Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-02-13

his own door, from which he could see all o.
yer the two.or three acres of ground that the
shoemaker cultivated, he observed two ofhis
own cows in his neighbours corn field, brow
sing away in quite a contented manner. As
he was going TO call one of the farm hands
to go over and drive them out, he perceived
that Mr.. Barton had become aware Of the mis-
chief that was going on, and had already
started for the field of corn.
Nov you will see the effect Of yesterdays
lesson the farmer said to himself; and then
paused to observe the manner of the shoe
maker towards his cattle, in driving them out
of the field. In a few minutes, MIR. Barton
came up to the cows-but instead of throw
ing stones at them; or striking them with a
stick, he merely drove them ont in a quiet
way, and put up the bars through which they
had entered.
'Admirable!' eicaulated farmer Gray.
What is admirablel' asked his wife
who was within hearing distance at the mo-
nent.
why, the lesson l gave our friend Barton
yesterday, works admirably
How so.'
'Why, two Of our cows were in his corn
field a few minutes ago, destroying the corn
at a rapid rate
well! what he did do to thcm!' in a quick
anxious tone.
'He drove them out
did he stone them, or beat them
ooh, no. lie was as gentle as a child to-
ward them
you are certainly testing"
Not /. Friend Barton has not forgotten
that his pigs were in my cornfeld, yesterday,
and that | turned them out without hurting a
hair of one Of them. Now, suppose l had
got angry, and beaten his hogs, what do
! -. .l..l IL -. ..--1I t--l--.1 WI.
it is much more than probable, that one or
both of our fine cows would have been at
this moment in the condition of NJ. Melons
old brindle.'
Il wish you wouldn't say anything more
about old b%rind'e.' Mrs. Gray said, trying to
laugh while her face grew red; in spite Of
her efforts, to keep down her feelings.
well, l won't Sally, if it worries you.-
But it is such 4 good illustration, that | can
not help using it sometimes
Il am glad he didn't hurt the cows Mrs.
Gray said, after a pause.
And so am |, Sally. Glad on more than
one account. 1t shows that he has made an
effort TO keep down his hastv, irritable tenn
per-and if he can DO that, it will be a ia
vor conferred on the whole neighborhooG; for
almost every one complains, at times, Of this
fault in his character
1T is certainly the best policy to keep fair
weather with him. Mrs. Gray remarked;
'for a man Of temper could annoy us 4 great
DEAL
That wo-d, policy, Sally, Is not a good
word,' her husband replied. alt conveys Il
thoroughly selfish idea. Now, we ought to
look for some higher motive Of action than
mere policy-motiyes grounded in correct
and unselfsh principles"
But what other motive but policy could
we possibly have for putting up with MIR.
Barton's outrageous conduct"
Other, and far higher motives, it seems to
me. We should reflect that Mr.. Barton has
naturally a hasty temper; and that, when ex-
cited, he does things for which he is sorry
afterwards-and that, in nine cases out of
ten, he is a greater sufferer from these out
breaks than any one else. In our actions to-
wards him, then, it is a higher and much bet
ter motive for Us to be governed by a desire
to aid him IN the correction Of this evil, than
to look merely to the protection of ourselves
from its effects. Do you not think, so!'
Yes. 1t does seem so.'
'When thus moved 10 action, we are, in a
degree, regarding the whole neigiborhood;
for the evil Of which we speak affects ALL
And, in thus suffering ourselves to be govern
ed by sIch elevated and unselish motives,
we gain all that we possibly could have
gained uadcr the mere ~instigation of policy
and a great deal more. But to bring the
matter into a still narrower compass. In all
oui actions towards him, and every one else,
we should be governed by the simple consid.
eration-is it right If a spirit of r%etalia-
ton be not right-then it cannot be INDUCED
without a mutual injury. Of course then, it
should never prompt us to faction; for if cows or
hogs get into my field or garden, & destroy my
property-who is to blame most! Ofcourse,
myself. should have kept my fences in
better repair, or my gate closed. The ami
mails are certainly not TO blame, for they fol-
low only the promptings of nature-and
their owners should not be censured, for thew
know nothing about it. 1t would, then, be
very wrong for Inc 10 iniure both the animals
and their owners for my own neglect-would
it notl'
Yes, | suppose it would
After this; there was no moIe trouble about
farmer Gray's geese or cattle. Sometimes
tho geese would get among Mr.. Bsrton's
hogs; and annoy them while eating, but il did
not worry him as it did formerly. If they
became too troublesome, he would drive them
away, but not by throwing sticks and stones
at them, as he once did.
' Late in the fall, the shoemaker brought in
his bill for work. 1t was a pretty large bill,
with sundry credits.
Payday has come at last farmer GRAY
seid, good humoredly, as the shoemaker pre-
scented his account; We'll let US see'-and
he took the bill to examine it, item afteritem.
What is thisF he asked; reading aloud.
Scr. By one bushel corn, fifty cents
It's some corn | had from YOU
reckon you must be mistaken. You new
er got any corn from me-