Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1852-08-12

FL know what she will say, and il
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; and
the boy following, anxious to have his
mother assent to the sale, and urge the
bargain.
E-Well, mother, this gentleman is
very anxious to buy old ''Fill Pail" and
l told him
"Yes," interrupted the wife, in appar-
ent anger, "and you told him. he might
have her, Warrant; it'sjustlike you to sell
the best cow we have. Well, do as you
like. We might as well give up trying to
make butter and cheese altogether"
With a red face and an angry air, she
leaves the room, slamming the door after
her. "There," says the farmer, 81 knew
just how it would be-"
] John, the honest boy, was astonished.
He had heard that cow made the subject
of censure for years, by all the family;
and now, when double price is offered
for her, his father holds back and mother
gets angry. He don't understand it
No, indeed, poor boy, you don't under
stand it, but you are in fair way Of do
ing so. Wait little and you will be wise,
and know more of the world.
The stranger takes the bait, counts out
the forty dollars, and the farmer appar-
emily draws back from it, saying, 81 don't
think l ought to take the money. You
had better not take the cow" All true,
though not intended to be SO regarded
He takes the money, and the stranger
departs with his purchase. The mother
returns, smiling like summers morning.
The father, chuckling over his money,says
with an arch wink to his wife, 81 think
when he has had that COW half as long as
We have, he will be glad to take less than
half what he paid for her."
This unriddles to the boys unsophisti-
Gated mind, the hypocrisy Of the whole
transaction, and he shrinks back from his
parents as scheming liars. To him it
looks like robbery to take twenty dol
lars more for the COW than she was worth;
and like lying, thus to deceive the strang
er by such back-handed means.
He had been whipped for lying, and
taught that he must be honest; and he
can see no difference between talking
lie and acting it.
Under the influence of flial love he be-
gins to reason, and he is unwilling to con-
denim his parents to the degradation of
liars and robbers. he reviews the guard
ed modes of expression by the father and
mother His father did not say it was
the best COW in the flock, and told the
man he chad better not take the animal"
-"that he would not sell her unless his
mother would consent to it." 1t was not
exactly lying, after all. Besides, his faith
er stood high in society; he was called
Colonel and Esquire; had been Repre-
sentative; was Trustee of the Religious
Society, School Committee, and every
body looked up to him as man of honor.
His mother, too, was intimate in the fam
lily of the minister, and had the best COM
pany in town. Therefore they were good
people, and their example worthy of i'm
itation. Full of this pleasing JUNCTION to
his outraged conscience, and possessing
withal, through hereditary transmission,
similar tendency to shrewdness and
money-loving as that of his parents, he be-
gan to mediate method of profting by
his first lesson in keen business manage
ment. "Why can't sell that soft, worth
less new knife | bought Of the erascally ped
lar the other day in the same manner that
father sold the COW! Let me see, have
the plan, and will have the money, and
l won't tell lie either. [ can steer
clear of that"
He carefully whets his knife, and as
carefully pockets soft stick, and then
with veil of honest looks proceeds to
school. At recess he very carelessly
draws forth his knife and stick, and be-
gins to whittle. 1t cuts finely. The boys
flock around, eager to see it, and to learn
what he paid for it. 81 gotit che ap-on-
ly twenty-five cents-see it cut"
Eli give you twenty-five" says one.
uT ouess Won will y saws John, CATER |