ebook download (Original PDF) Basic Bookkeeping: An Office Simulation 8th Canadian Edition all chapter

You might also like

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 43

(Original PDF) Basic Bookkeeping: An

Office Simulation 8th Canadian Edition


Go to download the full and correct content document:
https://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-basic-bookkeeping-an-office-simulation-
8th-canadian-edition/
More products digital (pdf, epub, mobi) instant
download maybe you interests ...

(eBook PDF) Auditing: An International Approach 8th


Canadian Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-auditing-an-
international-approach-8th-canadian-edition/

(eBook PDF) Bookkeeping and Accounting Essentials 2nd


Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-bookkeeping-and-
accounting-essentials-2nd-edition/

An Introduction to Multiphase, Multicomponent Reservoir


Simulation 1st Edition - eBook PDF

https://ebooksecure.com/download/an-introduction-to-multiphase-
multicomponent-reservoir-simulation-ebook-pdf/

Cardiology-An Integrated Approach (Human Organ Systems)


(Dec 29, 2017)_(007179154X)_(McGraw-Hill) 1st Edition
Elmoselhi - eBook PDF

https://ebooksecure.com/download/cardiology-an-integrated-
approach-human-organ-systems-dec-29-2017_007179154x_mcgraw-hill-
ebook-pdf/
Progress in Heterocyclic Chemistry Volume 29 1st
Edition - eBook PDF

https://ebooksecure.com/download/progress-in-heterocyclic-
chemistry-ebook-pdf/

(Original PDF) Basic Statistics for Business &


Economics, 5th Canadian Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-basic-statistics-for-
business-economics-5th-canadian-edition/

(Original PDF) Your Office Microsoft Office 2016 Volume


1 (Your Office for Office 2016 Series)

http://ebooksecure.com/product/original-pdf-your-office-
microsoft-office-2016-volume-1-your-office-for-
office-2016-series/

(eBook PDF) Canadian Law: An Introduction 7th Canadian


Edition

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-canadian-law-an-
introduction-7th-canadian-edition/

(eBook PDF) Basic Biomechanics 8th Edition by Susan


Hall

http://ebooksecure.com/product/ebook-pdf-basic-biomechanics-8th-
edition-by-susan-hall/
EIGHTH EDITION
EIGHTH EDITION

BASIC
BOOKKEEPING

BASIC BOOKKEEPING An Office Simulation


An Off ic e Simula ti on
BROOKE C.W. BARKER

EIGHTH EDITION

BASIC
BARKER
NELSONbrain.com offers you a wide range of print textbooks, ebooks, digital homework, multimedia
content, and study tools. We make it easy, convenient, and affordable for you to purchase and access
your course materials. Visit NELSONbrain.com for more information!

BOOKKEEPING tion
An Off ic e Simu la
nelson.com

BROOKE C.W. BARKER


ISBN-13: 978-0-17-672122-0
ISBN-10: 0-17-672122-3

9 780176 721220
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS

Posting38
The Trial Balance 40
Practice Exercise 2 42
Practice Exercise 3 42
Practice Exercise 4 44
Practice Exercise 5 45
Locating Errors in a Trial Balance 46
Practice Exercise 6 47
Practice Exercise 7 48
Practice Exercise 8 48
Supplementary Exercises 48
Think About It! 49
Case Study: Introducing KBC Decorating Co. 50

CHAPTER 4 CORRECTING ENTRIES AND SALES TAXES IN CANADA 52


Correcting Writing Errors 53
Recording Correcting Entries 54
Practice Exercise 1 55
Practice Exercise 2 56
Recording Reversing Entries 56
Practice Exercise 3 57
Practice Exercise 4 57
Sales Taxes in Canada 58
GST/HST on Sales 59
GST/HST on Purchases 59
Practice Exercise 5 60
Practice Exercise 6 61
Provincial Sales Tax 61
Practice Exercise 7 62
Recording Sales with PST 63
Practice Exercise 8 63
Practice Exercise 9 64
Recording Other Expenses with PST 64
Practice Exercise 10 65
Remitting PST 65
Practice Exercise 11 66
Calculating the Tax Included 66
Practice Exercise 12 67
Supplementary Exercises 68
Think About It! 68
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 68

CHAPTER 5 F REIGHT IN, DELIVERY EXPENSE,


AND DUTY & BROKERAGE 70
Freight In 71
Freight on Non-merchandise Items 72
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS vii

Delivery Expense 73
Duty and Brokerage 73
Practice Exercise 1 75
Practice Exercise 2 76
Supplementary Exercises 77
Think About It! 77
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 77

CHAPTER 6 USING SPECIAL JOURNALS 78


Introducing Special Journals 79
Sales Journal 80
Posting from the Sales Journal 82
Control Accounts 83
Practice Exercise 1 85
Practice Exercise 2 85
Practice Exercise 3 86
Practice Exercise 4 86
Practice Exercise 5 87
Cash Receipts Journal 87
Posting from the Cash Receipts Journal 90
Cash or Plastic? 91
Practice Exercise 6 91
Practice Exercise 7 92
Practice Exercise 8 93
Practice Exercise 9 93
Practice Exercise 10 93
Purchase Journal 94
Posting from the Purchase Journal 97
Practice Exercise 11 98
Practice Exercise 12 99
Practice Exercise 13 99
Practice Exercise 14 100
Practice Exercise 15 100
Cash Payments Journal 100
Posting from the Cash Payments Journal 102
Practice Exercise 16 103
Practice Exercise 17 104
Practice Exercise 18 104
Practice Exercise 19 104
Supplementary Exercises 105
Think About It! 106
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 106

CHAPTER 7 CREDIT NOTES, REFUNDS, AND DISCOUNTS 109


Credit Notes and Refunds on Sales 110
Practice Exercise 1 113
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS

Practice Exercise 2 113


Practice Exercise 3 113
Practice Exercise 4 114
Sales Discounts 114
Practice Exercise 5 116
Practice Exercise 6 116
Practice Exercise 7 117
Credit Notes and Refunds on Purchases 117
Practice Exercise 8 118
Practice Exercise 9 119
Practice Exercise 10 119
Practice Exercise 11 120
Practice Exercise 12 120
Practice Exercise 13 120
Purchase Discounts 120
Cash on Delivery (COD) 122
Practice Exercise 14 123
Practice Exercise 15 123
Practice Exercise 16 123
Practice Exercise 17 123
Practice Exercise 18 124
Supplementary Exercises 124
Think About It! 125
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 125

CHAPTER 8 REMITTING GST AND HST 128


How GST/HST Works 129
Registering for GST/HST 129
Voluntary Registration 129
Filing the GST/HST Return 129
Remitting GST/HST 132
Keeping Records 133
Nil Returns (No Tax Owing) 133
Penalties and Interest 133
Discounts Offered to Customers 134
Deposits on Goods and Services 134
Sales to Aboriginals 134
Imported Items 134
Practice Exercise 1 135
Practice Exercise 2 135
Practice Exercise 3 135
Using the Quick Method 136
Examples of the Quick Method 136
Practice Exercise 4 139
Using the Simplified Method for ITCs 139
How the Simplified Method Works 140

