Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-06-01
! RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY,, JUNE. /, 1859. 4

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 up
on the table, C. would discover that he hac
been taken in, and would in all probability be
highly indignant. That he was not far out Of the
way in his conjecture, he was satisfied of on the
next market day. when he saw G. go by his
stand without once looking towards him. go.
+ In the week succeeding the farmers evil genius
tempted him still further from the right PATH
The whole of his butter with the exception o.
some ten humps, which were to serve as a screen
when. the clerk came along, was moulded into
prints that weighed considerable less than pound
With this, among other products of his farm, Ed.
monds went to market, fattering himself that he
would be clear gamer by the operation, of from
two to three dollars.
T But human calculations are sometimes vain.
Scarcely had farmer .Edmonds disposed of dozen
pounds Of his fine fresh butter, when the market
clerk stopped before him with his handsome brass
scales, and said-.I guess must goa little deep
er into your tub this morning than usual, friend
Edmonds. There's nothing you know, like keep
ing you folks honest.''
There was an instant change insthe expression
of the farmers face, which the clerk did not 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 formed the upper
stratum ofbutter. and took print from beneath.
Placing it in his scales in opposition to pound
weight, it rose instantly towards the +receding
BEAM. .zsss .ES = 5.4sa4 Il s;5++5
That's bad!" said he, removing the lump of
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 ex-
posed farmer, until between thirty and forty had
passed from his tub to the basket of the clerk
During the progress of this scene, a little 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 Almshonse were to gain by the
operation, enjoyed the countryman's modification
He, poor fellow, hid his diminished head as
quick Iyas-i could be done after the departure Of
the clerk, and went back to his home little wiser
II no D9LCeF
ssYou met with rather a bad accident last week."
said c. to the farmer. He could not resist
the inclination he felt to see him once more.
Why, yeyes, stammered Edmonds, color
ing to the eyes. But it wasn't my butter it was
someI brought for a neighbor.' ''y.s
sIndeed--was it! Then suppose the butter
I've had from you for the last two months was
from the dairy Of that same neighbor!" ;sz
Edmends was so confused at this unexpected
question, that he was unable to reply.
Is And the tough chickens :" added c..
q They We're your neighbor's also presumel''
The farmer turned his back suddenly on his
customers and the latter, feeling that he had pun
ished him sufficiently, went on his way.
Butter that proves light of weightg always be-
longs to a neighbor.