strano che, per ammirare i resti d’un
anfiteatro, fossi costretto d’entrare dalla casa d’un contadino in un
rustico cortiletto, ove, mentre immobile contemplando un alto pezzo
d’antica muraglia rifabbricava nella mia immaginativa quel circo,
commettendone le gradinate al podio ed agli spalti, e su vi vedeva i
togati patrizii, le gemmate matrone; il popolo romoreggiante, e mi
pareva udire il ragghio de’ lioni e l’urlo delle pantere chiuse nelle
carceri, o vedere i gladiatori scannarsi fra i fischi o gli applausi degli
umanissimi spettatori, una frotta di polli e di pulcini beccava sulle
punte de’ miei stivali de’ granelli di miglio che si erano appiccicati nel
transito della villereccia cucina, e mai più s’immaginavano le
innocenti bestiuole che dovessero quel piccolo reficiamento ad
Ottaviano Augusto, ed al mio maestro di storia.
Mi lasciai alle spalle anche la città d’Aosta; e proseguiva il mio
cammino giù per la valle fiancheggiando la Dora. Lungo la strada mi
sovvien che entrato in una picciola osteria a prender fiato, in un
paesello chiamato, se pur non erro, Chambave, vi bevetti un
eccellentissimo vino moscato, il quale si spreme da grappoli che
maturano sovra apriche collinette che s’alzano ivi d’appresso; e se vi
dico io ch’era prelibatissimo, io che rare volte ho potuto mirare sino
al fondo del bicchiere per ritrovarvi la verità, me lo dovete credere.
Registrate adunque questa notizia nel vostro Memoranda, poichè
potrebbe essere di qualche peso (so quel che dico a certi miei lettori)
nel determinarvi un giorno ad intraprendere un viaggio per
contemplare i monumenti romani della città di Aosta.
Aveva fatta promessa, anzi partire da Milano, di recarmi al ritorno
dalla mia gita sul lago Maggiore; e m’era sì gradita l’aspettativa di
villeggiare colà che oramai il viaggio mi tediava, e non desiderava
che l’istante di quivi giungere fra una diletta comitiva. Ad accorciare il
cammino pensai dunque che la via più breve per me (tralasciando di
recarmi sino ad Ivrea, e di là per Biella o per Novara al lago) si era di
valicare i monti che dividono la Val d’Aosta dalla Val Sesia, e
discendere a Varallo da dove la strada per Romagnano e
Borgomanero mette capo ad Arona.
Trapassata quindi la pittoresca terra di Chatillon, lasciai le sponde
della Dora, e presi cammino su per la montagna. Fatto buon tratto di
via, e giunto a bell’altezza sul dorso del monte, me ne stava assiso
sovra un sasso a guardar giù la sottoposta valle, la quale di là si
presentava a’ miei occhi pressochè in tutta la sua estensione, e
m’immaginava di vedervi sfilare i molti eserciti che in diversi tempi vi
transitarono, calando per la stessa via ch’aveva fatta io stesso. Da
Annibale, anzi dai Celto Galli in poi, quanti guerrieri o armati di clave,
e coperti di pelli, o colla lorica e la lancia, o colla pesante armatura
del medio evo, o col fucile e gli spallini, passarono là giù per venire
in Italia! e a far che?... a farsi ammazzare la maggior parte senza
cavarne mai alcun buon costrutto. Ma io veramente allora non
pensava a ciò, altro non mi rappresentava che l’effetto pittoresco
delle variate file di quelle soldatesche sparse lungo la valle, coi
cavalli, i carri e i loro bellici strumenti. Oh! se avessi avuta l’abilità di
quel bravo marchese, che dipinse quest’anno con tanta fantasia la
rocca adamantina da cui scende il mago sull’ipogrifo a pugnare con
Bradamante, mi pare che avrei fatto un quadro di genere da fare
stordire gli amatori. Ma, che volete? io non ho potuto riuscire a far
altro mai in pittura, che degli ometti sui libri di scuola.