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ix

Think About It! 140


Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 140

CHAPTER 9 ACCOUNTING FOR CASH 143


Petty Cash 144
Establishing Petty Cash 144
The Petty Cash Sheet 145
Recording Petty Cash Entries 146
Reimbursing Petty Cash 148
Cash Over or Short 149
Practice Exercise 1 151
Practice Exercise 2 152
Practice Exercise 3 153
Practice Exercise 4 153
Practice Exercise 5 153
Bank Reconciliation 154
Bank Statement 155
Bank Errors 157
Cash Book Errors 158
Reconciling the Bank Account 158
Bank Reconciliation Statement 160
Practice Exercise 6 162
Practice Exercise 7 162
Practice Exercise 8 163
Practice Exercise 9 163
Practice Exercise 10 165
Supplementary Exercises 169
Think About It! 169
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 169

CHAPTER 10 PAYROLL 173


The Payroll Process 174
Calculating Gross Pay 174
Using Deduction Tables 176
Recording the Payroll 184
Payments and Remittances 185
Payments to Employees 185
Remittance of Payroll Deductions and Company Contributions 186
Workers’ Compensation 187
Vacation Pay and Holiday Pay 187
Practice Exercise 1 187
Practice Exercise 2 189
Practice Exercise 3 190
Practice Exercise 4 191
Practice Exercise 5 191
Supplementary Exercises 192
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
x TABLE OF CONTENTS

Think About It! 192


Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 192

CHAPTER 11 PARTNERSHIPS AND CORPORATIONS 202


The Partnership 203
Partnership Accounting 204
Practice Exercise 1 205
Practice Exercise 2 206
Practice Exercise 3 206
The Drawings Account 206
Practice Exercise 4 208
Practice Exercise 5 208
Corporations209
Keeping the Books in a Corporation 210
Kinds of Shares 210
Authorized versus Issued Capital 211
Practice Exercise 6 211
Retained Earnings 212
Practice Exercise 7 213
Practice Exercise 8 213
Supplementary Exercise 213
Think About It! 213
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 214

CHAPTER 12 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND BAD DEBTS 217


Aging of Accounts Receivable 218
Writing Off Bad Debts 220
Recovering a Bad Debt 221
Practice Exercise 1 222
Practice Exercise 2 223
Bad Debts in a Small Business 223
Practice Exercise 3 226
Supplementary Exercises 226
Think About It! 226
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 227

CHAPTER 13 INTERIM PROFIT OR LOSS 231


Interim Profit or Loss 232
The Interim Statement 232
Preparing the Interim Statement 232
Practice Exercise 1 235
Practice Exercise 2 235
Practice Exercise 3 237
Supplementary Exercises 237
Think About It! 238
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 238
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS xi

CHAPTER 14 AT YEAR-END: PREPARING TO CLOSE THE BOOKS 246


Inventory247
Practice Exercise 1 249
Year-End Adjusting Entries 249
Types of Adjusting Entries 249
Practice Exercise 2 256
Practice Exercise 3 257
Practice Exercise 4 257
The Worksheet 257
Practice Exercise 5 260
Practice Exercise 6 261
Practice Exercise 7 263
Supplementary Exercises 264
Think About It! 264
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 264

CHAPTER 15 AT YEAR-END: CLOSING THE BOOKS 265


Closing Journal Entries 266
Practice Exercise 1 268
Practice Exercise 2 268
Practice Exercise 3 268
Post-Closing Trial Balance 268
A Look at GAAP 269
Financial Statements 271
Income Statement 271
Balance Sheet 271
Practice Exercise 4 274
Practice Exercise 5 274
Practice Exercise 6 274
Practice Exercise 7 274
Supplementary Exercises 275
Think About It! 276
Case Study: KBC Decorating Co. 276

APPENDIX A REAL-WORLD FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  277

APPENDIX B ANSWERS TO THINK ABOUT IT!  282

APPENDIX C CHART OF ACCOUNTS: KBC DECORATING CO.  289

GLOSSARY 293

INDEX 303
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
PREFACE

Welcome to the eighth edition of Basic Bookkeeping: An Office Simulation. In writing


this textbook, I have endeavoured to provide teachers and students with the tools
necessary to learn and practise the concepts of basic bookkeeping for a small busi-
ness in a simple, meaningful way. As an educator for more than 40 years, I under-
stand the importance of giving our students a real-world context for learning. If
students can relate to what they are studying, they will learn better. In today’s
working world, being book-smart is not enough. Our students must learn to
think critically and they must be able to apply what they have learned to an ever-
changing work environment. I want my students to have a greater understanding
of the realities of bookkeeping as a function and as an occupation. I believe I have
achieved this through the approach I use in Basic Bookkeeping, in part through the
varied practice exercises in each chapter, and, most importantly, through the case
study that presents the ongoing activities of KBC Decorating Company, a small
retail store, for an entire financial year.
As a student, you will gain valuable knowledge and experience in keeping
a set of books for a small business. You will learn not only the mechanics of
recording daily transactions in a variety of journals but also how to analyze finan-
cial activities to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the books. You will learn by
doing, just as you would in on-the-job training.
As a teacher, you know the importance of having up-to-date, relevant mate-
rials at hand to guide your students in the ways of today’s typical bookkeeping
practices. Simply assigning an endless series of unrelated exercises will not lead
students to a working knowledge of concepts and practices. It merely teaches
them to respond by rote learning. Giving your students a real-world situation like
that of KBC Decorating Company goes a long way toward a true understanding
of the concepts and principles you are teaching them.
The method of presentation that I have used in this textbook reflects my per-
sonal teaching style in the classroom. In other words, I wrote the material this way
because I teach this way; and I teach this way because it is a style that works very
well for me. I have trained thousands of bookkeeping students over the years, with
great success. I am confident that you will enjoy working with Basic Bookkeeping as
so many others have over the past 30 years.

What’s New in the Eighth Edition


The eighth edition of Basic Bookkeeping: An Office Simulation contains updated pay-
roll deductions tables and the latest sales tax rates (at time of printing). This edi-
tion also provides options in many of the practice exercises to calculate sales taxes
using the method of calculation applicable in each student’s home province (GST
only, HST, or GST plus PST). The case study, KBC Decorating Company, located
in Ontario, charges HST on all purchases and sales. Supplementary Exercises are
available online in Microsoft Excel format for additional practice of basic book-
keeping concepts along with basic Excel formulas.
xii NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
PREFACE xiii

Pedagogical Features
The objective of each chapter of this text is to cover the basic bookkeeping tech-
niques employed by small businesses in Canada. Explanations are purposely
geared to students who have little or no previous bookkeeping knowledge, and
the practice exercises and case study provide practical reinforcement of each con-
cept discussed.
Each chapter contains the following pedagogical features:

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
Objectives are provided at the beginning of each chapter to identify the major
areas and points covered in the chapter and to guide the learning process.

