Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-11-06
Keep the staff in Your Own Hands,
AN INSTRUCTIVE STORY.

N
There was living at Harlem, an old
man who related the following story of
himself. He was possessed OF a good
with servants and everytLin ne
cessary for his business, and had hut one
child, a son, who being married, IL was
that the young couple should live
IN the house with The parenL, as he was q
widower. Things ven exceedingly we'll
for some time, when the sol proposed 70
the parent that he should urke over TO
him his estate, promising 70 build a new
house, and otherwise improve the farm.
The farmer, through persuasion, gave him
a deed or Il gift OF it, and everything be-.
longing to it.
Alter a few years, as the father grew
old, he grew a little fretful and dissatis-
fed, while the son, thinking that he bad
nothing more to expect from him, forgot
his filial duty, and used his father worse
than he did his servants. The old man
was no longer permitted to eat at The
table with his son and wife, but compelled
to take his meals in the chimney corner,
and be continually otherwise i'll used by
them. The old man eat bis vietuals daily
from a wooden bowl which his son made
for him. His grandson saw his father
make the bowl, and set making just such
another.
Being asked by his father. what he
made it for, he answered, for you to eat
out OF when you get as old as GRANDPA.
ther."
Although this ought to have turned his
heart, and made him reflect that IS he
dealt by his father he might expect to be
dealt with by his children when he grew
old, still it had no effect on him, and the
ill-usage was carried to such an extent
that the old mar could no longer bear it,
but left the house and went to a relation
and neighbor of his, declaring that if his
friend could not help him to get his farm
back again, he should be obliged to co.,e
and live with him.
His friend answered that he might
come and live with him, and, if he would
follow his directions, he would help him
get his estate again. Take this bag of
dollars, and carry it into your room, at
your sons, shut it up well in your chest,
and about the time they will call you
down to dinner, shut your door and have
all your dollars spread on the table j n
the middle Of the room. When they call
you, make a noise with them by sweeping
them into the bag again"
The bait took Immediately. The wife
peeped through the keyhole, and saw the
dollars spread out on the table, and told
it to her husband. When the old man
came down, they insisted on his sitting
at the table with them, and treated him
with respect.
The old man related to his friend what
he had done, who gave him directions
what to do if his son asked the money
from him.
After a few days, the son discovered
the old man very busily engaged in
counting out his money, and at the next
meal time asked what money it was that
he had been counting.
"Only some money l had received for
the discharge of one of the bonds | had
standing out. | expect more in a few
days, and | fear 1 shall be obliged to
take Mr.. Ms farm, upon which |
have a mortgage, as he is not able to
raise the money, and if the farm is sold
it will not fetch as much as will discharge
the mortgage"
After a few days the son told the father
he intended to build a house on the farm,
and would be glad if the father would
let him have the money.
Yes, child, all that | have is coming
to you. | intend giving you the bond
and mortgages l have, but then | think
it would be best to put it altogether in a
new deed of gift. | will get neighbor
Ii to call here and get a new one"
Accordingly his friend and cousin, who
had devised the scheme, came to the
house, when the son gave the old decd
that another might be drawn from it.
When the old man got the deed in his
hand, he broke off the seal and committed
the writing to the fire, saying
" Burn ! cursed instrument of my folly
and misery and you, my dutiful chill
dren, as this estate is all my own again,
you must remove Immediately, unless you
be content to become my tenants /; | have
learned by sad experience that it is best
for a parent to hold the loaf under his
own ARMAND that one father can better
maintain ten children, than ten children
can father"
.E