Mentre era là vidi salire pel sentiero, e venire alla mia volta, due bei
contadinelli, l’uno de’ quali s’aveva qualche cosa sulle spalle:
conobbi ch’erano pellegrini al pari di me. Allorchè mi furono vicini
m’alzai, per proseguire con esso loro la via. Avevano entrambi
fisonomia dolce, ma spezialmente l’un d’essi, biondo di capelli e con
occhi azzurri, mostrava una tale finezza di lineamenti, che l’avresti
detto una fanciulla travestita. Chiesi loro d’onde venissero, e dove si
recassero, e mi risposero in francese ch’erano savojardi, ch’erano
stati a Torino e si recavano a Gressoney, presso un loro parente. Ciò
ch’aveva sulle spalle l’un d’essi era una cassetta sostenuta da una
cinghia di pelle, e mi disse che vi stavano rinchiuse due marmottine,
che sono le bestiuole che ognun conosce, le quali andavano
facendo vedere per le piazze, suonando la ribeca, ch’era lo
stromento portato dall’altro, e ciò per buscarsi qualche soldo onde
campar la vita. Domandai loro che cosa avessero guadagnato, mi
risposero che in un mese ch’erano stati a Torino avevano potuto
mettere a parte quindici franchi, coi quali contavano di recarsi
nell’inverno in Francia, passando poi nella primavera a Gand nel
Belgio, ove era il loro padre col quale esercitavano il mestiere di
ramoneur.
Mi sentii toccare il cuore pensando che quel bel fanciulletto dalla
pelle sì dilicata, e con quello sguardo tanto dolce, dovesse
arrampicarsi su per le gole dei cammini ad imbrattarsi di fuliggine e
col pericolo di spezzarsi un braccio od una gamba. Invocai che
qualche pietosa padrona di casa, commossa dalla simpatica
fisonomia del bello spazzacamino, gli procacciasse modo di
guadagnarsi la vita con mezzi meno sucidi e perigliosi. Superata la
montagna, discendemmo insieme dal lato opposto a Gressoney, ove
separandoci, augurando ad essi ogni fortuna, feci diventar sedici i
loro quindici franchi.
Io passai la notte a Gressoney. Oh, se vedeste che singolare
paesetto è desso mai! giace in fondo ad una valle che ha la forma
d’imbuto, e vi sta queto, isolato da tutto il mondo, presso un
torrentello che move il suo mulino, e in cui abbevera le sue mandre.
Durante il tempo delle nevi non è possibile nè di andarvi, nè di
partirne; onde per alcuni mesi quegli abitanti vi rimangono così
separati dal resto dei viventi, come se fossero nella Groenlandia o
nella Lapponia. Se vedeste che zoccoli che portano le donne; e che
pannilani verdi e rossi dello spessore di tavole di noce, ma hanno
certe guancie pienotte e una solidità di contorni che si confanno a
meraviglia con que’ vestimenti. La pace del luogo, la prosperità degli
abitanti, mi fece spesse volte tornare col pensiero a Gressoney, e
avrei voluto in certi bruschi momenti di mia vita esservi nato, e non
aver mai superata la cerchia de’ monti che lo racchiudono: non avrei
forse potuto sentirvi egualmente le impressioni della natura e
dell’amore, fonti inesauribili di felicità nella vita?
Al dì seguente, essendo già alto il sole, abbandonai quel romito
villaggio, e ricominciai a salire la montagna opposta a quella dalla
quale vi era venuto.
Oltrepassato un altro monte discesi a Saint-Jean, altro paesello più
ameno fra quell’Alpi, e di là non mi rimaneva che a superare l’ultima
giogaia della Valdoppia per essere in Valsesia.
Non mi sentiva punto stanco, era spinto dalla brama di giungere
presto alla mia meta, ove m’attendevano piacevolezze d’ogni
genere, quindi rifocillatomi abbondantemente, concessemi un pajo
d’ore di riposo, e prese tutte quelle notizie intorno alla via che l’oste
a malincuore volle somministrarmi, attribuendo io a sola sua
cupidigia il consiglio che ripetevami di fermarmi colà quella notte e
non mi porre in via di quell’ora, che era già verso il declinare del
giorno, mi strinsi alle spalle le cinghie della valigia, e, impugnato il
mio bastone, me ne andai pel mio cammino.