IMPORTANT TERMS USED IN THE CHAPTER


A list of key terms used in each chapter appears at the beginning of the chapter,
and each term appears in boldface within the chapter. A complete list of
bookkeeping-related terms used throughout the text, including the key terms
highlighted in each chapter, is found in the Glossary at the back of the book.

PRACTICE EXERCISES
Each chapter includes practice exercises that provide students with ample oppor-
tunity to review how well they have learned the material in the chapter. The
variety of exercises attempts to provide exposure to different types of businesses
and thus different account names, different provincial sales tax rates and calcula-
tion methods, as well as different degrees of complexity. Hints are added to some
exercises, wherever deemed beneficial, to simplify the calculation or recording of
certain transactions and to guide the student on the best way to address that par-
ticular issue.

SUPPLEMENTARY EXERCISES
Most chapters have additional exercises in Microsoft Excel format available for
download from nelson.com/student. The students will complete the exercises
according to the instructions that appear at the top of each spreadsheet exercise.

THINK ABOUT IT!


Each chapter contains a series of theory questions that teachers can use to generate
class discussion on issues addressed in the chapter and to check that the students
have a firm grasp of the concepts presented.

CASE STUDY: KBC DECORATING COMPANY


At the end of Chapters 3 to 15 are the case study activities for KBC Decorating
Company. This ongoing exercise incorporates each new concept into the com­
pany’s monthly transactions, chapter by chapter, month by month, with the
results being greater student understanding, greater student confidence, and a
more practical real-world experience in keeping financial records.
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
xiv PREFACE

Supplements

INSTRUCTOR ANCILLARIES
The Nelson Education Teaching Advantage (NETA) program delivers
research-based instructor resources that promote student engagement and higher-
order thinking to enable the success of Canadian students and educators. Visit
Nelson Education’s Inspired Instruction website at nelson.com/inspired/ to find
out more about NETA.
The following instructor resources have been created for Basic Bookkeeping.
Access these ultimate tools for customizing lectures and presentations at nelson.com
/instructor.
●● Instructor’s Solutions Manual: Prepared by Brooke C.W. Barker, the solu-
tions manual contains the solutions for all of the chapter exercises and the
KBC Decorating Co. case study. Solutions have been independently checked
to ensure their accuracy and reliability.
●● NETA Test Bank: This resource was written by Jake Chazan of Seneca
College. It includes over 100 multiple-choice questions written according to
NETA guidelines for effective construction and development of higher-order
questions. Also included are true/false and short-answer questions.
®
The NETA Test Bank is available in a new, cloud-based platform.
Nelson Testing Powered by Cognero® is a secure online testing system
that allows instructors to author, edit, and manage test bank content from
anywhere Internet access is available. No special installations or downloads
are needed, and the desktop-inspired interface, with its drop-down menus
and familiar, intuitive tools, allows instructors to create and manage tests
with ease. Multiple test versions can be created in an instant, and content
can be imported or exported into other systems. Tests can be delivered from
a learning management system, the classroom, or wherever an instructor
chooses. Nelson Testing Powered by Cognero for Basic Bookkeeping: An Office
Simulation, Eighth Edition, can be accessed through nelson.com/instructor.
●● PowerPoint Presentation: Microsoft® PowerPoint® lecture slides for every
chapter have been prepared by Jake Chazan of Seneca College. There is an
average of 35 slides per chapter, many featuring key figures and tables from
Basic Bookkeeping: An Office Simulation, Eighth Edition. NETA principles of
clear design and engaging content have been incorporated throughout.
●● Image Library: This resource consists of digital copies of figures and short
tables used in the book. Instructors may use these jpegs to create their own
PowerPoint presentations.

STUDENT ANCILLARIES
Working Papers (978-0-17-682784-7)
This supplement contains working materials for the practice exercises and for the
KBC Decorating Co. (introduced in Chapter 3) case study. Special ledger accounts
and trial balances have been included expressly for work on the case study.

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
PREFACE xv

Companion Web Site


Nelson Education’s Companion Web Site for Basic Bookkeeping: An Office Simula­
tion, Eighth Edition (nelson.com/student), brings course concepts to life with
interactive learning and exam preparation tools that integrate with the printed
textbook, including:
●● Flashcards
●● PowerPoint presentations
●● Supplementary exercises
●● Alternative Case Study

Acknowledgments
I wish to thank all the reviewers of the previous edition of Basic Bookkeeping: An
Office Simulation for their opinions and suggestions on how to change and improve
the material. There were so many great ideas and suggestions; the difficult task
was putting them all together. I would like to acknowledge those who assisted
in reviewing this edition and earlier editions of this textbook: Dennis Adolph of
Saskatoon Business College, Nicole Ayotte of Canadore College, Daniel Basquill
of Eastern College, Dianne Berlenbach of Fleming College, Ruby (Rupinderbant)
K. Brar of SAIT, Julia Bueckert of Saskatoon Business College, Sylvia Culshaw
of Red Deer College, Denise Dodson of Nova Scotia Community College, Dana
Goedbloed of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Kim Hyatt of Robertson Col-
lege, Diamond Meuse of Eastern College, Kerri Simich of Niagara College, Gorian
Surlan of George Brown College, Vicki Sutherland of College of New Caledonia,
Marcia Whittaker of Saskatoon Business College, and Colin Wilkie of George
Brown College. Special thanks to Sharla Trudell of Fleming College, the technical
checker for this edition. As well, I wish to thank my accounting students for their
participation in “test driving” my new exercises. Last, but certainly not least, I
express a special thanks to all the staff at Nelson for their assistance in producing
this eighth edition.

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
CHAPTER
OBJECTIVES
After completing this
chapter, you will be
able to:
●● define the three forms

of business organization
●● define the five

categories of accounts:
assets, liabilities, CHAPTER

1
owner’s equity,
revenues, and expenses
●● classify accounts

according to the five


categories
●● identify the generally

accepted accounting
principles

IMPORTANT TERMS
USED IN THIS
CHAPTER
Assets
Balance Sheet
Bookkeeping
Corporation
Expenses
GAAP (Generally
Accepted Accounting
Principles)
AN INTRODUCTION
Income Statement
Liabilities
Owner’s Equity
TO BOOKKEEPING
Partnership
Proprietorship
Revenue

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
2 CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping

T he word bookkeeping typically refers to the recording and recordkeeping


phase of the overall process called accounting. More simply put, book-
keeping is the process of keeping records of sales and purchases, money
received and money paid out, as well as all costs incurred in running the business.

