The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-11-26

lof it," returned the farmer, with affected
confidence, as he took a lump of butter from
his tub. His eyes, however dropped be
meath the clerks gaze, as he handed it t,
him. The, butter was placed in the scale
and proved to be good weight. 81.
TRY another !" said Lee.
| The clerk reached out his hand and tool
q second lump, while Lee replaced the frs
in the tub. This also proved to be up t.
the standard. ....................
A third came out right also, and, but fol
something in the manner of Lee, who could
not hide his uneasiness, the clerk would
have passed on, satisfied that all was right
The fourth lump was also full weight
f, Up to this point Lee had taken the buttel
from the tub but now the clerk of the
market thrust in his own hand, and 10 the
scale in which he placed the scale flew up.
wards. ..... ..f-. ....,.-.
Aha, my friend What's the meaning
of this ?" he exclaimed. as he transferred
the lump Of butter TO basket, and took
another from the farmers tub ,s
The unhappy farmers whole manner un-
derwent sudden change, and, in, spite o.
an effort of composure, every attitude and
expression betrayed bis guilt. g|
The next print of butter proved light
also and the next and the next; each in
its turn passing from the scale, forfeited to
the clerks basket. .......a,., .......|
e At your old tricks again, ha !" NUT
tered the clerk.
" Tricks !" exclaimed Lee Indignantly.
But the clerk kept on transferring print
after print from the tub to his basket, until
half the contents Of the basket had changed
places. BY this time little crowd began to
gather around Poor Laban Lee He felt,
as the saying is, as if he could sink mtg the
earth.
" What's the matter here ?" would ask
one and another, as they peered, curiously,
at the imperturable clerk.
"Caugh in The very act, hal" said one.
"Why, friend Lee I" exclaimed another,
in whose familiar voice the farmer recognized
that Of an old customer "Who would have
thought it?" .......... .. w.. ..t
Yes; who would have thoughtit; chimed
in another customer, whose table had for
months smiled with the cheering presence OF
Laben Lees sweet new butter. =.
My good sir" cried a Waggish indiyid-
ual, addressing Lee in grave voice, and
pointing, as he spoke, to a pair of ducks,
the property of the farmer, 9 as this man
takes 50 large lot Of your butter, you
ought to throw in them ducks into the
bargain" . r.e. ...t
This was too much for poor Lee. With
an angry exclamation, he flung himself away
from the little curious crowd. and retreating
down the market house for three or four
stalls, kept out Of the way until the clerk
had finished his work of confscation, which
covered forty prints of butter, On his re-
turn, four pounds Of prints only remained
in his tub. Lee did not wait to sell these
but hastily collecting his things together,
in deep humiliation and chagriu
The loss and gain of this butter specula-.
ton was sadly on the wrong side. There
was not only loss of integrity, the heaviest
loss Of all, but loss of money. He had
hoped to gain, by sacrifice of honesty, the
paltry sum Of three dollars he had made
the fearful sacrfce--fearful in the eternal
it involved and not only lost
his honor, but four times the amount he ex-
pected to gain. This was the loss for that
lay but the consequences of his sin and
folly did not stop with the going down of
.hc sun. When next market day came
round, Lee could not muster sufficient cour-
age to face his customers; so he entrusted
ilty pounds Of butter-this time full weight,
md a little uver-to neighbor not more
honest in heart than himself This neigh
}or found the temptation Of fifteen dollars
n his pocket more than belonged to him,
'ather too strong, and on one pretence or
mother, omitted to pay over In fact, he
lad heard, while in market the story of
lees adventure with the clerk of the mar
iet, and as he turned over in his own mind
ame to the conclusion that he would make
work to his own advantage. '9 "
Finding, after repeated efforts to get his I,
money from this inscriptions neighbor,
hat he was really in danger OF loosing the, !,
roceeds of fifty more pounds Of butter, J
zee said to him rather sharply
" Look here Pm not going to stand
his, Pay me my money at once, or I'll ex- !
osc YOU to the whole neigtborhood." "N Is
=" You will, will you?" cooly retorte4 ,.
be other. .f' "f i''5 '5alPat
+" Yes, will" fH "A'..,1 A '.'
"Yon'd better not" K" ' Y
There was a threat as well in the words
S in the manner Of the neighbor, that COM
sensation of uneasiness to the
ceilings Of Lee. aa@,| 54r 'h Y
"Why had better not? ha "iT a''.'4 y
"Try it, and you'll find out" was req
orted 1' ." Y
81 will try it." aosiiJ s'' s# ie
every well-and if before three hours t
ass over your head, the whole neighbor- l
ood is not made acquainted with certain y
utter speculation of yours, Pm very much I
Hal what do you say to that?
% if you're wise, you'll just keep your
ongue between your teeth SO far as PmI'
at1 1MN#a {" a}s'e f II
a deep crimson mantled the face Of La-1
an Lee. He tried, for moment or two, G
collect bis thoughts for a reply; but find c
lg no ITO words to answer, he turned sud- !
enly away and ANDY walked slowly on his path :
omeward. t
""Honesty is The best policy"O o This was C
le narrow, selfish, self-protecting truesm r
lat forced itself upon the thoughts Of the T
nhappy farmer, as he moved along, with
Is eyes cast upon the ground; and he re- q
,lyed, from that day, to deal in strict hon b
stylwith all men, as the safest and best a
ay --best for mere temporal good the :
ind Of Laban Lee was not then capable Of ftl
any higher good. But, iffhe|y
,ntinues to be honest, even from policy, we
av ho,as that IA, t;y,of La ,..ls so thnf 4,.,5