The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-07-10
Aplcture Of the Present.

u Picture OF the present.
The following, written by q cor
respond ent 81 tho Iowa Honiestead,
serves to illustrate how occasionally
some farmer is caught mapping when
the stock man comes along to buy
his hcgs and cattle. But few, how
ever suffer IN this way, for farmers
nowaday take papers and keep them,
selves posted, as to markets as well
as other matters; $3.50, buyr The
young man hardly out OF bis teens,
read this telcgrom and smiles signif-
icantly. An hour aiterward we see
HIM on farm five miles from town !
his spirited horse soon oyertakcs the
old farmers team. "Good morning,
Mr.. A. have you any hogs to sell -
Tie old man stops the team, iastcns
the lines to the plow and wipes his
forehead with his SKIRT sleeve before
he answers "Well, yes, l have a few
hut the price is so low that don't
care about selling them, just now.
"Let me look at them, will you" re-.
marks the young man, maybe l can
SUIT you with the price" They are
fino lot OF swine, ten in number,
and the traders eyes glisten while
he offers $3.50 per cwt. Our honest
farmers brow is contracted by deep
thinking. "Thc interest is due on the
mortgage next Monday, Mary and
Anna need new dresses, and the boys
new boots,-the ten will fetch me
about SIS. which will cover the
items. Jane has TO wait till fall tor
a dictionary and for Sunday coat.
Cant you raise your bid, young
nan?' inquiries the farmer with a
troubled look, tho wrinkles on his
weather beaten face, engraved by
forty years OF hard labor, would even
force Satan to deal justly with this
man. The buyer is also made con-
scicus that he IS in the act OF commit
ting an outrageous theft willie re,
garding lis victims gray hairs, stoop-
ed form imploring eyes, and face
" arked by the burrows of stern toll.
One moment he lingcrs-the angel
of mercy endeavors to soften that
stony heart, but in vain-the "Al
nightly dollar is victorious, and
"that's all / can afford TO give" If
the answer. The bargain closed.
Mr.. A. receives V as partial pay
ment, and tho young and enter
pr,sing merchant hurrics to others
victories. "A clear gain OF Sl5," OK.
CLAIMS he. "IIard times" murmurs
the farmers. To-day l saw the 'ner.
chant and His sweetheart enjoyed a
pleasure ride in an elegant carriage,
a costly diamond ring on the lady $
fingers, almost binding me, and
saw the farmer and his wife at their
modest home, and noticed the tear,
stained eyes Of the housewife, and
heard the whispered words, 1T is
hard, John, 20 bear such poverty. but
shall not complain, slnce You share
it with me-" Did the sparkling rays
of the diamond or of the sun express
tho tears that escaped from my
eyes while listening to these whisper
ed words? Is there no other way
than this?
The Freuch resolved to enter
Berlin within thirty days-this re.
solution was pompously spread. 1t
reached the households OF the sturdy
Prussian. A cry Of Indignation rose
from every hamlet ana palace to the
heavens, and then reigned silence
over Prussia's domains. Bat this
seeming silence prepared the death
blow to arrogant France. Torn and
exhausted OF all wind, the
latter yielded to the silent giant and
plead for mercy. Shall We initiate
he French and threaten our foes by
harmless resolution, or grasp our
word, which is common sense, carry
,ur cannon. which are the sciences.
md strike, but not blows; act, but
lot dream.
ROBERT EGGERr.