Democratic banner. (Bowling Green, Pike County, Mo.) 1845-1852, 1851-02-24

mo cnance Of It's rising. 1eSteFuey ne SEM
ever his wagon and took it away e.
This was hardly fair in Wskeful. He
came to me also, and offered to buy nay croF
at eighty-hve. But had just received my
newspaper, in which I saw that 10 eonse-
quence Of accounts from Europe Of 8 shor'
crop, grain had gone up, asked him nine-
lty-fve, which, after some hsggling, he con.
sented TO give ~
Did he pay you ninsty-Eveas esdiaim.
ed Gsskill, in surprise and chagrin.
"He certainly did"
"Too bad! too bad! No better than down
right cheating, to take such shameful ad-
vsntsge of mans ignorance
"Certainly, Wakeful cannot be justified
in his conduct" replied Mr.. Alton. "It is
not right fer 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 who remains vii.
fully ignorant, in a world where he knows
there are always enough ready who avail
themselves of his ignorance? Had you been
willing to expend two dollars for the use Of
a newspaper a whole year, you would have
saved in the single item of your wheat crop
alone, fourteen dollsrsl Just think of that.
Mr.. Wskeful takes the newspapers, and by
" watching them closely is prepared to make
good bsrgsins with some half dozen others
around here, who have not wit enough to
provide themselves with the only sure sv-
enue of information on all subjects-the
newspapers"
"Have you sold your potatoes?" asked
Gaskill, with some concern in his voice.
% no, not yet. Wakeful has been max
ing me offers for the last ten days. But
from the prices they are bringing in Phila-
ldelphia, l am we'll satisfied they are about
thirty cents there
about thirty! Why, I sold to Wskeful
for about twenty-six cents
"A great Ounce you were, il must speak
so plainly; he offered me twenty-nine cents
for four hundred bushels. But declined;
and was right?' They are worth thirty
to-day, and at that price am going to
SELL
'Isn't it too bad? calculated the mortified
farmer, walking backwards and forwards,
impatiently. srhere are $25 literally sunk
in the sea. That Wakeful has cheated me
most outrageously.'
'And all because you were too close to
take a newspaper. / should call that saw
ing at the spigot, and letting out at the
bunghole, neighbor Gsskill.'
i should think it was indeed. This very
day I'll send off money for newspaper, ,snd
if any one gets ahead of me again he'll hav e
to be wide awake, ] can tell him
slave you heard of Sally Black?' asked
Mr.. Alton, sfter a brief silence.
NO. What of her?'
to RI
Indeed What for?'
'Her father takes the newspaper, you
know
Yes
'And has given her good education.'
$50 they say; but could never see tina,
it has done any good for her, except to make
her good for nothing.'
Not quite so bad as that, friend Gaskill.
But to proceed; two weeks ago, Mr.. Black
saw an advertisement in the paper, for a
young lady TO teach music and some other
branches in the seminary at R.. He show
ed it to Sally, and she asked him to ride
over and see about it. He did so,and then
returned for Sally, and vent back again
The trustees of the seminary liked her very
much, and engaged her at the salary of
$400 year. Tomorrow she goes to take
charge of her respective classes
you cannot, surely. be in earnest?' far
mer Gsskill said, with a look Of profound
astonishment.
'It's every word true,' replied Mr.. Alton.
'And now you will hardly say that news
paper is dear at any price, or that the read
ing Of them has spoiled Sally Black
Gaskill looked upon the ground for many
minutes. Then raising bis head, be half
calculated with q sigh:
'lf hav'nt been q confounded fool, !
came plsgny near it! But l will be fool
no longer. I'll subscribe for a newspaper
to-porrow-see if don't?'
Il Why is q good sermon like kiss9 Do
you give il ups Because it requires two heads
and an application.