Maryland free press., 1866-11-15
from Ms La nd iee Lore.
A 8 A d 8 T o II z &.

JOnatnan Pure was one oil Inc very Dcst OF
| American farmers. He had the strongest horses
thc seekest cattle, the fitest hogs, and the wool
lest sheep in his country. His ploughs made
the deepest furrows and cast the widest mould,
his axes, his hoes his scythe-blades were the
sharpest and brightest Fences straight as me-
ridian lines and tall like maypoles enclosed the
richest fields of ofcornSand grain and the grcenest
pastures of the choicest grasses. His daughters
were just twice the number of the graces, and all
the young men for miles around thought them
to he twice as charming. His hale, hearty sons
were in number jnst seven-the symbol Of per-
fiction. The world pronounced Jonathan Pure
very happy man, with his family of thirteen
dutiful children, with his thrifty farm and well
| filed purse. But alas! ''there is skeleton in
every closet" as says the Italian proverb, and
Jonathan the envy of all his neighbors, began to
wear a sour and discontented took. His two
Sous George and Carolus were universally popu-
lar, thriiilcss to degree intolerable to their
shrewd, managing father. They were following
foxes and hounds when they out to have been
following the plow. In the very press of harvest
they would go off to hear political speech. In
wet weather, when no farm work could be done
they had been caught with books Of oratory
and the last novels from the circulating library
instead of the works on agriculture and the me-
chanc arts to be found on the shelves at home.
In short they were, as Jonathan expressed it,
"a meier do weei set, and not like Jaco and Ben,'
his favorte sons. And SO George and Carolus
got sharp blows or still sharper speeches from the
old man, while his favors were showered upon
Jaco and Ben. ''Father,' said George and Car
olus one day, 'you gave all the boys some of the
proceeds of the last sale of cattle except u.s.
'rYou deserve nothing, you are lazy, you are
proud" replied their father. So matters grew
worse and the feeling between the sire and sons
became more and more bitter, until the boys
said plainly that they would leave home, and
begin farm of their own. "We can't kick you
out of the old" said Jaco and Ben. "You will
starve TO death if you leave" said Mick and
Swineton. "We will whip you back" said
Thad. But in spite officers and threats, George
and Carolus went off one raw, winter morning
with no worldly gear except few old clothes
tied up in their hnndkerchcfs. Upon promise
to pay, they boughta little farm and knocked up
log-cabin after the model of the substantial old
homestead, which they still remembered with
foudness. They had to work hard, but there
was no one to scold them, and no one to fret
them, and they were very happy.
."Fathcr," said Jaco and Ben, t'your rebe!lious
sons must be punished for their insolGnce.''-
''They must be whipped back" said Thad. "a
thought" replied the old man, ''that you want
ed your brothers away, and that you often said
that You too were involved in the disgrace of
their evil doings." Oh, but, said Jaco and Ben
Nick and Swineton, will go away too if these
rcnegades ba not chastised. And that severely,
added Tbad.
Every well" answered the old gentleman.
but it is a good joke that when you tried so hard
to make them run off you are now resolved to
whip them for doing as you wished them to do
1t reminds me of a little story. There once liv-
ed in my town a--' Father we have uot got
time to hear the story, said Thad, we must ar
range this llogging matter first.
I he boys don't lack pluck and some of you
may get foggcd instead, replied the old man.
"Mick and Swineton are brave and strong, thcy
will take hold first" said Thad And we will
call in our neighbors and have them well thrash
ed eagerly cried .out Jaco and Ber. Well my
sons, don't half like it. The boys were of age
and if they had mind to set up for themselves,
why not let them alone. When was on a flat
boat going down-We are in hurry now dear
father, and offsrun the three brothers, Thad, to
stir up Mick and Swineton, who were too kind =
ly inclined to thessrunaways: Jaco and Ben to-
hire their neighbors, some by the day and some
by the job. The hiring was a very successful af.
fair. Patrick and Poniatoweki, Monsieur and
Mynhcr Bull and Buffalo, &C., &c. all were elm
ployed. Father, said Jace, forced Sambo to
take my place. He is stronger and drawer than
we are, and l will stay at home to take care Of
things. And i, said Ben. got Buffalo to go fer
me, be knows the country well around the house
of your unnatural sons, and will suit better than
I I.7"..1.. ..7'.." @"h '.'. '' ''s.".
Ha, hs, laughed the old gentleman, You are
smart boys, Jaco and Ben--l'll be .bonnd you
keep out ofs scrape yourselves, whoever else you
may get into one. Itis like the little story
! Father the hired men have come, interrupted
Jaco and Ben Buffalo went guide, and Sam
bo followed close behind: Gsorgeand Carolus,
careless fellows. as they were caught mapping,
but they struggled manfully against the crowd.
-. -. .e'.a o. .r.... 80 i'.'