BOOKKEEPING ON A PERSONAL LEVEL


On a basic level, bookkeeping is what you do when you keep track of your own
financial activities in a personal chequing account. It is your record of the money
you received and the money you spent.
Fun Fact
Your chequebook is your record of all deposits made to the chequing account
and all payments made from the account, whether by cheque, by debit card, or
“Bookkeeping” and “bookkeeper”
are the only English words that even by electronic payments such as PayPal. (See Figure 1.1.) But where did the
have three consecutive double money come from that was deposited to the account? To whom were the cheques
letters. issued? What did those cheques pay for? Where was the debit card used, and
what was purchased? Some people are careful about recording each transaction

Figure 1.1 Chequebook Record

Apr.
1 930 00
Apr. Hill Realty
1 64 Rent 650 00 280 00
Food Basket
4 debit Groceries 50 00 230 00
Provincial Power
6 65 Hydro Bill 95 00 135 00
Food Basket
11 debit Groceries 35 00 100 00

15 Paycheque 872 50 972 50


Gregg’s Auto Service
16 debit Car Tune-Up 75 00 897 50
L’il Corner Store
19 debit Groceries 25 00 872 50
Cell-Tel
23 66 Cell Phone Bill 45 00 827 50
Topper’s Tailors
25 debit New Clothes 155 00 672 50
Food Basket
26 debit Groceries 60 00 612 50

30 Paycheque 872 50 1,485 00


Petro-Gas Bar
30 debit Gas & Oil 150 00 1,335 00

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping 3

that affects their chequing account. Others are not. So, then, just how important
is this information? Perhaps more important than you think. A record of cash
flow (the movement of cash into and out of your account) helps you plan your
spending over the coming days, weeks, and months. If, for example, you have
only a small amount of money in your bank account, you likely would not be
planning any major spending, such as buying a shiny new sports car or booking
a tropical vacation.
Marvin Reese, for instance, has his eye on a new car, but he is not sure if
he can afford to buy it. His bank account shows a balance of only $1,335—not
nearly enough for his dream car! From the chequebook record in Figure 1.1, we
get some idea of Marvin’s spending habits. A simple chart helps us see at a glance
where his money comes from and where it goes each month.

Cash In (deposits) Cash Out (cheques and debit card)


Paycheques $872.50 Rent $650.00
872.50 Hydro & phone 140.00
Food 170.00
Automobile 225.00
Other 155.00
$1,745.00 $1,340.00

On the one side, we see his deposits, which are usually his paycheques. On the
other, we see a list of what he spends his money on every month. Simple arith-
metic shows us that Marvin would be able to save $1,745 − $1,340 = $405 each
month. Keep in mind, however, that we have not yet considered other costs, such
as annual insurance costs on his car and his apartment, or regular or unforeseen
car repairs and maintenance. At this rate, Marvin could be saving for many years
before he has enough money to buy a new car.
As an alternative to saving the money he needs, Marvin might be able to get
a car loan from the bank. First, though, he will need to make a list of everything
he owns, including his existing car, any investments (such as savings bonds and
education funds), and all debts he currently owes, including any existing bank
loans, student loans, and amounts owing on credit cards. The bank will want to
know his present financial situation and will use this and other information to see
if Marvin is eligible for a bank loan.

Things He Owns Debts He Owes


Cash $1,335.00 Credit Cards $1,450.00
Car 7,500.00 Topper’s Tailors 390.00
Furniture 2,000.00 Gregg’s Auto 270.00
Savings Bonds 2,500.00
$13,335.00 $2,110.00

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
4 CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping

This kind of detailed personal recordkeeping not only helps us make better
day-to-day decisions about spending but also helps us set long-term goals for
major purchases. By looking back over the financial activities of previous months
and years, we get a picture of spending habits. This is helpful in establishing a
budget so that money is spent wisely.

BOOKKEEPING FOR BUSINESS


Lance Reed, on the other hand, is a college student with his own part-time
business doing yard work for his neighbours—cutting grass in the summer and
clearing snow in the winter. For his business, Lance keeps track of the same kind
of information that Marvin does—that is, where his money comes from and how
it is spent.

Cash In (deposits) Cash Out (cheques and debit card)


Earnings from yard work:
J. Tunnicliffe $187.00 Gasoline/oil $155.00
L. Porth 85.00 Garbage bags 45.00
B. Szuuts 150.00 Miscellaneous 15.00
D. Essig 50.00
$472.00 $215.00

Also, Lance will prepare a list of what his business owns (called assets) and all
the debts he owes (called liabilities).

Things Owned (Assets) Debts Owed (Liabilities)


Lawnmower $550.00 Loan from father $120.00
Other tools 140.00
$690.00 $120.00

Based on these figures, we can calculate Lance’s net personal investment in


his business: $690 – $120 = $570. This value is sometimes called equity or
net worth.
Suppose, then, that upon graduating from college, Lance decides to operate
his business on a full-time basis. To get started properly, he prepares the two
statements that we discussed earlier and takes this information to the bank in
order to apply for a $15,000 loan so he can buy a used truck and some additional
equipment (more tools and another lawnmower).
The bank will ask that the information be prepared in a more formal fashion.
The statement of assets, liabilities, and owner’s equity is commonly called a
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping 5

Figure 1.2 Balance Sheet

Lance Reed
Balance Sheet
June 30, 20—
ASSETS
Equipment:
Lawnmower 5 5 0 00
Tools 1 4 0 00
6 9 0 00
LIABILITIES
Loan (Father) 1 2 0 00
EQUITY
Capital, L. Reed 5 7 0 00
6 9 0 00

Balance Sheet. (See Figure 1.2.) The statement that shows his business earnings
and operating costs is an Income Statement. (See Figure 1.3.)
Assuming the loan to Lance has been granted by his bank and he has pur-
chased the additional items he needs, Figure 1.4 shows a new Balance Sheet for
his business today. The loan for $15,000 appears in the Liabilities section, and the
truck and additional equipment appear in the Assets section.
You can see that the information recorded by an individual and the informa-
tion recorded by a small business are very much the same. Company information,
however, is generally kept more formally and is displayed formally for the benefit
of others who must also interpret it. Examples of real-world financial statements
can be found in Appendix A of this textbook.

Figure 1.3 Income Statement

Lance Reed
Income Statement
For three months ending June 30, 20—
REVENUE
Yard Service 4 7 2 00
OPERATING COSTS
Gas/Oil 1 5 5 00
Garbage Bags 4 5 00
Miscellaneous 1 5 00 2 1 5 00
NET INCOME 2 5 7 00

NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
6 CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping

Figure 1.4 Balance Sheet

Lance Reed
Balance Sheet
July 15, 20—
ASSETS
Cash 1 0 0 0 00
Truck 11 0 0 0 00
Equipment:
Lawnmower 2 5 5 0 00
Tools 1 1 4 0 00 3 6 9 0 00
15 6 9 0 00
LIABILITIES
Loan (Father) 1 2 0 00
Loan (Bank) 15 0 0 0 00 15 1 2 0 00

EQUITY
Capital, L. Reed 5 7 0 00
15 6 9 0 00

THREE FORMS OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATION


Since our focus is on learning how to keep books for business, we will consider
the different forms of business organization. Every business, regardless of size or
type, falls into one of the three basic forms of organization: proprietorship, part-
nership, or corporation.

