The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1850-07-13
TURNING OVER A NEW LEAFi

WEN n NEW bbAE
OR, THE MISFORTUNE OF GROWING TOO BIG CORN.
Some forty or fifty years ago, in one of the
mountainous towns Of Massachusetts, borders
ing on this State, lived an old man named
Sewell. His location was on stony, fifty acre
lot Of land, from the proceeds Of which he had
cOn'Fived to suO'i't and bring Tp large fami"
Iy, mostly boys.
Among ihem YVES one named Jacob; as tall,
Curly-headed, gOOd,IOoRing denizen Of the
forest as a grenadier recruiting oificer would
wish TO look at. He had received common
school education, and had read Of fairer
world than his home Of rocks and stones, Of
frost and snow. Jacob made up his mind to
turn over a new leaf in the account book Of
life; and one fine spring morning, as the time
arrived for looking out good sites to plant hills
Of corn among the flints and grants Of his na-
tive hills, he slipped through the old mans
fingers and was missing.
The old father could not comprehend what
il meant. It was a new phase in his parental
system-rebeliOn against his authority-that
could not exist in his imagination. He look ed
in the we'll, in the barn and up the garret, and
would not give it up that he could leave such
q comfortable home, until he was informed by
one Of Jake's friends, that he had said he was
going to sea. Now Jake had gone to sea, bu'
not the deep rolling blue seattle great deep
but to SEE if there was not some far off country
less sterile and stony hearted than his home or
the mountain-some country where they die
not shoot the rye into the ground among th'
stones with a musket, and grind the Sleeps
noses 10 point, to allow them to pick out th'
herbage.
Jake trudged along his weary journey, will
his bundle on his back, sometimes working hi
passage, and sometimes for pay, until he ioun'
himself on the rich bottom lands Of the Wa
bash, in the employ Of the owner of Iarg
plantation. Jake knew his value and got grea
wages, and he was worth the price,
The forest melted before his axe and hand
spike, and the way he made the corn an
wheat grow, was caution to the idle, huntin
and fishing Suckers aud HOOsiers Of that regiOT
In year or two, Jake began to feel his Oat
The rigid economy and indOmitable industry
in which he was educated stuck to him like
poor cousin to rich relation; he could NJ
shake hie habits off if he would. He mad
money and saved it. lie dressed we'll and hel
his head up. as if he was heir 10 barOne'c
in the old country; he rode hie own horse' an
! went in the best company in that remote an
I private region.
v One day )ake's employer said to him,
want five or six hundred dollars, and l wis
YOU to 90 to widow Kingford and borrow
for me, There is a little GOODNESS between u
but think she will not refuse.'
So off he started for Mrs. KS house, OF
knocking at the door, who should appear bl
the fair widow herself.
tAh, good morning, Jacob; walk in.'
tNo, ma'am, excuse mel am in hurr
9 The fact is, Mr.. Burton wishes to borrow f'
hundred dollars; he wants TO enter some land
'WeI, the fact is, Jacob, | do not like N
}. Burton very well--but will lend it to yOu.'
tMe! don't want to borrow money! ! ha'
no use for it,
'Well, why don't you find use Forit Buy
: plantation, you could make yourself rich.'
! why, ma'am, what would dO9 ha
no wife,
! ! .Well, why don't you get one, thsn?'
" Because NO one here would have me thai
would have.'
: twsll, now, Jacob, If / was ten years yOun
er. you should not say that again.
If / was properly situated, Mrs. KInsfOi
.. If you were ten years older than you are
mould say it,
tAVa VAN In aaVnaak1S