The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-06-30

week tried twenty pounds, and made one dollar
by the operation. When the clerk came round,
the light butter was usually all gone. or if any
remained, 1t was SO managed that none of it found
its way into his scale.
After selling the tough chickens to Mr.. c.
the farmer felt little uncomfortable, for c.
was an old and good customer, and he didn't
wish to lose him. OF course, when the fowls
came upon the table, G-would discover that
he had been taken in, and would in all proba-
bilIty be highly Indignant That he was not far
out Of the way IN his conjecture. he was satisfied
on the next market day, when he saw G-go
by his stand without once looking towards
him.
In the week succeeding, the farmers evil ge-
MUS tempted him still further from the right
path. The whole OF his butter, with the excep-
uon OF some ten Jumps, which were to serve as n
screen when the clerk came along, was moulded
into prints that weighed considerably less than
| a pound. With this. among other products Of
his farm, Edmonds went to market, fattering
himself that he would be Gle r. gamer by the
operation, of from two to three dollars.
But human calculations are sometimes vain.
Scarcely had farmer Edmonds disposed Of do
zen pounds of his fine fresh butter, when the
| market clerk stopped before him with his hand
some brass scales in his hand. and said
guess ! must 60 little deeper into your tub
this morning than usual, friend Edmonds.-
There's nothing, you know, like keeping you
| folks honest
There was an instant change in the express
ion of the farmers face, which the clerk did no,
fail to observe. Setting down his basket, with
the air OF one who expected to put something
into it. the clerk laid aside the Jumps that form
ed the upper stratum of butter, and took print
from beneath. Pacing it in his scales in oppo-
sitiOn to a pound weight, it instantly rose TO-
wards the receding beam.
That's bad /" said he. removing the lump o.
butter to his basket, and placing another in the
scale, which proved as light as its predecessor,
and was soon laid by its side. And lump after
lump followed, to the grief and chagrin Of the
exposed farmer. until between thirty and forty
had passed from his tub TO the basket Of the
clerk. During the progress OF this scene. lit
! tie crowd was attracted, all Of whom, from the
merry news boy. to the staid Guardian Of the
Poor, who made careful examination of the
tub to see how much the inmates of the Aims
/ house were to gain oy the operation, enjoyed
the countrymans modification. he, poor fel
low, hid his diminished head as quickly as il
could be done after the departure OF the clark
and went hnck 70 his home little wiser, II no
better.
You met with rather bad accident last week,
said G-to the farmer. He could not resis
the inclination he felt to see him once more.
why, ye-yes, stammered EdmOnds. color
ing to the eyes. But it wasn't my butter i
was some brought for a ncighbor.'
.Indeed-was it? Then l suppose the butte
I've had from you for the last months Wa
from the dairy OF that same neghbor?
Edmonds was confused at this unexpected
question. that he was unable to reply
And the tough chickens = added c., The,
were your neighbor's also. presume?'
The farmer turned his back suddenly OF
his customer, and the latter, feeling that h
had punished him sufficiently, went on hi
way.
Butter that proves light of weight always be
longs TO neighaor.