1. Proprietorship refers to a business owned by one person, such as a gro-


cery store, a dress shop, or a TV repair shop. (Lance Reed’s yard care busi-
ness is a proprietorship because he is the sole owner.) In a proprietorship,
the owner is the manager, the owner makes all the business decisions, and
the owner is personally responsible for all the debts of the business, such
as bank loans, mortgages, and accounts owing to suppliers.

2. Partnership refers to a business owned by two or more persons. These co-


owners, or partners, combine their skills and financial resources (money)
to form what they hope will be a successful business. The partners share
the management and decision making, and are fully responsible for all the
debts of the business. Any two or more people who have combined their
skills and financial resources to operate a hardware store, a restaurant, or
a computer repair shop, for example, have formed a partnership.

3. Corporation refers to a business that is a separate legal entity operating


under a government charter. Entity, in this context, means that the busi-
ness is separate from the owners (called shareholders or stockholders), almost
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
CHAPTER 1 An Introduction to Bookkeeping 7

as if it too is a person. The ownership of a corporation is divided into shares


or stocks. The most familiar examples of public corporations include large
national and multinational companies, such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft,
and Air Canada. The oldest corporation in Canada is the Hudson’s Bay
Company, which started business in 1670. (The topics of partnerships and
corporations will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 11.)
Whether the business is large or small, or whether it is a proprietorship,
a partnership, or a corporation, the basic principles of bookkeeping are the same: a
clear, accurate record of all financial activities must be maintained and reported
in a form that can be interpreted and verified by others.

THE FIVE CATEGORIES OF ACCOUNTS


Next, we will look at some of the basic terminology commonly used in the book-
keeping and accounting fields. These terms apply whether we are talking about
the financial activities of an individual, such as Marvin Reese; of a small business,
such as Lance Reed’s yard care company; or of a large corporation, such as The
Bay or Canadian Tire.
Assets are things of value that are owned by the business and are expected
to benefit the business into future years. Examples include cash, land, buildings,
furniture, equipment, and inventories of merchandise and supplies. Amounts
owing to the business from its customers (called Accounts Receivable) are also of
value to the business, so they too are considered assets. Lance Reed’s assets include
the lawnmowers, the truck, and the tools he uses in his yard work. If any of his
customers have not yet paid him for work already completed, these amounts are
his accounts receivable and would be included among his assets.
Liabilities are debts owing to others. Examples include debts owing to sup-
pliers (Accounts Payable) and debts owing to a bank or mortgage company (Bank
Loan Payable and Mortgage Payable). If Lance had bought his tools from a local
hardware store and had agreed to pay the amount over the next 60 days, this debt
would be considered an account payable. His loan from the bank would be shown
on his books as Bank Loan Payable.
Equity (sometimes called Owner’s Equity) represents the value of assets
remaining after all liabilities have been deducted. The owner’s equity typically
comes from two sources:
1. Investments made by the owner to start the business, such as the cash, furni-
ture, equipment, etc. (Lance Reed invested a lawnmower and cash when he
started his business.)
2. Profits (or losses) earned through the operation of the business. The goal of
most businesses is to earn a profit. These profits, if kept within the business,
increase the worth (or equity) of the business.
On the Balance Sheet for Lance Reed’s business (Figure 1.4), the equity value
can be seen as Capital, a common term referring to the owner’s investment.
Capital is determined by calculating the difference between the total assets and
the total liabilities ($15,690 – $15,120 = $570).
Revenue refers to the earnings from the sale of goods and/or services to
customers. In Lance Reed’s case, some of his customers will pay immediately for
NEL

Copyright 2019 Nelson Education Ltd. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content
may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Nelson Education reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
que no podrán mil vidas
esperalla.
Mas no hay tan gran peligro
que me espante,
ni tan fragoso y áspero
camino,
que me estorbe de andar
siempre adelante.
Siguiendo voy mi proprio
desatino,
voy tras la pena y busco lo
que daña,
y ofrezco al llanto el ánimo
mezquino.
Perpetuo gozo alegra y
acompaña
mi vida, que penando está en
sossiego,
y siente en los dolores gloria
extraña.
La pena me es deleite, el
llanto juego,
descanso el suspirar, gloria
la muerte,
las llagas sanidad, reposo el
fuego.
Cosa no veo jamás que no
despierte
y avive en mí la furia del
tormento,
pero recibo en él dichosa
suerte.
Estos males, señora, por vos
siento,
destas passiones vivo
atormentado
con la fatiga igual al
sufrimiento.
Pues muévaos á piedad un
desdichado,
que ofresce á vuestro amor
la propia vida,
pues no pide su mal ser
remediado,
mas sólo ser su pena
conoscida.

