Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-22
Mtsrrlln
Secretiveness.

TO out into the country, for example, tC
purchase n superior COW, aud call on one o
the honest sons of the soil, and 1t would no
he very difficult TO find a man who would
show himself as cunning and as selfish as
any trader or manufacturer. Let us illustrate
such mn interview by a colloquy between a
CITIZEN aud a FARMER, and we beg of the
reader to watch the workings of Secrevtive-
ness TO crafty Acquisitiveness.
CITIZEN. 81 am in pursuit Of fine COW
and understanding, at the hotel, that you kept
large flock OF very excellent ones | have
called to look at them, and to see if could
make purchase to please me. am moi
very particular as to price, 80 but obtain
oneiof the very best"
FARMER. "Well, yes, ! have large flock
and they have the reputation Of being excel
lent. They have cost me much care and
pains in their selection; but ! can't say us
wish to sell any Of them. When man has
good article which he wants to use, 1t is
notswell to dispose of it,"
G. "True but would like to look at
then."
+. "Ob, certainly, I will show them with
pleasure; but understand don't promise to
sell one at any price,
They go to the iarm-yard, aud a little son
Of the farmer follows to see and hear, aud in
doing so takes his first lesson in the tricks of
trade for, be il remembered, that every act
Of the parent stamps lis impress upon the
young mind,which becomes almost inetface-
nble.
g. (Scanning lean, communicating ami
mai, which, 10y the way, was one of the best
mixers in the flock, and low in flesh from
her milking qualities, yet il was in enrly win
ter when those qualities would not be nppar-
entl "Whut is that COW worth Z"
+. 81 suppose about twenty-five dollars"
On an elevated place stands large fleshy
noble-looking COW, the poorest mixer of the
whole, and fat because her food went TO
flesh rather than to milk-catcles the nd
mring eye of tire inexperienced citizen,
and he eagerly inquiries, "What will you sell
that one for 2"
Il. 80 don't say anything 10 me about that
COW; she is a very peculiar one, and more
than that, she belongs to my wife. told
you did not care to sell any, and this one
] should hardly expect TO sell at all /; be-
sides, | should not like to have my wife Of
Tended by selling favorite of hers. "John,
turning to his boy, who is surprised to see
his fnther hesiinte a moment about selling
his miserable viscious unruly beast, whose
small mess of milk is as thin as that sold by
Messrs. Croton, Pump & Co, in New York" w
John, mother will be in our hair if we sell
"Fill pale.n
That name strikes the buyers enr Just ms
il was intended TO do, aud he presses the far
Iner for price.
+. :" will not say will sell her at nny
price, unless my wife will consent. | don't
believe in family qua-rels."
The boy, John, is surprised at his fathers
MI ItHsfu In. IL
slightest doubt but what his mother will oy-
ousy consent 10 the SALE The stranger is
determined to have price, and finally, the
obliging Ermer says-"Now, mind don't
agree to sell at any price without my wiie's
consent, and will set such price as will,
doubtless, copl your ardor without the ne
cessiy of calling my wife. Forty dollars is
the price"
@. Suppose we consult the good lady,
and see what she will say. II she will con
sent will take the animal"
+. 81 know what pho will say, and if you
insist upon it, we will refer it to her"
They proceed TO the house, the farmer
taking he,lead TO get the first word; aud
the boy following, anxious to have his mother
assent TO the sale aud urge the bargain.
+. "Well, mother this gentlemen is very
anxious TO buy 'old Fill-pale, aud told him"
=" Yes" interrupted the wife in apparent
unger, sand you Tod him he might have her
l warrant;,'i is Just like you 10 sell the best
COW we hnye. Well, do as you like. We
might as. well give up trying TO make but
ter aud cheese altogether"
With a red iace and an angry air, she
leaves the room, slamming the door after
her. "There," says the farmer, 81 knew Just
how il would be-"
John, the honest boy, was astonished. lie
hal heard that COW made the subject Of cen
sure for years 10y all the family aud now,
when double price is offered for her his
father holds bnck aud his mother gets angry.
He dol't understand it, No,indeed poor hoy,
YOU don't understand il, but you are in fair
way OF doing so. Wait liile aud you will
bc wise, and know more of the world.
The stranger takes the bait, counts out the
forty dollars, and the farmer apparently
draws back from il, saying, " don't think
ought to take the money. You had better not
take the cow" All true, though not intcn-
ded 10 he so regarded.
lie takes the money, and the stranger de-
parts with his purchase. The mother re-
turns, smiling like summers morning. The
ihther, chnckling over his money, says, with
an arch wink 10 his wife, +" think when he
has had That COW half as long as we hive, he
will he glad to take less than half what he
paid for her.
= This nnriddlcs TO the boys unsopl,stcnted
mind the hypocrisy OF the whole transaction
aud he sbrinks back from his parents ms
scheming liars. TO him il looks like rohbe-
ry to take twenty-five dollars more for the
cow than she was worlil and like lying, thus
to deceive the stranger by such back-handed
means.
Tie has been whipped for lying, and
taught that he must be honest; and he can
see no difference between talking lie aud
acting i.
Under the influence of filial love he begins |
10 reason, aud he is isunwilling TO condemn his
parents 10 the degradation OF liars and rob
bers. lie reviews the guarded modes Of eX-