Il sentiero s’arrampicava pel fianco del monte, fra boschi e cespugli:
era assai erta, anzi quasi perpendicolare la via: pur salendo con
buona lena, in poco d’ora mi trovai molto elevato dal fondo della
valle, ove vedeva rosseggiare il paesetto di Saint Jean ad un raggio
obbliquo che gl’inviava il sole dalla sommità dell’opposto monte
dietro cui stava per celarsi; e vedeva pure luccicare il torrente che
serpeggiava per la valle, ed era quell’acqua stessa che
romoreggiando balzava giù dal monte sulla costa del quale io
m’innalzava.
Mi avevano detto che la salita voleva un’ora circa; ma io non aveva
calcolato che le mie gambe non erano quelle d’un montanaro, e che
se que’ del paese v’impiegavano un’ora, io non avrei potuto a meno
di consumarvi doppio spazio di tempo. E così fu. Il sole, già tutto
nascosto dietro gli opposti dossi, mandava appena un ultimo rossore
sulle cime più elevate che mi stavano sul capo, ed io m’arrampicava
ancora su per l’erta, e sentiva che le gambe scemavano di vigore ad
ogni passo, e un’ansa affannosa mi toglieva quasi il respiro. Dopo la
salita esser vi doveva uno spianato, inoltrandomi pel quale doveva
poi giungere ai casali componenti il paesetto detto La Montà; ivi
contava passare la notte, per esser pronto al mattino a discendere
pel versante opposto in Valsesia al paese di Riva, da dove avrei
potuto ancora arrivare la sera sino a Varallo.
Fatto è ch’io giunsi al margine di quel benedetto spianato, e cessai
di salire quand’erasi già quasi fatto interamente oscuro, e sdrajatomi
sull’erba, per prender fiato, mi giunse all’orecchio debolissimo il
suono de’ tocchi dell’avemmaria del paesetto di Saint-Jean. Provai
allora un po’ di pentimento di non aver voluto cedere ai consigli
dell’oste, poichè per giungere a La Montà non rimanevami da far
meno d’un’altra buon’ora di cammino, e chi sa qual cammino! Feci
però cuore a me stesso, anzi gioii meco medesimo, e mi congratulai
di trovarmi una volta nella condizione di tanti viaggiatori, le cui
avventure aveva lette con sì vivo trasporto di curiosità. Che di meglio
infatti per un giovine di venticinque anni, di testa romantica (così si
suol dire), che ha costume la sera di passeggiare le strade ben
illuminate e lastricate della capitale, vedersi solo fra le tenebre,
errante pei boschi alla sommità delle Alpi, colla probabilità di
scontrarsi nel genio delle ghiacciaje che sotto forma d’un orso
venisse a divorarlo, senz’altra speranza di vendetta che di far urlare
quell’animale nelle sue rupi un mese intero, per le punture che gli
avrebbe cagionate entro le sue viscere il cervello, intingolo
indigeribile formato col deposito d’ogni specie d’idee letterarie,
metafisiche, poetiche e legali?
Questo pensiero m’aveva fatto sorridere tra me stesso,
avanzandomi per l’incerta traccia del sentiero, quando ad un tratto
vedo un chiarore che subito scompare, e appena ebbi campo di
rivolgere la testa ch’udii rumoreggiare il tuono. Fermandomi a
guardare indietro, scôrsi nubi nerissime che s’erano avanzate alle
mie spalle, e che, venendo da verso la valle di Saint-Jean, andavano
nascondendo sul mio capo la volta del cielo. Che gusto m’avessi lo
lascio immaginare a voi. Io camminava in una pianura, che, per
quanto poteva rilevare, era come una vasta prateria, sparsa qua e là
d’alberi radi. Tratto tratto però mi sentiva sotto i piedi il nudo
macigno. Facendosi sempre più dense le tenebre, io non iscorgeva il
sentiero che al bagliore dei lampi che si succedevano quasi
incessantemente. Cominciarono i soffj del vento, e il tuono
echeggiava arrotolandosi fra quelle teste di montagne. Vi dico da
vero che principiai a non aver più nessun piacere di trovarmi in
quell’ignota solitudine con un tempo spaventoso di quella fatta.