Esta fué la carta que le escribí, y


si ella fuera tan bien hecha como
fué venturosa, no trocara mi
habilidad por la de Homero. Llegó
á las manos de Alcida, y aunque
de mis razones quedó alterada, y
de mi atrevimiento ofendida; pero
al fin, tener noticia de mi pena
hizo, según después entendí, en
su corazón mayor efecto de lo
que yo de mi desdicha confiaba.
Comencé á señalarme su
amante, haciendo justas, torneos,
libreas, galas, invenciones, versos
y motes por su servicio, durando
en esta pena por espacio de
algunos años. Al fin de los cuales
Eugerio me tuvo por merescedor
de ser su yerno, y por
intercessión de algunos
principales hombres de la tierra
me ofresció su hija Alcida por
mujer. Tratamos que los
desposorios se hiciesen en la
ciudad de Lisbona, porque el rey
de lusitanos en ellos estuviesse
presente; y assí, despachando un
correo con toda diligencia, dimos
cuenta al rey de este casamiento,
y le suplicamos que nos diesse
licencia para que, encomendando
nuestros cargos á personas de
confianza, fuéssemos allá á
solemnizarlo. Luego por toda la
ciudad y lugares apartados y
vecinos se extendió la fama de mi
casamiento, y causó tan general
placer, como á tan hermosa dama
como Alcida y a tan fiel amante
como yo se debía. Hasta aquí
llegó mi bienaventuranza, hasta
aquí me encumbró la fortuna,
para después abatirme en la
profundidad de miserias en que
me hallo. ¡Oh, transitorio bien,
mudable contento; oh, deleite
variable; oh, inconstante firmeza
de las cosas mundanas! ¿Qué
más pude recibir de lo que recibí
y qué más puedo padescer de lo
que padezco? No me mandes,
pastora, que importune tus oídos
con más larga historia, ni que
lastime tus entrañas con mis
desastres. Conténtate agora con
saber mi passado
contentamiento, y no quieras
saber mi presente dolor, porque
está cierta que ha de enfadarte mi
prolijidad y de alterarte mi
desgracia. A lo cual respondió
Diana: Deja, Marcelio,
semejantes excusas, que no
quise yo saber los sucessos de tu
vida para gozar sólo de tus
placeres, sin entristecerme de tus
pesares, antes quiero dellos toda
la parte que cabrá en mi
congojado corazón. ¡Ay, hermosa
pastora, dijo Marcelio, cuán
contento quedaría si la voluntad
que te tengo no me forzasse á
complacerte en cosa de tanto
dolor! Y lo que más me pesa es
que mis desgracias son tales que
han de lastimar tu corazón
cuando las sepas, que la pena
que he de recebir en contallas no
la tengo en tanto que no la
sufriesse de grado á trueco de
contentarte. Pero yo te veo tan
deseosa de sabellas, que me será
forzado causarte tristeza, por no
agraviar tu voluntad. Pues has de
saber, pastora, que después que
fué concertado mi desventurado
casamiento, venida ya la licencia
del rey, el padre Eugerio, que
viudo era, el hijo Polydoro, las dos
hijas Alcida y Clenarda y el
desdichado Marcelio, que su dolor
te está contando, encomendados
los cargos que por el rey
teníamos á personas de
confianza, nos embarcamos en el
puerto de Ceuta, para ir por mar á
la noble Lisbona á celebrar, como
dije, en presencia del rey el
matrimonio.
El contento que todos llevábamos
nos hizo tan ciegos, que en el
más peligroso tiempo del año no
tuvimos miedo á las
tempestuosas ondas que
entonces suelen hincharse, ni á
los furiosos vientos, que en tales
meses acostumbran
embravecerse; sino que,
encomendando la frágil nave á la
inconstante fortuna, nos metimos
en el peligroso mar, descuidados
de sus continuas mudanzas é
innumerables infortunios. Mas
poco tiempo passó que la fortuna
castigó nuestro atrevimiento,
porque antes que la noche
llegasse, el piloto descubrió
manifiestas señales de la
venidera tempestad. Comenzaron
los espessos ñublados á cubrir el
cielo, empezaron á murmurar las
airadas ondas, los vientos á
soplar por contrarias y diferentes
partes. ¡Ay, tristes y peligrosas
señales! dijo el turbado y
temeroso piloto; ¡ay, desdichada
nave, qué desgracia se te
apareja, si Dios por su bondad no
te socorre! Diciendo esto vino un
ímpetu y furia tan grande de
viento, que en las extendidas
velas y en todo el cuerpo de la
nave sacudiendo, la puso en tan
gran peligro, que no fué bastante
el gobernalle para regirla, sino
que, siguiendo el poderoso furor,
iba donde la fuerza de las ondas y
vientos la impelía. Acabó poco á
poco á descararse la tempestad,
las furiosas ondas cubiertas de
blanca espuma comienzan á
ensoberbecerse. Estaba el cielo
abundante lluvia derramando,
furibundos rayos arrojando y con
espantosos truenos el mundo
estremesciendo. Sentíase un
espantable ruido de las sacudidas
maromas, y movían gran terror
las lamentables voces de los
navegantes y marineros. Los
vientos por todas partes la nave
combatían, las ondas con terribles
golpes en ella sacudiendo, las
más enteras y mejor clavadas
tablas hendían y desbarataban. A
veces el soberbio mar hasta el
cielo nos levantaba y luego hasta
los abismos nos despeñaba, y á
veces espantosamente
abriéndose, las más profundas
arenas nos descubría. Los
hombres y mujeres á una y otra
parte corriendo, su desventurada
muerte dilatando, unos
entrañables suspiros esparcían,
otros piadosos votos ofrescían y
otros dolorosas lágrimas
derramaban. El piloto con tan
brava fortuna atemorizado,
vencido su saber de la
perseverancia y braveza de la
tempestad, no sabía ni podía regir
el gobernalle. Ignoraba la
naturaleza y origen de los vientos,
y en un mesmo punto mil cosas
diferentes ordenaba. Los
marineros, con la agonía de la
cercana muerte turbados, no
sabían ejecutar lo mandado, ni
con tantas voces y ruido podían
oir el mandamiento y orden del
ronco y congojado piloto. Unos
amainan la vela, otros vuelven la
antena, otros añudan las
rompidas cuerdas, otros
remiendan las despedazadas
tablas, otros el mar en el mar
vacian, otros al timón socorren, y
en fin todos procuran defender la
miserable nave del inevitable
perdimiento. Mas no valió la
diligencia, ni aprovecharon los
votos y lágrimas para ablandar el
bravo Neptuno. Antes cuanto más
se iba acercando la noche, más
cargaron los vientos y más se
ensañaron las tempestades.
Venida ya la tenebrosa noche, y
no amansándose la fortuna, el
padre Eugerio, desconfiado de
remedio, con el rostro temeroso y
alterado, á sus hijos y yerno
mirando, tenía tanta agonía de la
muerte que habíamos de passar,
que tanto nos dolía su congoja
como nuestra desventura. Mas el
lloroso viejo, rodeado de trabajos,
con lamentable voz y tristes
lágrimas decía de esta manera:
¡Ay, mudable Fortuna, enemiga
del humano contento, tan gran
desdicha le tenías guardada á mi
triste vejez! ¡Oh, bienaventurados
los que en juveniles años mueren,
lidiando en las sangrientas
batallas, pues no llegando á la
cansada edad no vienen á peligro
de llorar los desastres y muertes
de sus amados hijos! ¡Oh, fuerte
mal; oh, triste sucesso! ¿Quién
jamás murió tan dolorosamente
como yo, que esperando consolar
mi muerte con dejar en el mundo
quien conserve mi memoria y mi
linaje, he de morir en compañía
de los que habían de solemnizar
mis obsequias? Oh, queridos
hijos, ¿quién me dijera á mí, que
mi vida y la vuestra se habían de
acabar á un mesmo tiempo y
habían de tener fin con una
misma desventura? Querría, hijos
míos, consolaros; mas ¿qué
puede deciros un triste padre, en
cuyo corazon hay tanta
abundancia de dolor y tan grande
falta de consuelo? Mas
consolaos, hijos; armad vuestras
almas de sufrimiento, y dejad á mi
cuenta toda la tristeza, pues
allende de morir una vez por mí,
he de sufrir tantas muertes
cuantas vosotros habéis de
passar. Esto decía el congojado
padre con tantas lágrimas y
sollozos, que apenas podía
hablar, abrazando los unos y los
otros por despedida, antes que
llegasse la hora del perdimiento.
Pues contarte yo agora las
lágrimas de Alcida, y el dolor que
por ella yo tenía, sería una
empresa grande y de mucha
dificultad. Sólo una cosa quiero
decirte: que lo que más me
atormentaba, era pensar que la
vida que yo tenía ofrescida á su
servicio hubiesse de perderse
juntamente con la suya. En tanto
la perdida y maltratada nave con
el ímpetu y furia de los bravos
ponientes, que por el estrecho
passo que de Gibraltar se nombra
rabiosamente soplaban, corriendo
con más ligereza de la que á
nuestra salud convenía, conbatida
por la poderosa Fortuna por
espacio de toda la noche y en el
siguiente día, sin poder ser regida
con la destreza de los marineros,
anduvo muchas leguas por el
espacioso mar Mediterráneo, por
donde la fuerza de los vientos la
encaminaba.
El otro día después paresció la
Fortuna querer amansarse; pero
volviendo luego á la
acostumbrada braveza, nos puso
en tanta necessidad que no
esperábamos una hora de vida.
En fin, nos combatió tan brava
tempestad, que la nave,
compelida de un fuerte torbellino,
que le dió por el izquierdo lado,
estuvo en tan gran peligro de
trastornarse, que tuvo ya el bordo
metido en el agua. Yo que vi el
peligro manifiesto, desciñéndome
la espada, porque no fuesse
embarazo, y abrazándome con
Alcida, salté con ella en el batel
de la nave. Clenarda, que era
doncella muy suelta,
siguiéndonos, hizo lo mesmo, no
dejando en la nave su arco y
aljaba, que más que cualesquier
tesoros estimaba. Polydoro
abrazándose con su padre, quiso
con él saltar en el batel como
nosotros; mas el piloto de la nave
y un otro marinero fueron los
primeros á saltar, y al tiempo que
Polydoro con el viejo Eugerio
