Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-04-18
Taking u Newspaper.
A PRACTICAL STORY, PLEASANTLY Tol

pleasant day this, neghbor Gaskill.' said one
farmer to another, coming into the barn of the
latter, who was engaged in separating the chaii
from the wheat crop, By the means OF a fan.
VERY fine day, friend Alton-any news ? re-
turned the individual addressed.
Nothing of Importance | have called over
to see if you wouldn't join Carpenter and my
self in taking the paper this year. The price
is only two dollars
Nothing is cheap that you don't want, re-
turned Gaskill. in positive tone 4 don't be-
lieve in newspapers ! never heard of one do
inc any good and nothing can be got out of
them until it's read through. They would not
5e good for a cent if paper came every week ;
and. besides, dollars amt picked up in every
corh-hill.'
But think, neiglbor Gaskill, how much in
formation your gals would get if they had a
fresh newspaper every week, filled with all the
latest intelligence. The time they would spend
in reading, would be nothing to what they
would gam
And what would they gain, wonder? get
their heads filled with nonsenslcal storles.-
Look at Sally Black isn't she a fine specimen
of your newspaper reading gals ? Not worth TO
her father three pumpkin seeds. remember
we'll enough when SIZE was one of the most
promising bodies about here But her father
was fool enough to take a newspaper. Any
one could see change in Sally! She began to
spruce up and look smart. First came bow
on her Sunday bonnet and then some gloves
to 90 to meeting. After that, she must be sent
to school again, and that at the very time when
she began to be worth something about home.
And now she has got forty piano, and feI-
low comes every week to teach her music
,is ,,,; ,;,rl, A |
ton said, avoiding useless reply to Gaskill.
'Oh no. that | will not. Money thrown
away on newspapers is worse than wasted.
never heard of their doing any good. The time
spent in readlug news paper every week would
be enough to raise hundred bushels Of pota~
toes. Your newspaper, in my opinion, Is dear
bargain at any price.
Mr.. Alton changed the subject and soon left
neighbor Gaskll to his fancir~.
About three months afterwards, however,
they again met, as they had frequently done du-
ring the int, rmedae time.
'lIave you sold your wheat yct?' asked Mr..
Alton.
Yes: sod it day before yesterday
Ilow much did you get for il!
Eighty five cents.
'No more? Why thought every one knew
that the price had advanced to ninety five
cents. To whom did you sell .
10 Wakefield, the storekeepor in h
lie met me day before yesterday, and asked me
if had sold my crop yet. | said had not
He then offered TO take it at eighty-fvc cents,
lhe market price aud said he might as well
have it, as there was no chance of It's rising
Yesterday he sent over his wagon and took it
away'
'rhs was hardly fair in Wakefield. lie
came to me Also and offered to buy my crop at
eghty.fve. But had usr received my news.
paper in which ] saw that in consequence of
accounts from Europo OF a short crop, grain
had gone up. asked him ninety five, which,
arer some haggIing, lie consented to give
Did he pay you ninety five ? exclaimed
Gaskill, in surprise and chagriu.
'lie certainly did
'roo bad too bad No better than downright
cheating, to take such shameful advantage Of
mans ignorance.'
Certainly, Wakefield cannot be justified ia
his c,nduc',' replied Mr.. Alton. Il is notright
| for one man to take advantage of another mans
| ignorance, and get his goods for less than they
are worth. But does not any man deserve to
suffer " ho remains wfu.ly ignorant, in a world
where he knows there are always enough ready
to avail themselves Of his ignorance ? Had
you been willing to eXpend two dollars for the
use of a newspaper whole year, you would
have saved in the single it IN Of your wheat
crop alone, fourteen dollars Just think of that
Mr.. Wakefield takes tie newspapers and, by
watching them osely is prepared to make
good bargains with some half dozen others
around here, who have not wit enough TO pro-
vide themselves with the only sure avenue of
information on all subjects-thc news paper
Have you sold your potatoes asked Gaskill
with some concern in his voice.
'Oh no, not yet, Wakefield has been max
ing me offers for the last ten days Bat from
the prices they are bringing in Philadelphia,
am well satisfied they are about thirty cents
there
About thirty Why, sold to Wakefield for
about twenty six cents
"a great Ounce You were, if | must speak Sc
plainly; be offered me twenty nine cents TO
four hundred bushels, But declined and wa
right? They are worth thirty TO- day, and "a
that prce Fam going to SELL
= Isn't it too bad calculated the mortified far
mer, walking backwards and forwards, impa
tlently. There are S25 literally sunk in til
sea. That Wakefield has cheated me mos
ouDrageously.'
I And all because you was too close to take
, newspaper | should call that saving at til
# spigot, aud letting out at the bung hole, neigi
q Dor Gaskil
s. Il should think it was indeed. This very da
s. I'll send off money for newspaper and if an
: one gets ahead of me again he'll have to |
wide awake, can tell him
leo ,r,l, ,rl 8 '.,t.1g bod