Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-06


word" her husband replied. cit conveys
a thoroughly selfish idea. Now, we
ought to look for some higher motive of
action than mere policy-motives ground
ed in correct and unselfish principles.
But what other motives could we pos
sibly have for putting up with Mr.. Bar
toms outrageous conduct?"
"Other and far higher motives, it seems
to me. We should reflect that Mr. Bar
ton has a 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 greater suf-
ferer from these outbreaks than any one
else. In our actions towards HIM, then,
it is much better and higher motive 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 sop
Eyes. 1t does seem So"
"When thus moved to action. we are,
in degree, regarding the whole neigh
borhood, for the evil Of which we speak
affects all. And, in thus suffering our
selves to be governed by such elevated
and unseltish motives, we gain all that
we possibly could have gained under the
mere instigation of policy-and a great
deal more. But to bring the matter into
a still narrower compass. In all our
actions towards him and every one else,
we should be governed by the simple con-
sideration-is it right? If spirit of re-
taliation be not right-then it cannot be
INDUCED without mutual injury. Of
course, then, it should never prompt
US to action, or if cows or hogs get into
my field or garden and destroy my prop
0rtx fc fol OF n
myself. l should have kept my fences in
better repair, or my gate closed. The an
finals 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 it. 1t would
then be very wrong for me to injure both
the animals and their owners for my own
neglect-would it not?"
Eyes, | suppose it would"
$50 at least it seems to me. Then, of
course, ought not to injure neighbor
BaTton's COWS or hogs, even if they do
break into my corn-field or garden, sim
ply because 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 more trouble
about farmer Gray's geese or cattle.
Sometimes the geese would get among
Mr.. Barton's hogs, and annoy them while
eating, but it did not worry him as it did
formerly. If they became too trouble,
some, 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 fer 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!" and he took the bill to eX-
anime it, item after item.
"What is ths?" he asked reading aloud
the credit for bushel of corn.
1T is some corn l had from YOU
II reckon you must be mistaken. You
never got any corn from me-"
ooh, yes; remember it perfectly
well. 1t is all right"
"But when did you get it, friend Bar
ton? am sure that have not the most
distant recollection of it."
"My hogs got it," the shoemaker said,
in slow hesitating tone.
"1Our hogs?"
eyes. Don't you remember when my
hogs broke into your field and destroyed
your corn?"
ooh, dear-is that it? Oh, no, no,
friend Barton l can't allow that item in
the bill"
eyes, but you must. 1t is perfectly
just, and | shall never rest until it is
paid"
Il 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
confused but farmer Gray slapped him
Familiarity on the shoulder, and said, in
a lively, 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"
''But you will allow that item in this
bill .; the shoemaker urged, persever-
ingly.
ooh, no, couldn't do that. should
think it wrong to make you pay for my
own, or some of my mems negligence in
leaving the bars down"
'But then (hesitating). those geese. I
killed three. Let it go for Them
eff you did kill them, we ate them-so
it is even. No, no-let the past be for
gotten, and if it makes better friends and
neighbors of us, we need never regret
what has happened"
Farmer Gray remained firm, and the
bill was settled, emitting the item of
corn" From that time forth, he never
had better neighbor than the shoemaker
The cows and hogs and geese of both
would occasionally trespass, but the tres
passers were kindly removed. The lesson
was not lost on either of them, for even
farmer Gray used to feel sometimes lit
tie annoyed when his neigbor's cattle
broke into his fields. But in teaching
the shoemaker lesson, he had taken a
little of it himself