Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-06-29

Saturday, and C had usually bought from
him as much butter as would last for the week.
On The Thursday evening succeeding the affair
OF the chickens, Mrs. c. remarked. with
some surprise in her voice, that the small piece
Of butter on the table was all that remained oI
the six pounds bought on the last market day.
And to.morrow's only Friday said Mr..
c.
1T used TO last up TO Saturday, until within
the last two months, but now il always gives
out
Our family's no larger
No; nor do we use any more Of il in cook
ing than formerly
Mr.. C thought for a moment. and then
said with some animaIion-'I think understand
/ II. Have you noticed any difference in the size
of the printsP
On reflection Mrs. C. thought she had
noticed them as appearing smaller.
That's it, you may depend ont; the butter
isn't weight. A man who will cheat in one
way will cheat in another
He wouldn't dare do that
'Whyl'
The risk is too great
"A rogue will risk good DEAL
The butter would be taken from him BY the
clerk Of the market
It's my impression that Edmond's HASN'T
much butter in his tub by the time the clerk gets
along 10 the place where he stands. There's
the temptation. But we'll give HIM a trial.
Send for our usual quantity on Saturday.
won't 90 near him-and we will have it weigh
ed.'
This was done, and sure enough a less in
weight was discovered. Out of the six pounds
four were light.
Ivegotmy man now! exclaimed G--not at
tempting to conceal the pleasure he felt. Next
Saturday he will become more familiarly ac-
quainted with the clerk than he has yet been.'
1t was too true, as C. had discovered. In
his anxiety to render his dairy operations profit.
able the farmer had been temyted to encroach
on the legal weight of butter due his customers.
He had been coming to market so long, and his
butter had been so often examined by the clerk,
that inspection Of his tub had ceased to be rigid.
Moreover his customers were early, and it fire.
quenty happened that but few prints remained
when the clerk came along his way. If from
forty or fifty pounds, he could pinch off enough
TO make five or six prints. it would be hand |
some gain every week. He looked at it on ev-
cry side; calculated the risk and the benefit, and
finally resolved to make q beginning. Twelve
prints out Of forty were tried; from these he
gained two extra, which sold for fifty cents.-
Emboldened by this result, he next week tried |
twenty pounds and made one dollar by the ope-
ration. When the clerk came round the light |
butter was usually all gone, or if any remained,
it was so managed that none Of it found its way
into his scales.
After selling the tough chickens to Mr.. C.
the farmer felt a little uncomfortable, for c.
was an old and good customer, and he didn't
wish 10 lose him. OF course when the fowls |
came upon the table, C. would discover that |
he had been taken in, and would in all proba-
bility be highly indignant. That he was moi
far out of the way in his conjecture, he was sat
isfied on the next market day, when he saw G.
go by his stand without once looking towards
him.
In the week succeeding the farmers evil ge-
Mus tempted him still farlherlrom the right path.
The whole Of his butter with the exception of
some ten Jumps, which were to serve as screen
when the clerk came along, was moulded into
prints which weighed considerably less than
pound. With this among other products of his
farm, Edmonds went to market, hattering himselrI
that he would be clear gamer by the operation
of from two to three dollars.
But human calculations are sometimes vain.
Scarcely had Farmer Edmonds disposed of a
dozen pounds of his fine fresh butter, when the
market clerk stopped before him with his hand
some brass scales, and said
Il guess must 90 little deeper in your tub,
his morning, than usual, friend Edmonds.
There's nothing you knowlike keeping youfolks
lonest.'
There was an instant change in the expires.
ZION Of the farmers face, which the clerk did
lot fail TO observe. Setting down his basket
With the air of one who expected 10 put some.
hing into it, the clerk laid aside the Jumps that
formed the upper stratum of butter and took
print from beneath. Placing it in his scales in
opposition to pound weight, it arose Instantly
owards the receding beam.
That's badn said he removing the lump of ,
ouuer TO his basket, and placed another in the
scale, which proved as light as its predecessor,
and was soon laid by its side. And lump after
ump, followed to the grief and chagrn of the
exposed farmer, until between thirty and forty
lad passed from his tub 10 the baskei of the
;lerk. During the progress of this scene, lit
lie crowd was attracted, all Of whom from the
merry newsboy TO the said Guardian of the
Poor who made a careful examination of the !
ub to see how much the inmates Of the Aims
house were to gain by the operation, enjoyed the
,ountryman's modification. He, poor fellow. ,
hid his diminished head, as quickly as it could !
,e done after the departure of the clerk, and i
vent back 10 his home little wiser if no bel. |
er. 3