The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-07-15

The Peasants strategem.


A word spoken at random often proves
of more utility than the best concerted
plans. Hence it happens that fools Oft
en- prosper when men of talents fail.
As an illustration of this assertion,
we will present our readers with the
following story from an old French Pc
riodical work.
A poor simple peasant, of the name Of
Cricket, being heartily tired of his daily
fare of brown bread and cheese, resolved
whatever might be the consequence, to
procure to himself, by hook or by crook,
three sumptuous meals. Having taken
this noble and courageous resolution, the
next thing was to find plan to put it
into execution, and here his good fortune
befriended him. The wife Of rich no
bob who lived in the neighborhood Of
his cottage, during the absence of her
husband lost valuable diamond ring.
She offered a great reward to any one
who would recover it, or give any tidipgs
of the jewel but no one was likely to do
either; for three of her own footmen, Of
whose fidelity she had not the smallest
doubt, had. stolen, it., The loss soon
reached our glutton's ears" I'll co."
cries he, " III say I am conjurer, and
| will discover where the gem is hidden
on condition Of first receiving three
splendid meals. I shall fail it is true.
What then3 ! shall be treated as an i'm
postor, my back must suffer for It
but my hungry stomach will be filed )"
To concert scheme and put 1t into,
practice was but the work ola moment |;
the nabob still was absent. The kdy
anxious for the recovery of her ring, se-.
cepted the offered terms (; sunaptuous
dinner was prepared the table covered,
with the richest viands; expensive wines
of every sort were placed on'the SIDE
board. We may think how he ste.- An
footman, one Of the Secret
thieves, filed him with drinkg. our con-
jurer, gorged, exclaimed -
"Tis we'll I have the first ~
The servant trembled at the ambigu-
BUS words, and ran to his companions
he has found us out dear friend, he 10
a cunning man he said he had the first ;
who could he mean but me ?"
cit looks little like it." said the
second thief, I'll wait on him tonight;
as yet you may have mistaken his mean
ing; should he speak in the same strain
we must decamp tonight"
At night supper fit for court Of
aldermen was set before the greedy
Cricket, who filled his paunch until he
could eat no more. The second foot
man watched him all the while. When
satisfied, he rose, exclaiming-
"The second is in my sack, and can
lot escape me J"
Away flew the afrighted robber. eve
ire lost % he cried, "our heels alone
ian save u.s."
"Not So" answered the third /; eff
we fly and are caught, we swing; III
tend to him to-morrow's meal, and then
should he speak as before, I'll own the
theft to him and offer some great reward
to screen us from punishment, and that
ne may deliver up the jewel without be-
raging u.s."
They all agreed. On the morning
'ur PEASANTS appetite was still the same,
1t last quite full, he exclaimed
"My task is done | the third, thank
Tod, is here !"
"Yes,' said the trembling culprit,
here's the ring, but hide our shame
nd you shall never want for good fare
gain.
(" Be SILENT" exclaimed the astouish-
d Cricket, who little thought that what
le had spoken of his meals would have
made the plunderers betray themselves;
be silent! have it all"
Some geese were feeding before the
he went out, and having scixed
he largest, he forced the ring down its >,
broat and then declared the goose had
wallowed the ring. The goose was kill
d-the diamond found. In the mean
ime the nabob returned and was incre-
ulous.
"Some crafty knave, madam" said
0, I" either the thief or his abettor, has,
rith well concerted scheme wrought
n your easy faith. But Ill soon try
is powers of divination. III provide
inn myself with meal likewise"
No sooner said than done between
be two dishes the mysterious faro va
idden the false conurer was told -
-. --h.x -. tbe concealed chooY.