Sperava, ad ogni passo che m’inoltrava, di trovarmi nel desiderato
paese di La Montà, o di scorgere almeno qualche lumicino che
annunziasse una capanna, fosse stata anche l’abitazione delle
streghe, dei briganti, o dei falsi monetarj: ma non vedeva niente,
altro che la corona delle rupi che circondavano quel piano, che si
mostravano più nere ancora del nerissimo cielo. Un romore, uno
scroscio grandissimo accompagnato da un sibilo spaventoso di
vento, veniva avanzandosi precipitoso, e vedeva al chiarore dei
lampi le chiome degli alberi flettersi ed alzarsi rapidissimamente. Ad
un tratto fui inondato dalla pioggia, e, quasi al tempo stesso, ciò che
mi diede più paura, fu di sentire che i miei piedi diguazzavano
nell’acqua sino alla caviglia, per cui credetti d’essere entrato
inavvertentemente in qualche stagno o fondo paludoso. Di sentiero
non eravi più insegna. Rimasi un momento immobile, e mi credetti
perduto: ma al luccicare della saetta, avendo veduto che il terreno a
man manca si rialzava, mossi i passi da quella parte, e infatti in due
o tre minuti mi sentii fuori del guado, e compresi che andava
ascendendo. — Meno male (dissi fra me), il pericolo d’affogarmi
sembra passato. — Ma la pioggia e il vento incalzavano con tal
violenza, ch’io dovetti appoggiarmi ad una pianta per sostenermi in
piedi. — La scena è più teatrale che in un ballo di Viganò (diceva in
me stesso), ma minaccia d’andare troppo in lungo, e se dovessi
starmene qui tutta notte sotto questo diluvio coll’aquilone che spira,
mi prendo tale un malanno che non rientro mai più in velocifero da
porta Tanaglia. —
Mentre io era colà in una posizione così critica, guardando
attentamente ad ogni gettata di luce intorno a me, mi venne veduto,
non molto all’insù dal posto ove mi trovava, un piccolo edificio
coperto di paglia, un tugurio. Mi sentii rinascere, e tosto mi diressi a
quella volta. Pervenutovi, m’accorsi ch’era una capannetta deserta,
uno di que’ casolari ove alloggiano i pastori quando conducono alle
alpi le mandre, e che partendo abbandonano. Alla porta s’ascendeva
per alcuni gradini; ne mancava l’imposta e dentro appariva vuoto ed
oscuro. Salii tosto quella scomposta scaletta, e giunto al limitare
tastando col bastone, e sentendo che il pavimento era più basso,
prima di discendervi per entro vi feci rimbombare la mia voce,
porgendo l’orecchio, per udire se mai cosa alcuna vi si rimovesse,
poichè v’era pericolo vi fosse rifuggita qualche fiera.
Non udendo alito balzai giù dalla porta nell’interno, e m’accorsi con
mio sommo contento che v’era sull’impalcato un bel letto di foglie.
Staccai dalle spalle la mia valigia, mi tolsi l’abito tutto molle
d’addosso, mi soffregai per asciugarmi alla meglio, ringraziai la
provvidenza, e me le raccomandai: indi stesi tutta la mia
stanchissima persona su quelle foglie, che mi sembrarono uno strato
di morbide piume, e provai quel sentimento di felicità, che
m’immagino debba sorgere in cuore a chi afferra il lido campando
dal naufragio.
