Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-11-25
From ihG NeU York American.
PETER SOBER ON THE RESPEC
TIVE DUTIES OF THE
MEMBERS or A
FAMILY.

|
There was once an old man who had
a large family Of boys, and they all Iiv
ed together on one farm, and il was a
big one; take It altogether It was the
best aOd largest farm that was owned
by any one family. Before this family
got so large, they found that one end oil
this farm was sufficient. but as the boys
increased 10 number and age they kept
clearing op and extending the farm, and
had still a great many acres unused and
Unoccupied. The old man marked of
his whole farm in lots large enough for
each Of his boys 10 work, and gave TO
each q conditional deed that is each
boy owned a LOT; but the old man made
Them all agree TO Stand ready and in
case Of need 10 defend eOch other, and
especially 10 defend him and the family
mansion against all aud every kind OF
enemy, and he, on the other hand,
also agreed that. come what might, he
would stand by them to The last shot and
the last cent 10 d (snd them, And this
agreement was all written out in plain
English, aud when a deed was giyeu
his agreement was signeJ.
Things went on pretty smooth for o
yer 6tty years, and it vas the general
talk among all the nelghbors that, If no
mlShap belelI this family, it would soon
become The most respectable and power
fuI in all creation.
Among other matters IN this family
agreement, 1T was also set forth, that
for The good Of all, it would be basl for
the old man 10 possess certain powers
that none Of The boys should possess
such as coming money, declaring war.
making peace and treaties, and pronot,
ing the general welfare, and sunGry
other matters, which, # all equally pos
sessrd the same power, would perhaps
get matters 10 a snarI, for it was vel
known then as if the power 10 DO gooC
is not confined and wei guarded, it is a
bad as tho power 10 do evil. There may
be 800 much Of a good thing" as wei
as 'too much ola bad hing aud there
fore this matter was particularly looked
10 Things therefore, went on remark
ably we'll sc, long as these rules wer'
we'll regarded. Whenever any thin
was required for the general good, IN,
old man was called on, aud he woulI
consult oil The boys, and il a majority G
them agreed toit, he would do it; sue
as in all cases Of roads and easy COMMIT
nicalions for all Of them 10 aud from maj
ket, and also as TO the amount OF mone
10 be used by them. For, IN this late
matter, II was self evident that ~hateve
kioG Of money they used, it was absc
y luteiy necessary 10 keep the amour
under strict subsection, especially sine
it became necessary to use a represer
rative Of hard money called bank notes
10 for It would never do TO letlhese get &c
far beyond The amount Of hard none
{ in deposlle to pay them; hence it wi
that, in The old family agreement, i! WI
distinctly stated that zone oil The boz
should have the right 10 make what vi
then called bills OF credit"
u Well, things went on, as before sal
10 remarkably smooth for about fifty year
when the old man got a lantrum in b
head, brought about perhaps by some
u The youngest and widest boys Of Il
i family, who ever have in all lamill
most influence over the old folks; and
Il turned out that, at one Of the meeting
about a road, when a majority agreed
re it, the old man put his veto on it, al
told them they knew best what roa
D. they wanted, and TO go ahead and buI
u, them themselves. And just about tn
time, too, another meeting was held
bout money matters, and here again t
~ old man cut another new figure, a
told them he would have nothing me
to DO iD keeping that matter regulate
ne and they might better attend 10 1t the
selves.
N. Now, here we're two leading featul
OF the old compact utterly and entire
OIL abandoned by The old man, and given
"a to the boys; and at il they went maxi
M roads and making banks. II was easl
however, to make banks than roads; a
N, the consequence was, The farm was SO
covered with bank notes, and a grt
nd many roads were begun. but that v
'od about the end of both. The boys, fin
La ing themselves and their banks IN tr
bic, began to borrow on their bonds
finish their roads; and, after getting C
-. siderabIy in debt, found their bonds
better than their bank notes, aud III
all got plump in the mud, aud thu
l., they are now; and the neiRhbors arol
OF are looking on aud l%wiItlDg them alb
TO their ioIly-and some 60 so far as to
ne, it roguery-lo create debts and mol
able to pay them Those who lent
BOD money to The boys cali on them TO ?
III and they say they have gol no NOR
but there Is plenty Of properly belc
SET ing to all OF them, but not yet dee
II hy iha old man and the old man c