Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-04-26
WHAT.A MAN SAVED STOPPING
HIS NEWSPAPER.

HIS NEWSPAPER.
Not many years ago, farmer who lived
a hundred or two miles from the seaboard,
BECAME impressed with the idea unless he
adopted close system of retrenchment,
he would certainly go to the WALL
Wheat during the proceeding season had
been at high price, but unluckily for
him, he had only small portion of his
land in wheat. Of corn and potatoes he
had raised more than the usual quantity,
but the price of corn was down and Pota-
toes were low. This year he had
sown double the wheat he had sown be-
fore, and instead of raising a thousand
bushels of potatoes as he had generally
done, only planted about an acre in that
vegetable, the produce of which was
about one hundred and fifty bushels.
Unluckily for Mr.. Asburn, his calcula-
tions did not turn out well. After his
wheat was harvested, and his potatoes
nearly ready to dig, the price of the for,
mer fell to ninety cents per bushel, and
the price Of the latter raised to one dollar.
Everywhere the wheat crop was abun-
dant, and almost everywhere the potato
crop promised to be light.
&c shall be ruined" he said at home,
and carried long face when abroad
When his wife and daughters asked for
money with which to get their fall and
winter clothing, he grumbled sadly, gave
them half what they wanted, and said
they must retrcnch. A day or two after
ward the collector OF the "Post" came
along aud presented his bill.
Asburn paid it in slow, reluctant:
manner, and then said
"I wish to have the paper stopped, Mr..
, Collector.
ooh no, don't say that, Mr.. Asburn,
you are one of our old subscribers, and
We cannot think of parting with you"
Sorry to give up the paper, but must
, do it," returned the farmer.
" Isn't it as good as ever? You used
, to say you would rather give up dinner
week than the Post"
"Oh yes, it's as good as ever and
sometimes think much better than it
was. 1t is a great pleasure to read it. Blu!
must retrench at every point, and then l
don't see how am to get along. Wheat
is down to ninety cents, and falling eve
f ry day"
" Blu: the paper is only two dollars
year" -,
| know. DuL Two uOllhIS dlS IN Y
dollars. However it's no use to talk, the
{ Post must be stopped. If have better
! luck next year will subscribe for it
a again"
This left the collector nothing to urge,
and he withdrew. In his next letter to
the publisher he ordered the paper to be
discontinued, which was according y
done.
Of this little act of retrcnchmeut. JAno
Margaret and Phoebe knew nothing at
=, the time, and the farmer was rather 10th
to tell them. When the fact did become
known, as it must soon, he expected a
buzzing in the hive, and the anticipation
> of this made him half repent Of what he
had done, and almost wish that the col
lector would forget to notify the office OF
his wish to have the paper stopped. But
the collector was prompt man. On the
second Saturday morning. Asburn went
to the Office AS usual. The postmaster
handed him letter, saying as he did SO,
81 can't find any paper for you to-day.
They have made mistake in not mailing
it this week.
No, replied Asburn, 81 have stopped
it,"
Indeed The Post is an excellent
paper. What other one do you intend to
take ?"
al shall not take any newspaper this
year." replied Asburn.
" Not take newspaper ?" said the
postmaster with look and tone of sur
prise.
"N No, must retrench. 1 must cut of
all superauous expenses. And believe
1 can do without newspaper as well as
anything else. It's a mere luxury
though very pleasant one, 1 own; but
still dispensable." ... d..
mot luxury, but q necessary, I
say, and Indispensable, returned the
postmaster. II don't know what |
would not rather do without than a
newspaper. What in the world are Phe-
be, Jane and Margaret to do ?" ....
! "They will have to do without. There's
no help for it. -.
elf they don't raise storm about
your ears that you would be glad to allay
even at the cost of half a dozen newspa-
pers 1 am mistaken" said the post
master. r--
He replied. as he turned to walk away
that he thought he could face all such
storms without finching. .--.--
Give me the Post, papa said Mar
garet, running to the door to meet her IA
ther when she saw him coming.
"I haven't got it." replied Asbuln'
feeling rather uncomfortable.
Why Hasn'tit come 90
"No, it hasn't come"
Margaret looked very much disap-