quiso salir de la nave, viniendo
por la parte diestra una borrasca,
apartó tanto el batel de la nave,
que los tristes hubieron de quedar
en ella, y de allí á poco rato no la
vimos, ni sabemos della, sino que
tengo por cierto que por las
crueles ondas fué tragada, ó
dando al través en la costa de
España, miserablemente fué
perdida. Quedando, pues, Alcida,
Clenarda y yo en el pequeño
esquife, guiados con la industria
del piloto y de otro marinero,
anduvimos errando por espacio
de un día y de una noche,
aguardando de punto en punto la
muerte, sin esperanza de remedio
y sin saber la parte donde
estábamos. Pero en la mañana
siguiente nos hallamos muy cerca
de la tierra, y dimos al través en
ella. Los dos marineros, que muy
diestros eran en nadar, no sólo
salieron á nado á la deseada
tierra, pero nos sacaron á todos,
llevándonos á seguro
salvamiento. Después que
estuvimos fuera de las aguas,
amarraron los marineros el batel á
la ribera, y reconosciendo la tierra
donde habiamos llegado, hallaron
que era la isla Formentera, y
quedaron muy espantados de las
muchas millas que en tan poco
tiempo habiamos corrido. Mas
ellos tenían tan larga y cierta
experiencia de las maravillas que
suelen hacer las bravas
tempestades, que no se
espantaron mucho del discurso
de nuestra navegación.
Hallámonos seguros de la
Fortuna, pero tan tristes de la
pérdida de Eugerio y Polydoro,
tan mal tratados del trabajo y tan
fatigados de hambre, que no
teníamos forma de alegrarnos de
la cobrada vida.
Dejo agora de contarte los llantos
y extremos de Alcida y Clenarda
por haber perdido el padre y
hermano, por passar adelante la
historia del desdichado sucesso
que me acontesció en esta
solitaria isla; porque después que
en ella fuí librado de la crueldad
de la Fortuna, me fué el Amor tan
enemigo, que paresció pesarle de
ver mi vida libre de la tempestad,
y quiso que al tiempo que por
más seguro me tuviesse,
entonces con nueva y más grave
pena fuesse atormentado. Hirió el
maligno Amor el corazón del
piloto, que Bartofano se decía, y
le hizo tan enamorado de la
hermosura de Clenarda, su
hermana de Alcida, que por salir
con su intento olvidó la ley de
amicicia y fidelidad, imaginando y
efectuando una extraña traición. Y
fué assí, que después de las
lágrimas y lamentos que las dos
hermanas hicieron, acontesció
que Alcida, cansada de la
passada fatiga, se recostó sobre
la arena, y vencida del importuno
sueño se durmió. Estando en esto
le dije yo al piloto: Bartofano
amigo, si no buscamos qué
comer, ó por nuestra desdicha no
lo hallamos, podemos hacer
cuenta que no habernos salvado
la vida, sino que habernos
mudado manera de muerte. Por
esso querría, si te place, que tú y
tu compañero fuéssedes al primer
lugar que en la isla se os
ofresciere para buscar qué comer.
Respondió Bartofano: Harto
hizo la Fortuna, señor Marcelio,
en llevarnos á tierra, aunque sea
despoblada. Desengáñate de
hallar qué comer aquí, porque la
tierra es desierta y de gentes no
habitada. Mas yo diré un remedio
para que no perezcamos de
hambre. ¿Ves aquella isleta que
está de frente, cerca de donde
estamos? Allí hay gran
abundancia de venados, conejos,
liebres y otra caza, tanto que van
por ella grandes rebaños de
silvestres animales. Allí también
hay una ermita, cuyo ermitaño
tiene ordinariamente harina y pan.
Mi parescer es que Clenarda,
cuya destreza en tirar arco te es
manifiesta, passe con el batel á la
isla para matar alguna caza, pues
el arco y flechas no le faltan, que
mi compañero y yo la llevaremos
allá; y tú, Marcelio, queda en
compañía de Alcida, que será
posible que antes que se
despierte volvamos con
abundancia de fresca y sabrosa
provisión.
Muy bien nos paresció á Clenarda
y á mí el consejo de Bartofano, no
cayendo en la alevosía que tenía
fabricada. Mas nunca quiso
Clenarda passar á la isleta sin mi
compañía, porque no osaba fiarse
en los marineros. Y aunque yo me
excusé de ir con ella, diciendo
que no era bien dejar á Alcida
sola y durmiendo en tan solitaria
tierra, me respondió que, pues el
espacio de mar era muy poco, la
caza de la isla mucha y el mar
algún tanto tranquilo, porque en
estar nosotros en tierra había
mostrado amansarse, podíamos
ir, cazar y volver antes que Alcida,
que muchas noches había que no
había dormido, se despertasse.
En fin; tantas razones me hizo
que, olvidado de lo que más me
convenía, sin más pensar en ello,
determiné acompañada, de lo
cual le pesó harto á Bartofano,
porque no quería sino á Clenarda
sola, para mejor efectuar su
engaño. Mas no le faltó al traidor
forma para poner por obra la
alevosía: porque dejada Alcida
durmiendo, metidos todos en el
esquife, nos echamos á la mar, y
antes de llegar á la isleta, estando
yo descuidado y sin armas,
porque todas las había dejado en
la nave, cuando salté de ella por
salvar la vida, fuí de los dos
marineros assaltado, y sin
poderme valer, preso y
maniatado.
Clenarda, viendo la traición, quiso
de dolor echarse en el mar; mas
por el piloto fué detenida antes;
apartándola á una parte del
esquife, en secreto le dijo: No
tomes pena de lo hecho, hermosa
dama, y sossiega tu corazón, que
todo se hace por tu servicio. Has
de saber, señora, que éste
Marcelio, cuando llegamos á la
isla desierta, me habló
secretamente y me rogó que te
aconsejase que passasses para
cazar á la isla, y cuando
estuviéssemos en mar,
encaminasse la proa hacia
Levante, señalándome que
estaba enamorado de ti y quería
dejar en la isla á tu hermana, por
gozar de ti á su placer y sin
impedimento. Y aquel no querer
acompañarte era por
dissimulación y por encubrir su
maldad. Mas yo, que veo el valor
de tu hermosura, por no
perjudicar á tu merescimiento, en
el punto que había de hacerte la
traición, he determinado serte leal
y he atado á Marcelio, como has
visto, con determinación de
dejarle ansí á la ribera de una isla
que cerca de aquí está y volver
después contigo adonde dejamos
á Alcida. Esta razón te doy de lo
hecho; mira tú agora lo que
determinas.
Oyendo esto Clenarda, creyó muy
de veras la mentira del traidor, y
túvome una ira mortal, y fué
contenta que yo fuesse llevado
donde Bartofano dijo. Mirábame
con un gesto airado, y de rabia no
podía hablarme palabra, sino que
en lo íntimo de su corazón se
gozaba de la venganza que de mí
se había de tomar, sin nunca
advertir el engaño que se le
hacía. Conoscí yo en Clenarda
que no le pesaba de mi prisión, y
ansí le dije: ¿Qué es esto,
hermana? ¿tan poca pena te
paresce la mía y la tuya que tan
presto hicieron fin tus llantos?
¿Quizá tienes confianza de verme
presto libre para tomar venganza
de estos traidores? Ella entonces,
brava como leona, me dijo que mi
prisión era porque había
pretendido dejar á Alcida y
llevarme á ella, y lo demás que el
otro le había falsamente recitado.
Oyendo esto sentí más dolor que
nunca, y ya que no pude poner
las manos en aquellos malvados,
los traté con injuriosas palabras; y
á ella le di tal razón, que conosció
ser aquella una grande traición,
nascida del amor de Bartofano.
Hizo Clenarda tan gran lamento,
cuando cayó en la cuenta del
engaño, que las duras piedras
ablandara; mas no enternesció
aquellos duros corazones.
Considera tú agora que el
pequeño batel por las espaciosas
ondas caminando largo trecho
con gran velocidad habría corrido,
cuando la desdichada Alcida
despertándose sola se vido, y
desamparada volvió los ojos al
mar y no vido el esquife; buscó
gran parte de la ribera, y no halló
persona. Puedes pensar, pastora,
lo que debió sentir en este punto.
Imagina las lágrimas que
derramó, piensa agora los
extremos que hizo, considera las
veces que quiso echarse en el
mar y contempla las veces que
repitió mi nombre. Mas ya
estábamos tan lejos, que no
oíamos sus voces, sino que vimos
que con una toca blanca, dando
vueltas en el aire con ella, nos
incitaba para la vuelta. Mas no lo
consintió la traición de Bartofano.
Antes con gran presteza
caminando, llegamos á la isla de
Ibiza, donde desembarcamos, y á
mí me dejaron en la ribera
amarrado á una anchora que en
tierra estaba. Acudieron allí
algunos marineros conoscidos de
Bartofano, y tales como él, y por
más que Clenarda les encomendó
su honestidad, no aprovechó para
que mirassen por ella, sino que
dieron al traidor suficiente
provisión, y con ella se volvió á
embarcar en compañía de
Clenarda, que á su pesar hubo de
seguille, y después acá nunca
más los he visto, ni sabido dellos.
Quedé yo allí hambriento y atado
de pies y manos. Pero lo que más
me atormentaba, era la
necessidad y pena de Alcida, que
en la Formentera sola quedaba,
que la mía luego fué remediada.
Porque á mis voces vinieron
muchos marineros, que siendo
más piadosos y hombres de bien
que los otros, me dieron qué
comiesse. E importunados por mí,
armaron un bergantín, donde
puestas algunas viandas y armas
se embarcaron en mi compañía, y
no passó mucho tiempo que el
velocíssimo navío llegó á la
Formentera, donde Alcida había
quedado. Mas por mucho que en
ella busqué y di voces, no la pude
hallar ni descubrir. Pensé que se
había echado en el mar
desesperada ó de las silvestres
fieras había sido comida. Mas
buscando y escudriñando los
llanos, riberas, peñas, cuevas y
los más secretos rincones de la
isla, en un pedazo de peña hecho
á manera de padrón hallé unas
letras escriptas con punta de
acerado cuchillo, que decían:

