The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-09-15

A SKETCH FOR PARENTS.

pie, to purchase superior COW, ant
call on one of the honest sons of the
soil, and it would not be very difficult
to find a man who would show himself
as cunning and selfish as any trader OIL
manufacturer. Let us illustrate such
an interview by colloquy between q
citizen and farmer; and we beg oi
the reader to watch the workings o.
Secretiveness to crafty Acquisitive-
ness.
C1TIzEN.-I am in pursuit of a fine
COW and understanding at the hotel
that you kept large flock of very ex
cellent ones, l have called to look al
them and to see if | could make q
purchase to please me. L am not very
particular as to price, so l but obtain
one of the very best.
FARMER.-Well, yes, l have a large
flock, and they have the reputation Of
being excellent. They have cost me
much care and pains in, their selec-
ton ; but | can't say as | wish to sell
any of them. When a man has good
article which he wants to use, it is not
well to dispose of it.
C.-True; but 1 would like to look
at them.
F.-Oh, certainly, I will show them
with pleasure but understand, | dom
promise to sell one at any price.
They 60 the farm-yard and a little
son of the farmer follows to sec and
hear, and in doing so takes his first
lesson in the tricks of trade for, be
it remembered, that every act of the
parent stamps its impress upon the
young mind, which becomes almost in
efaceabe.
C.-(Scanning a lean, common
looking animal, which, by tho way
was one of the best mixers in the
flock, and low in flesh from her milk
ing qualities yet it was in early win
ter when those qualities would not be
apparently
What's that COW worth -
FL suppose about twenty-fv c
dollars.
On an elevated place stands a large
feshy, noble-looking COW, the poorest
mixer of the whole, and fat because
her food went to flesh rather than tc
milk-catchcs the admiring eye of the
inexperienced citizen, and he eagerly
Inquiries, What will you sell that one
for -
F.-Oh, don't say any thing to me
about that COW she is very peculiar
one, and more than that, she belongs
to my wife. l told you l did not care
to sell any, and this one l should hard
ly expect to sell at all besides |
should not like to have my wife Offend
cd by selling a favoritc of hers. John,
Cunning to mis- boy, who is surprised
to see his father hesitate a moment to
sell this miserable, vicious, unruly
beast, whose small mess of milk is as
thin as that sold by Nessrs. Croton,
Pump & Co.. in New York, } John.
mother will be in our hair if we sell
/" Fill Pail"
The name strikes the buyers car
just as it was intended to do, and he
presses the farmer for a price.
FL will not say l will sell her at
any price, unless my wife will consent.
l don't believe in family quarrels.
The boy John is surprised at his
fathers reluctance to sell, and enter
tains not the slightest doubt but what
his mother will joyously consent to the
sale. TIE stranger is determined tC
have price, and finally, the obliging
farmer says" now, mind l don't a
gree to sell at any price without my
wife's consent, and / will set such a
price as will, doubtless, cool your ar
dor without the necessity Of calling
my wife. Forty dollars is the price.
C.-Suppose we consult the good
lady, and see what she will say ? Il
she will consent, l will take the ami
NAL.
FL know what she will say, and
if you insist upon it, we will refer it to
her. They proceed to the house, the
farmer taking the lead to get the first
word i; and the boy following, anxious,
to have his mother assent to the sale,
and urge the bargain.
F.-Well, mother, this gentleman
is very anxious to buy old " Fill Pail, .
and | told him
eyes," interrupted the wife, in ap-
parent anger, "and you told him he
might have her I'll warrant ; it's just
like you to sell the best COW we have
Well, do as you like. We might a.
well give up trying to make butter
and cheese altogether.
With a red face and angry air, she
leaves the room, slammng the door al
ter her. " There" says the farmer
! knew just how it would be-"
John, the honest boy, was astonish
ed. He had heard that COW made tn,
subject of censure for years by all th'
family +; and now, when a double price
is offered for her, his father holds bacl
and his mother gets angry. lie don
understand it. No, indeed, poor boy
you don't understand it, but you arr
in fair way of doing SO. Wait lit
tie and you will be wise, and know
more Of the world.
The stranger takes the bait, count
out the forty dollars, and the farme
annarnntlu lra ,rs Lnnl. from, L cnr-,n q.