Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-22

" am glad he didn't hurt the cows Mrs.
Gray said, after a pause.
" And 50 am |, Sally. Glad on more than
one account II shows that he has made an
effort to keep down his hasty, irritable tenn.
per-and if he can do that, Il will be a favor
conferred on the whole neighborhood, for al.
most every ono complains, at times Of this
fault in his character"
" 1t Is certainly the best policy to keep
fair weather with him. Mrs. GRAY remark.
ed" man Of his temper could annoy us
a good deal"
q" That word policy, Sally, is not good
word her husband replied. Ii conveys
thoroughly selfish idea. Now, we ought to
look for some higher motive Of action than
mere policy--motiyes grounded in correct
and unselsh principles"
But what other motive could we possibly
have for putting up with Mr. Barton's out
rageous conduct o.
" Other and far higher motives, it seems to
me We should reflect that Mr.. Barton has
naturally hasty temper, and that, when ex-
cited he does things for which he is sorry af-
terwards--and that in nine cases out of ten,
he is a greater sufferer from these outbreaks
than any ono else. In our actions towards
him, then, it is a much higher and better mo-
tive for us to be governed by desire to aid
him in the correction of this evil, than to look
merely to the protection of ourselves from
its effects. DO you think 50 ?"
/ Yes IL does seems so."
"When thus moved to action, we are. in A
degree, regarding the whole neighborhood, for
the evil Of which we speak effects ALL And,
in thus suffering ourselves to be governed by
such elevated and unselish motives. we pain
all that VIC possibly could have gained under
the mere instipation Of policy-and great
deal more. But to bring the matter into n
narrower COMPASS. In ali our actions towards
him and every one else. we should be govern.
ed by the simple consideration-Is il rieht2
/ If a spirit of retaliation be not rirht-tben il
cannot be INDUCED without mutual injury
OF course, ten, it should never prompt us to
action, for if cows or hogs get into my field or
garden. and DESTROY nv property-who is to
blame most2 OF course. myself | should
have kent nv fences in better repair. or nv
gate closed. The animals certainly are not to
blame for they follow only the promptin1s of
nature-and their owners should not be cen.
sured for they know nothing about IT, IL
would then be very wrong for me to iniurs
both the animals and their owners for my
own negleet-would il not2"
Yes.-I suppose it would"
80 at least it seems to me. Then, of
course. [ ought not to iniure neiuhbor Bar.
toms cows or hogs, even if they do break into
my corndcld or garden, simply because it
would be wrong to do so. This is the princi.
ple upon which we should act, and not from
any selfish policy"
After this, there was no more trouble about
farmer Gray's geese or cattle Sometimes
; the geese would yet among Mr.. Barton's hogs,
and annoy them while eating, but it did not
worry him as it did formerly. If thew be.
came too troublesome, he would drive them
, away. not by throwing sticks and stones at
them as he once did
Late in the fall the shoemaker brought in
his bill for work. IL was pretty large bill,
with sundry credits.
PAY day has come at last farmer GRAY
said. good kumoredly, as the shoemaker pre-.
sented his account "Well, let us see ~ and
he took the bill to examine it, item after item.
= "What is this ~ he asked, reading aloud
a credit for one bushel of corn.
"It's some corn had from YOU"
= 81 reckon YOU must be mistaken. You
never got any corn from me-"
Oh Yes did. | remember it perfectly.
It's ali right"
J.. But when did you get it, friend Barton
am sure that havn't the most distant rec.
! olection Of it,"
u INV hogs got it, the shoemaker said, in
rather low aud hesitating tone.
y y Your hogs ?"
+ "Yes. Don't you remember when my
: hogs broke into your field, and DESTROYED your
. corn ?"
"Oh, dear! Is that it? Oh, no, no,
friend Barton II cannot allow that item in
4 the bill"
Yes, but you must. 1t IS perfectly Just
and shall never rest until it is paid"
/ can't indeed. You couldn't help your
hogs getting into my field; and then you
y know, friend Barton, lowering his tone)
!. Ny geese were very troublesome
4 The shoemaker blushed and looked conius-
h ed but farmer Gray slapped him familiarly
+" on the shoulder, and said IN lively, cheerful
= way
A Don't think anything more about 1t,
a then everything will 20 on as smooth as clock.
. work."
9" But YOU will allow that item in the bill?'
IT the shoemaker urged. perseveringly.
a "Oh no, couldn't do that. | should