The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-05-20
INCRATlTUDE PUNISHED.

In the year i7T6 there lived at Haerlcm, IN the
state Of New-York, an old man, who related the
following story of himself He was possessed OF
y pretty good farm, with every thing necessary
for farmer, and had but one child, who marry,
ing, it was agreed, that the young couple should
live in the house with him. as he was widower.
Things went exceedingly well for some time.
when his son proposed to him, that he Should
make over to him his estate, promising 10 bui!d
new house and otherwise to Improve the iarhi,
The father through persuasion gaze nm oeeo
of gift for il and every thing belonging to it.
After u frw years, AS the father sFsw Old, ne
grew little fretful and dissatisfied, while the
son, thinking he had nothing more to expect from
him, forgot bis tilial duty, and used hlin as bad
as one Of his servants The old man was no long.
cr. permitted to eat at the table with him and
his wife. but obliged TO eat his meals IN the Chin
ney corner, and continually otherwise ll-used by
them. The old man ate his sapann daily out ofa
wooden bowl his son had made him. his grand
son saw his father maze this bowl, and set xbout
making Just such another being asked by his
father what he made it for, answered for you to
eat out of when you grow a. CID IS grandfather
Although this ought 10 have turned ms heart,
| and made him reflect, that as he dealt BY his ia.
ther, he might EXPECT to be dealt BY his children
when he grew old: It had no effect upon him,
and the i'll usage to the old man was carried to
such q height, that he could no longer bear it,
but left the house, and vent to relation and
reighbor of his, declaring that If his friend could
not help him to get his estate back again, ne would
be obliged to come and live with him. His friend
answered, that he might come and live with him;
and if he would follow his directions, I've would
help him to his estate again. Go, says he, take
this bag of dollats carry it to your room, lock 1t
in your chest, and about the time you expect they
will call YOU down to dinner, shut your door and
have all the money spread on tie table, IN the
middle Of the room. When they call you make
n noise with sweeping them OIL the table III the
bag again.
lie did as he was desred his daughter.'nlaw
came to call him finding the door shut, she had
the curiosity to peep through the keyhoe, and
saw the old man sweeping the dollars on the va
BILE Surprised at it, she told her husband, but
he would not believe it. The next day he again
repeated counting his dollars, and packed up
thing in paper, like paper.money. His son
| went to call him, and was convinced OF what ms
wife had told him. They took no notice OF it to
the old man, but insisted on his eating at the Ia
4 Bile with them.
j The old man related to his friend what he had
done, who gave him directions what TO do, it his
son asked him for the money. After a few days
the son asked him what money it was he had been
countng1 Only some money received in for
the discharge Of one of the bonds have standing
out expect more in every day. Soon after the
son told the father that he intended to build a
house on the farm, and would be gla1 if he would
let him have that money Yes, child, says the
father, all that have will only come to you
intend giving you the bonds, but then thnk i,
would be best to have it all put together IN new
deed offs gift. I will get our cousin to draw new
one. Accordingly his cousin, who hsd%dyised
. the measure was sent for, and the son gaye the
father the deed of gift. that another might be
drawn after it. When the old man got the in
strument into his hand, in the presence ofhis
friend he broke off the seal, and stuck the wri
ting in the fire, saying, burn cursed nhrument
of my folly and misery and you, chlldreh, as the
estate is all mine again, you must remdve imme
diately, unless you will be content to be my ten
ants. have now learned, that it is best for a pa
rent to "hold the loaf under his own arm," and
that one father can better mantain Ten children
than ten children father.