Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-31
NJ ESocn rIrzwmlsrLER, C. C. D.

lift his head in the world, aud understand.
ing thing or two; but Philander's daddy
was poor, and SO the youth was obliged 10
look 10 his own exer,ious 10 procuring
books. The elder Limpton could not but
appreciate his sons lauluble desire, and so
be gave to Philander small lot Of land,
that the youth nigh, cultivate it and raise
therelrom the wherewith to purchase
grammar, and such other (thought by the
old man 10 be useless-for this was forty
years ago-) books as he thought proper.
Philander broke up his small lot Of land,
and after due deliberation he planted there
in corn. The sunshine smiled, and the
clouds wept upon philander's land, and in
due course Of time the full corn was ri.
pening in the ear. But, alas! shortly be-
fore the season for harvesting, the youth
found that foul depredatiOns were being
committed upon his premises.
Now over against the spO, where Phil.
ander Limpton had planted his seed, lived
one Samson EasybOdy, an old mun, q coop.
er BY trade, who planted no corn Of his
own, bu, who kept large number Of hens,
and to Philsndsr il soon became evident
that said hens were living upon the pro.
ducts Of his own hard labor. Ia fact be
knew such TO be the case, for he caught the
whole squad Of fowls in his lO,, picking
away at the ripCncd ears for dear life
With rueful ceuntenancs, Philander wait.
ed upon old Samson Easybody, aud stated
his cause Of grievance.
"Wsll," said the old man, with a cool.
ness that utterly astOnished his youthful
visitor, "Is'psso my hens lovo cOrn,'
"Hsn's generally do, sir" replied Phil
andsr.
"Certainly, an that's wot makes 'em
eat it, just the same tha, you aud me eats
wot we loves-only hens haint got human
understandin', yer know, an so they dom.
know yeur corn from mine. I'm sorry,
.Philaud.r, 'at my hens mako such mis-.
takes, but really I don't see how | can help
it."
"You can shut them up, can't you =
said the youth, in tone rather Of the per-
emptOry order than the suggestive.
"w'a," uttered old Easybcdy, in a
manner indicative Of greatsurprisc. GLOW
would you like to be shut up' Hens ha'nt
got undsrstandin', but they've got tsel'ns.
Now, look here" continued the cooper
while ray Of some extraordinary though,
sho, a,hwart his old visase, "the case
stands Jest here That little spot over
there is yours, an you've planted corn on
ii, an. Of course you had right to plant it
there"
"Most certainly | had,7 replied Philan.
der.
"An' this land here is mine, amt it r.
queried Easybody.
eyes"
"An' pve 60, as good right to raise
hens here, as you have 10 raise corn .here?"
"Csr,ainly.'
"well, now i've taken my course, and
you've taken yours, only I'm more lucky
than you, cause, you see, you git all the
trouble. Now, If my hens git among
your corn an hurt it, why I'm sorry, bu,
then can't help ii; an SO il your corn
should &c, among my hens an hurt them,
why you'd be sorry, cause you couldn't
help It. But hens has got natur', an corn
hSiu't, 50 I'm on the safe side, for corn's
gOod for hens. Next year plant somethin'
that'll hurt EN-, il you've a mind to-
corn won't"
In vain was It that Philunder plead with
the old man, aud in vain thut he urged his
claims Of right, and with heart swelling
with indignation. he turned his steps
homeward. As he came 10 his corn lot he
stopped, and looked over the fence, aud
his feelings were in no way relieved BY
finding ,ha, old EOsybody's hens were
most industriouSly at work. For full ten
minutes the youth gazcd in silence on this
scene, but at the end Of that time his eyes
bcumed with happy thought, and bring
ing his hands together with much Vrhsn'
once, he uttered,
I'LL DO ri"
rhilander Limpton lcAp'd over the fence
and after searching about for few mo.
rncnts, be found mn ear Of corn that was
perfectly ripe, with kernels hard as brick.
ta:s, AMI breaking il fr'm lis stalk, he
slipped II into his pocket, and started
quickly homeward. Old Mr.. limpton hail
III days gone by been traineru0d among
the accoulpmen:s, incidental TO his pro-
frssion, he still retained n rondetons
Queens Arm" which faithful old mus.
ket hal become tho terror Of oil hawks,
crows, &c, and towards this mcmenlO oi