Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-08-02
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
The Drop Game.
BY JOHN JONES, JR.

a certain village in New Jersey, situated with
ten miles of Philadelphia-"lo You must take
paper this year. How can you live, man, with
out the news?'
"The news!" returned Lee. "Humph!
have more news now than is agreeable. Ii
fact, don't believe in your news mongers
no how. Every man mind his own busines
that is my motto
'Yes, but friend Lee, it is of interest tt
know what is going on in the world"
| "No special interest to me. What do
care about other peoples concerns? 1t won
make my cows give more milk, nor my land
grow more bushels to the acre."
81 am not sure of that"
saint you?"
"No."
"Well, am, then"
"There are farmers whose cows give more
milk than yours, and whose land yields bet
ter increase. From these you might learn
something to your advantage"
'.But what what has that to do with news
papers!'
"A great deal. Intelligent farmers inform
the public of their agricultural experiments and
give the new methods by which they obtain
large yields of produce
"Book farming" exclaimed Laban Lee, in
a tone of contempt. "Never believe in it and
never expect to. The good old fashioned way
is good enough for me. Industry and econo-
my-that is my motto, and teach it daily to
my children. Hand work is worth all the
newspapers in the world"
Il am not so sure of that" returned the Post
Master sHand work is badly off without
head work, and will soon find itself in the
rear"
I'm not in the least anxious" said Lee,
with self-satsfed air, as he turned off and
went on his way towards the city, his tubs
well filled with butter, and his wagon loaded
with goodly stock of poultry and fruit. "A
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,"-
he kept on talking to himself "When there
is dollar in my pocket, | know what I've
got. But, if spend it for newspaper, what
is there to show for il! ! never knew any
good to come oftaking the papers. They on
Iy put nonsense into the young people heads,
and make them think themselves wiser than
their parents. Dad and they shan't come into
my house"
"L.aban Lee, if the truth must be told, had
a sordid love of money. The dollar was al
ways held so close to the axis of vision, that
little beyond the round bright coin was ever
discernible. By hard work, industry and econ
omy, he had gradually gained upon the world,
until he was the owner of snug piece of
ground covering about fifty acres, well stock
ed, and as well titled as his old fashioned way
of farming would permit.
The over careful in saving, when love OF
money subdues almost every other sentiment,
are not generally over honest in getting.
The every one -for-hmself principle Of action
generally leads to disregard of others inter-
ests, trespass upon others rights, and de-
parture from truth in dealing. Into these de-
fects Laban Lee naturally fell, as many a cit
izen, who had bought tough chickens, bad but
ter, and spoiled turkeys, from the "fair and
honest countryman, could testify" Lee knew
how much was gained in these transactions;
but never had any idea of how much he lost.
Far oftener thanfany of his customers guessed,
his butter, or at least 4 carefully arranged por-
ton contained in his tubs, lacked several oun-
ces of the true weight; and more than. once
had he come near losing goodly number
thereof, at the hands of the Clerk of the Mar
ket. Such Il man was Laban Lee.
As the countryman wended his way towards
that city, his thoughts were busy in summing
up the probable amount he would receive for
The contents of his market wagon; yet this oc-
supied state of mind did not keep his eyes
from resting with intelligent discrimination up
On the road he travelled. Money and articles
Of value, had been found by others, and why
night he not be so fortunate? Such things
we're frequently lost by the careless. The idea
If restitution never occurred to him; this was
Kept obscured by the peasurable anticipation of
gain, as the finder of lost property. Once,
md only once had Laban Lee been fortunate.
IN a certain occasion as he walked along the |
'oad, he esped, a short distance in advances a |
bright object partially concealed in the sand.
eagerly he sprang forward, snatched it from
he ground, and was rewarded by obtaining half |
dollar! Small as the sum was, to gain it |
hus, awoke in his mind the most pleasing SEN |
ations. From that time, whether in town or |
country, few square rods of earth or pavement |
,ver which he passed, escaped his watchful |
yes. ....=
On the present occasion, notwithstanding Lee |
Examined the road by which he travelled to the |
ity with his usual care, no treasure was found. |
Better fortune, however, attended him on the |
Law following He had sold out his butter,
poultry and fruit, and over thirty dollars, re-
eived in exchange therefor, were in his pock-
t. Prices had ranged pretty high, and the far
ner felt satisfied with his sales. Just as he
vas preparing to leave, the sudden exclamation
ia man by his side startled him, and turning
uickly, he saw gentlemanly looking stran-
,er, with well filled pocket book in his hand.
Somebody's dropped this!'' said the stran-
.er. addressing Lee. Sand it's filled with mo-
ley."
The,farmer's eyes were instantly distended.
Ie felt his knees tremble. se
sIs it yours, friend Z" enquired the stran-
,er, blandly. 7s
Lee could, with difficulty, refrain from saying
hat it was. But he forced out the words
@No; believe not"
ssWhat's to pay :" half carelessly enquired a
bird party, coming up at this moment.
Somebody's lost pocket book" was re-
lied. H a.. ~
aIndeed! Much money in it."