Descrivervi quali pensieri mi passassero per la mente sarebbe
impossibile cosa: quello ch’è certo si è che m’addormentai pensando
a chi pensava a me, e che forse vaneggiava amorosamente alle
melodie d’una gaja serenata, senza pur dubitare ove diavolo mai si
trovasse il suo Trovatore. E tanto più che l’ultima sera nel darmi
l’addio di partenza, conoscendo l’indole mia arrischiata, m’aveva
fatta calda preghiera, di non espormi a inutili perigli, e di non mettere
a repentaglio una vita troppo cara. — Che belle paroline, eh? — Ma,
e chi non le ha udite all’età di venticinque anni? — Pure, onde
gustarle completamente, bisogna credersi esseri privilegiati, e tale io
mi riputava allora in buona fede: onde ricordava quell’affettuosa
espressione coll’accompagnamento d’una voce commossa, d’uno
sguardo pieno di soavità e di sentimento, vedeva quelle forme
gentili, quella bianca mano che mi salutava ancora dal balcone, e
tutto ciò mi mandava un miele per le vene, mi faceva più beato d’un
re, benchè perduto là sull’alpi tutto solo, e sdrajato sovra aride foglie
in un deserto tugurio; e credo che gli spiriti ilari che si esalavano da
me, mi servissero di riparo contro l’influenza funerea che stagnava
sotto quella volta.
Non so quanto dormissi, ma mi svegliai che fitta era ancora
l’oscurità, però cessati i lampi, i tuoni, il vento e la pioggia. Stirai le
membra, e mi sentii assalito da un brivido di freddo; volendo
addormentarmi di nuovo, allungai un braccio per internarlo nelle
foglie, onde averne calore, e nel così fare urtai in qualche cosa, che
toccando sentii essere una valigia. Mi pareva d’aver collocata la mia
dall’altra parte, e subito mossi l’altro braccio per accertarmene, e
infatti sento che la mia valigia è colà! — «Gran Dio! due valigie! qui
v’è alcun altro; dissi tra me, traendo a stento per la sorpresa il
respiro. Ma tosto mi animo, e grido: — Ohe! ohe! chi c’è qui. —
Nessuna risposta: mi rialzo, porgo attentissimo l’orecchio, non odo
fiato, non odo respiro, era un silenzio profondo, non interrotto che
dal cader lento delle goccie che stillavano dalla paglia del tetto. Mi
metto a frugare a tentoni per le foglie, allungando anche i piedi, e
urto con questi in due altri piedi, che sembravano rivestiti di grosse
scarpe. Li premo con forza, ma non ne segue alcun effetto. Mi do a
cercare colle mani e sento un braccio rivestito di panno — lo scuoto
— niente — Che affare è questo? — dissi tra me preso da spavento,
e diressi la mano ove doveva essere il volto, e l’abbassai —
misericordia! — le mie dita s’inforcano nelle caverne delle ossa
nasali d’un teschio umano, che si scompone a pezzetti —
misericordia! — chi m’avesse fatto un salasso non ne avrebbe
cavata goccia di sangue: rimasi più morto che vivo.
Ebbi appena il vigore di balzar fuori di là lasciando nel casolare,
abito, valigia e berretto, e non trassi il respiro che vedendomi all’aria
aperta. Sedetti sui scalini della capanna, col capo in mano, lasciando
si calmasse la terribile palpitazione di cuore che mi aveva assalito.
Alzai poscia gli occhi al cielo: era sereno e stellato: da levante
veniva un venticello foriero dell’aurora; il suo fiato per me fu un
balsamo, e più di tutto alcune voci che udii, e mi sembravano di
persone che fossero sul sentiero da me percorso la sera. Mi posi a
gridare chiamando; mi fu risposto; io continuai a gridare e sentii
ch’alcuni uomini venivano alla volta. Quando li vidi da vicino, narrai
loro la mia trista ventura, ed essi tosto, tratta l’esca, il ferro e la pietra
focaja, accesero una piccola lucerna, ch’un d’essi trasse da una
bisaccia che recava ad armacollo; e ravvisai in essi tre cacciatori da
camosci.
Penetrammo tutti insieme in quella capanna, e si vide, pressochè
tutto coperto dalle foglie, un uomo, dirò meglio uno scheletro,
rivestito d’abiti militari. Mi dissero che doveva essere qualche
sgraziato disertore sorpreso là su da un male violento, il quale
trattosi in quella capanna vi morì senza soccorsi: avvenimento
accaduto, almeno da due mesi in addietro.
