Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-10


On the next day, while Mr.. Gray stood
in his door from which he could SEQ all
over the two or three acres of ground that
the shoemaker cultivated, ho observed two
of his own cows in his neighbours corn
field, browsing away in quite n contented
manner. AS he was going to call one of
tho farm hands to drive them out, he per-
ceived that Mr.. Barton had become ac-
quainted with the mischief that was going
on, and had already started for the field of
corn.
"Now we will sec tho effect of yester-
days lesson" the farmer said to himself,
and then paused to observe the manner of
the shoemaker towards his cattle in driv-
ing them out of the field. In few min
utes Mr.. Barton came up to the cows-but
instead of throwing stones at them or strik-
ing them with a stick, he merely drove
them out in quiet way, and put up the
bars through which they had entered.
"Admirabler' calculated MFR. Gray.
"What is admirable2" asked his wife
who came within hearing distance at that
moment.
"Why the lesson gave our friend Bar
ton yesterday works admirably"
"How so?'
"Why two of our cows were in his corn
field few minutes ago, destroying the
corn at rapid rate"
"Well what did he do then?" in quick,
anxious tone.
"He drove them out"
"Did he stone them, or beat them9"
"Oh, no. He was as gentle as a child to-
ward them"
"You are certainly jesting."
mot /. Friend Barton has not forgot
ten that his pigs were in my cornfeld yes
torday, and that l turned them out with
out hurting hair of them. Now, suppose
1 had got angry and beaten his pigs, what
do you think the result would have been2
Why, it is more than probable, that one or
both of our fine cows would have been at
this moment in the condition of Mr.. Mel
ions old brindle."
81 wish you wouldn't say anything more
about old brindle," Mrs. Gray said, trying
to laugh, while her face grew red in spite
of her efforts to keep down her feelings.
"Well, won't Sally, if it worries you.
cannot help using it sometimes"
"I am glad he didn't hurt the cows"
Mrs. Gray said after a pause.
"And so am l. Sally. Glad on more
than one account. 1t shows that he has
made an effort to keep down his too irrita-
BILE tempor-and if he can do it, it will be
favor conferred on the whole neighbor-
hood, for almost every one complains at
times, of this fault in his character"
at is certainly the best policy to keep
fair weather with him." Mrs. Gray remark
ed-"a man of his temper could annoy us
a great deal"
"That word policy, Sally, is not good
word" her husband replied. at conveys
a thoroughly selfish idea. Now, we ought
to look for some higher motive ofaction than
mere policy-motives grounded in correct
and unselfish principles"
"But what other motive could we possi-
bly, have for putting up with Mr.. Bartons
outrageous conduct?"
"Othor and far higher motives, it seoms
to me. We should reflect that Mr. Barton
has naturally hasty temper, and that,
when excited, he does things for which he
is sorry afterwards-and that in nine cases
out OF ten, he is a greater sufferer from
these outbreaks than any one else. In our
actions towards him, then, it is a much
| higher and better motive for us to be gov
ernod by desire TO aid him in the correc-
ton of this evil, than to look merely to the
| protection Of ourselves from its effects. Do
you think so?'
"Yes. 1t does seem so.''
"When thus moved to action, we arc, in
degree, regarding the whole neighbor-
hood, for the evil of which We speak af-
fects all. And in thus suffering ourselves
TO he governed by such elevated and un-
selfish motives, we gain all that we possibly
could have gained under the mere instiga-
ton of policy-and a great deal more. But to
bring the matter into a still narrower COM
pass. In all our actions towards him and
every one else, we should be governed by
the simple consideration-Is II right? If a
spirit of retaliation be not right-then it
cannot be INDUCED without mutual in
jury. OF course, then, 1t should never
prompt us to action, or if cows or hogs get
into my field or garden, and destroy my
myself l should have kept my fences in
better repair, or my gate closed. The ami
mails, certainly are not to blame, for they
follow only the promptings of nature-and
their owners should not be censured, for
they know nothing about 1t. Itwould then
be very wrong for me to injure both the
animals and their owners for my own neg
lect-would it not?"
"Yes-I suppose 1t would"
$50 at least 1t seems to me. Then, OF
course, ought not to injuro neighbor Bar
toms cows or hogs. oven if they do break
!. into my cornfeld or garden, simply be-
cause it would be wrong to do so. This is
the principle upon which we should act,
and not from any selfish policy"
After this, there was no moro trouble
about farmer Gray's geese or cattle. Some
times the geese would get among Mr.. Bar
toms hogs, and annoy them while eating
but it did not worry him as it did former
ly. If they became too troublesome, he
would drive them away, but not by throw
ing sticks and stones at them as no once
did.
Late in tho fall, the shoemaker brought
in his bill for work. 1t was n pretty large
bill, with sundry credits.
"Pay day has come at last, farmer Gray
said, good humoredly, as the shoemaker
presented his account. "Woll, let us see ;
and ho took the bill to examine it, item af
ter item.
"What is thisP" he asked, reading alout
n credit for one bushel of corn.
"Its some corn had from you"
az reckon you must be mistaken. Yor
never got any corn from mo-"
"Oh, yes did. l remember 1t perfectly
IL is all right"
"But when did you get it, friend Barton
| am sure that | haven't tho most distan
recollection of Il -