The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-04-08


wouldn't hear to it. l told him that it |
made no difference in the world. That
such accidents would happen sometimes"
"You did?"
Certainly, did,"
"And that's the way you spoke your
mind to him?"
"Precisely. And it had the desired
effect. 1t made him feel ten times worse
than if had spoken angrily to him."
"Well perhapsyou are right" Mrs. Gray
said, after a few moments thoughtful 81
lence. az like Mrs. Barton very much
and now come to think of it, should not
wish to have any difference between our
families"
"And so do like Mr.. Barton. He has
read the Chataqua Farmer good deal and
derived instruction from its entertaining
columns, and find it very pleasant to sit
with him occasionally, during the long
winter evenings. His only fault is his
quick temper-but am sure it is much
better for us to bear with, and soothe that,
than to impose and excite it, and thus keep
both his family and our own in hot water"
"You are certainly right" Mrs. Gray
said, 4" and only wish that could always
think and feel as you do. But am little
quick, as they say"
"And SO is Mr.. Barton. Now just the
same consideration that you would desire
others to have for you, you should exercise
towards Mr.. Barton or any one else whose
hasty temper leads him unto words or ac-
tions that in calmer or more thoughtful
moments are subjects of regret"
On the next day, while Mr.. Gray stood
in his door, from which he could see all
over the two or three acres of ground that
the shoemaker cultivated, he observed two
of his own cows in his neighbours cornfeld
browsing away in quite contented man.
ner. AS he was going to call one of the
farm hands to drive them out, he perceived
that Mr.. Barton had become acquainted
with the mischief that was going ON, and
had already started for the field of corn.
"Now we will see the effect of yester-
days lesson," the farmer said to himself
the shoemaker towards his cattle in driving
them out of the field. In a few minutes
Mr.. Barton came up to the cows-but in
stead of throwing stones at them, or strik-
ing them with stick, he merely drove
them out in quiet way, and put up the
bars through which they had entered.
After this, there was no more 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 formerly.
If they became too troublesome, he would
drive them away, but not by throwing
sticks and stones at them as he once did.
Late in the fall the shoemaker brought
in his bill for work. 1t was pretty large
bill, with sundry credits.
"Pay day has come at last" farmer
Gray said good humoredly, as the shoe
maker presented his account. "Well, let
us see r' and he took the bill to examine
it, item for item.
"What is this ?" he asked reading aloud
the credit for bushel of corn.
at is some corn had from YOU"
81 reckon you must be mistaken. You
never got any corn from me-"
ooh, yes 4 l remember it perfectly WELL
1t is all right"
"But when did you get it, friend Barton?
am sure that | have not the most distant
recollection of it.'
My hogs got it," the shoemaker said
in slow hesitating tone.
"Your hogs?"
"Yes. Don't you remember when my
hogs broke into your field and destroyed
your corn ?"
go, dear-is that it? Oh no, no, friend
Barton; cannot allow that item in the
BILL"
eyes, but you must. 1t is perfectly
just, and l shall never rest until it is
paid"
II can't indeed. You couldn't help
your hogs getting into my field ; and then
you know, friend Barton lowering his tone)
you know my geese were very troublesome.
The shoemaker blushed and looked con-
fused, but farmer Gray slapped him ia
miliarly on the shoulder, and said in a live
ly cheerful way
"Don't think anything more about it,
friend Barton And Hereafter let us en-
deavOr to do as we would be done by, and
then everything will go smooth as clock
, work"
n ~