Soneto.
Arenoso, desierto y seco
prado,
tú, que escuchaste el son de
mi lamento,
hinchado mar, mudable y
fiero viento,
con mis suspiros tristes
alterado.
Duro peñasco, en do escripto
y pintado
perpetuamente queda mi
tormento,
dad cierta relación de lo que
siento,
pues que Marcelio sola me
ha dejado.
Llevó mi hermana, á mí puso
en olvido,
y pues su fe, su vela y mi
esperanza
al viento encomendó,
sedme testigos,
Que más no quiero amar
hombre nascido,
por no entrar en un mar do
no hay bonanza,
ni pelear con tantos
enemigos.

No quiero encarescerte, pastora,


la herida que yo sentí en el alma
cuando leí las letras, conosciendo
por ellas que por ajena alevosía y
por los malos sucessos de
Fortuna quedaba desamado,
porque quiero dejarla á tu
discreción. Pero no queriendo
vida rodeada de tantos trabajos,
quise con una espada traspassar
el miserable pecho, y assí lo
hiciera si de aquellos marineros
con obras y palabras no fuera
estorbado. Volviéronme casi
muerto en el bergantín, y
condescendiendo con mis
importunaciones, me llevaron por
sus jornadas camino de Italia,
hasta que me desembarcaron en
el puerto de Gayeta, del reino de
Nápoles, donde preguntando á
cuantos hallaba por Alcida, y
dando las señas della, vine á ser
informado por unos pastores que
había llegado allí con una nave
española, que passando por la
Formentera, hallándola sola, la
recogió, y que por esconderse de
mí se había puesto en hábito de
pastora. Entonces yo, por mejor
buscarla, me vestí también como
pastor, rodeando y escudriñando
todo aquel reino, y nunca hallé
rastro della hasta que me dijeron
que huyendo de mí, y sabiendo
que tenía della información, con
una nave genovesa había
passado en España.
Embarquéme luego en su
seguimiento, y llegué acá á
España, y he buscado la mayor
parte della, sin hallar persona que
me diesse nuevas desta cruel,
que con tanta congoja busco.
Esta es, hermosa pastora, la
tragedia de mi vida, esta es la
causa de mi muerte, este es el
processo de mis males. Y si en
tan pesado cuento hay alguna
prolijidad, la culpa es tuya, pues
para contarle por ti fuí
importunado. Lo que te ruego
agora es que no quieras dar
remedio á mi mal, ni consuelo á
mi fatiga, ni estorbar las lágrimas
que con tan justa razón á mi pena
son debidas.

You might also like