Ritrovata la valigia di lui fu slacciata e vi si rinvennero per entro
alcuni pochi oggetti di vestimento, e un portafoglio. Questo pure
venne aperto, e vi si vide una carta d’iscrizione militare su cui
leggemmo — Gaudenzio D...., d’anni ventinove, nativo di, ecc. —
con tutti gli altri consueti connotati personali che lo indicavano per un
giovine ch’essere doveva d’assai bello aspetto. Nel portafoglio vi
erano pure due lettere, ed una picciola busta di seta verde da cui
levammo una cartolina, la quale era circondata per più giri da un sol
capello biondo, le cui estremità erano rattenute da un po’ di cera.
Una di queste lettere era suggellata e mancava d’indirizzo. L’altra
portava nella direzione il nome del soldato colla mansione a
Saluzzo; questa, essendo aperta, noi la spiegammo e vedemmo
essere del curato del suo paese che gli scriveva in nome di sua
madre. Vi si parlava di nozze di persone conoscenti, e della
spedizione che veniva fatta a lui d’una picciola somma di danaro:
non vi si leggeva altro, nè trovammo cosa alcuna di più, che ci
potesse rischiarare intorno a quell’individuo ed al funesto suo
destino.
Uno di que’ cacciatori, il più attempato, disse ch’egli era fratello del
sindaco di Saint-Jean, e che avrebbe dato avvertimento onde que’
resti umani venissero sepolti, e fosse partecipata notizia del fatto
all’autorità superiore.
Io rimasi compreso da tanta pietà per quell’infelice, e al tempo
stesso da tale orrore e ribrezzo d’aver avuto un simile compagno di
letto, che non aveva quasi più vigore da riprendere i miei arnesi.
Alla fin fine ajutato da que’ cacciatori mi rivestii, e mi rimisi,
accompagnato da loro, in viaggio; ma quello scheletro mi opprimeva
l’immaginazione, mi disperava. Mano mano però che si spandeva la
luce mattinale, si andava scemando anche lo squallore della mia
mente, e veniva a poco a poco riconoscendo me stesso. Quando
alfine m’affacciai dal vertice del monte all’ampia vallata, e vidi le
nebbie candide e natanti volare in fuga innanzi al sole che mi
sorgeva luminoso di fronte, ogni mia tristezza si dissipò, ed altro non
mi parve quel caso che una romanzesca ventura.
FINE.
INDICE
5. Nella contrada di tal nome ove fu eretta a quella santa una chiesa, sul
luogo appunto ove i primi cristiani avevano celato il suo corpo.
23. È desunta da una cronaca latina di quella Valle al capo ove si legge: Die
XX martii fuit interfectus Bertramus Dalmasanus dominus Clanetii super
pontem de Clanetio per homines Guelphos Vallis Himaniæ, etc.
Nel secolo seguente i valligiani della Brembilla continuarono a
commettere sui vicini paesi le più crudeli rappresaglie. Stanco il veneto
governo (di cui divenne poi suddita tutta la terra bergamasca) delle loro
sfrenate scelleratezze, faceva imprigionare diciotto capi, ordinava che
fossero smantellati tutti i villaggi della Brembilla, ed il sole del giorno
settimo dell’anno 1443 più non illuminava di quella popolosa vallata che
le immense ruine.
25. Quel bosco, contiguo al sobborgo detto degli Ortolani, era il solito
convegno dei duellanti dell’epoca. Il convento che dava nome al bosco,
esiste tuttavia, e venne ai nostri giorni da privata beneficenza cangiato
provvisoriamente in ospitale di donne, che s’intitola delle Fate-bene-
sorelle, a similitudine di quello per gli uomini assistito dai Regolari di san
Giovanni di Dio.
26. Vale a dire due ore prima dell’avemaria della sera, essendo allora ignota
la partizione della giornata secondo il sistema francese or fatto
universale.