Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-10-05
Keep the staff in Your own Hands-An
F Instructive Story.

related the following story of himself He was
possessed of good farm, with servants and ev.
erytling necessary for his business, and had but
one child, a son, who having married, 1t was a.
greed that the young couple should live IN the
house with the parent, as he was q Wldower.-
Things went exceedingly well for some time,
when the son proposed to the parent that ne
should make over to him his estate, promising
to build new house and otherwise improve the
farm. The father, through persuasion, gave him
deed or gift of it, and everything belonging
to it. aa ssEral
After few years, as the father grew old he
grew little fretful and dissatisfied, while the
son, thinking that he had nothing more to ex-
pect from him, forgot his flial 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 ill-used by them. The old
man ate his victuals daily from wooden bowl,
which his son made for him. His grandson saw
his father make this bowl, and set making just
such another. r ug3i
I Being asked by his father what he made it for,
he answered, "for you to eat out of when you
grow as old as grandfather" o
Although this ought to have turned his heart,
and made him reflect that as he dealt by his IA
ther, be might expect to be dealt with by his
children when he grew old, still it had no effect
with him, and the ill-usage was carried to such
an extent, that the old man could no longer bear
it, but left the house and went to relation and
neghbor of his, declaring that if his friend could
not help him to get his farm back again, he
should be obliged to come and live with him.
His friend answered that he might come and
live with him, and if he would follow his direc
tions, he would help him to get his estate again.
stake this bag of dollars, 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 in the middle of the room.
When they call you make noise with them by
sweeping them into the bag again."
The bait took Immediately. The wife peeped
through the key hole 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 uncommon 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 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 had received for the dis
charge of one of the bonds | had standing out.
expect more in q few days, and fear | shall
be obliged to take Mr.. Ms farm, upon which
have 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 few days the son told the father he
intended to build hose 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 |
have, but then think it will be best to put it al
together in new deed of gift. will get neigh
Dor L to call here and get new"
Accordingly his friend and cousin, who had
devised the scheme, came to the house, when
the son gave the old deed that another might be
drawn from it. When the old man got the deed
id his hand, be broke off the seal and committed
the writing to the fire, saying:
"Burn! cursed instrument of my folly and my
misery land you, my dutiful children, as this
estate is all my own again, you must remove i'm
mediatelv, unless you be content to become my
tenants; have learned by sad experience, that
tits best for parent to hold the loaf under has
oaon ARMAND that one father can better main
tain ten children than ten children can one IA
ther.n