Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-24
F0R THE STAR
IfUf
AN ANEcDoTE.

In one of the southwestern States where
railroad fever was running pretty high
the jealous citizens of a thriving little
village had opened books, received sub
scriptions, and, in due time, a railroad
was built. But for some reason or other
it was found necessary to draw a small
per cent. on the stockholders, in order tc
complete the finishing of the road, and
among others, a prosperous, but rather
saving old farmer, who had taken-aftel
much urging-some five or six hundred
dollars worth of stock, was called on foI
his per centage. The old gentleman, in
question, rather kicked against the idea
of lessening the corporosity of his wea
sel-skin by aRother g investment in tn,
darned concern" )" concluding he had paid
dear enough for the whistle already. a
pretty warm discussion as to the business
of the claim, was one evening pending
between himself and knot of his neigh
bors in the bar-room of the village inn
and opinion was rather against him. III,
therefore offered to state the case to, and
abide by the decision of stranger who
happened to be present. This was read
lily agreed to by the rest of the party: sc
accordingly the stranger was called. and
the case laid before him by the farmer, in
manner best calculated to induce a de
cision in his favor.
Gentlemen" said the stranger, aitel
attentively listening to the farmers mar
ration, ''being an entire stranger in these
parts, | respectfully decline giving my
opinion in this case, but if you have no
objection | will tell you a story"
A story ~ echoed burly, insolen,
fellow, what the HI has a story 90,
to do with the railroad, I'd like to
know 2"
"Oh shaw - said another, 1--WE wan,
no stories just plain yes or no-is il
right to make farmer B. pay thi,
money, or is it note Come now, speak
out, man"
Gentlemen" said the stranger firm.
ly, ''I have said that / could not, nor uiii
l advance my opinion on this subject:
you must take the story or nothing"
Well, d-n it, give us the story
then. said the rough fellow, before al
luded to.
eff the majority are willing, not 9TH
erwise," said the stranger.
go on, 60 on" resounded all over
the room.
"Well, gentlemen, when L was boy
we used to be troubled great deal by
the crows; so much so, that my father
found it necessary to procure myself and
three brothers light shotgun apiece
and place us as sentinels over the grow.
ing corn. In fact all the neighbors wer,
obliged to protect their fields in the same
manner. Finally, stranger moved int,
the settlement, and for two seasons b,
annoyed the neighbors exceedingly b,
daily applications for guns and ammum
ton; but he owned no gun of his own, ant
the crows were still plenty and as mucl
predisposed to assist the corn in comm,
up as ever. 1t had been frequently hinte,
to him that he had better buy himself
gun, as it was impossible to raise de
cent crop without one, and to depend o.
borrowing was shabby at best. Well
gentlemen, the fellow went to town to d
some trading one day and actual
brought home, gun. The neighbor
were quite delighted at the prospect q
being no more annoyed, and quite nun
Der called over to examine the piece, an
congratulate him on having gun of hi