Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-05-25
THE FOOLS FARM.

John Mosgar was wealthy farmer. with
some few hundred acres OF land, half Of
which was fertile aad well tiied,- the other
half range Of rocky upland, from which
grew forth nstbias but s;anty, almost worth
less weeds. The better half of the farm
was well stocked aud well ordered; the
farmhouse was the best ii the village of
Daleferd, aad the eathaildings we're the
envy Of the aeigh5ors-
John MeSgar bad kaavish brother and
q foolish son-his oa(Y relatiTes-;.oScft,
the brother, by a just 9ispensstiou of Prov
iaesce, was a alaH af comparative Indulgence,
but bis brother John overlooked his faults,
and saw only his poverty, and relationship; ;
aud when DYING called Robert o his bedside
and placing the hand of his son Daniel in
bis. ahiured him TO protect the imbecile for
hi, fatbey seake-
Tk, feel sailed, and the knave smiled,
too; the one tickled 3tthe idea of having a
friend, the other at having 4 new victim,
easily p.ucked aud ruined.
Il will see after hiaa, 5oha," said Rob
ert, with look Of assumed affectiea for his
nephew Il will prove father to him af-
ter you are goue, aud | will turn the farm
to the best possible account, that your spir-
it, Il it still hover above the earth, may be
pleased with what ! shall do. y
Enough, Robert, adieu. We shall meet
again in Heaven. Farewell, my brain
wrecked son, saspea the dying man.
Good bye, father, .grinned Daniel, twis-
ting his body awkwardly about. Hope
you Il have pleasant iOurney--he, he!'
John Mo>gar died, and LAWYER Twist
well S assistance WAS called in to settle the
affair. 1t had been the expressed will of
Mr.. Mosgar that his estate should be equal
ly divided between his brother and his sou,
Half to one aud halt To the ether" were
lis words though the wisdom which promp-
ted them wa not equal to tina. of King
Solomon.
Lawyer Teistvell, at the instigation of
Robert Mosgar, made cruel construction
oi the will, and awarded the better halt, all
fertile and arabic land, to the uncle; while
the pIeaner portion consisting Of meagre
woodland snd. rocks, fell to the share of poor
Daniel
The more heartless and unprincipled of
the neighbo laughed at the fool when they
heard OF the award, and congratulated him
on receiving 50 much good upland. He,
too, was well pleased, and capered about,
singing mad songs, to find himself master of
SO much good land He thought his the
better portion, and bounded over it with
bOisterous glee, climbing the trees, tearing
up the bushes, leaping down declivities, and
drinking of the streams as if he would con-
vince each inanimate object that he was
their sole lord and proprietor.
The rough waste that had been bestowed
upon tie witiess, fricndless creature, thro
the crafty G., nniyance of tie lawyer, Twist
sell, suited the fool S taste TO the charm
te, there he would wander in undisturbed
solitude, in idiot ''nie 1Iiation, fancy free,
unconscious of the wealth OF which he haC
been robbed by his uncle. One little hut
stood alone on it, and that served for In:
home; and his bodily wants weIe supplied
10y such of the RcighborS as obtaintd then
tuel from his farm"
The Lord viii never prosper him who
steals his treasures from fool, said one oi
these ncighbors to her husband.
He shrugged his shoulders with 'humph,
for he was conscious of having repeatedly
drawn more wood than he hae bargained FOL
from the fool farm, and was unwilling
TO believe in Heavens angry threat:
Heaven helps those who help them
selves, he dryly replied, casting an eye ou
at the mammoth pile of brush wood, which
lie paid but triae for, in barter.
His wife seemed TO understand the look
but she sighed as she poked the FIRE on the
hearth.
Poor Daniel" she exclaimed; Il hop,
he will not suffer from cold or hunger; bu
he seems to be In a fair way for it, with bi
uncle on one side and selfish world on th'
other His half was little enough as it was
and all that is good upon it is fast dwind
ling away. What will he do when the wooC
Is all gomez
we had better be thinking of our owl
circumstances, said the husband snappls'
ly, 'and let the town take care of the fools
As for Daniel no doubt he is happier noN
than many wiser people.
Happier than his uncle, I'll be bound,
said the woman, well off in worldly good
though he be. Old Mosgar always distre'
.ed-suspicious and timid-as if he though
al.tho neighbors despised him for taking az
vantage of his nephew. And so they d.
And though everything looks well for hi
in worldly way, there will come som
change yet, depend upon it,,
Perhaps so, aud perhaps not" replie
the husband, indifferently,- get Il