Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-01-09
AN AGRICULTURAL GUERILLA.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.

A STORY WITH MORAL.
NY neighbor, Sam Simpson, has sold out
and is going West. There has been plain,
honest, Industrious, economical German
iebenstein-hanging around Simpson for
some time trying to buy his farm. At last
Hans got it. Simpson thinks he sold at a
bargain. Doubtless Hans thinks he got a
bargain.
had an errand down at Simpsons the
other night. had not heard that he had
sold his farm, but saw by the look of the
faces Of the family that some unusual ex-
citement was animating them. e
eWell, Crumple, you are going to lose
me as neighbour was Simpsons first
greeting after had fairly got seated in
the splint bottomed chair his daughter
handed me /; and the whole Simpson fami-
ly looked at me as though they expected
1 would jump out Of the chair on account
of the news with suddenness and force
only equalled by the explosion Of nitro
glycerine under me. But didn't. SIM
ply asked, CLOVIS that ?"
tive sold ~
s'Sold what %
ssThe farm III
'sTo whom %
ssHans"
That was the whole story. 1 did not
need any further explanation but Simp-
son proceeded to say:
ssYou see, the old farm is completely run
down. can't make both ends meet the
best of years. I've got tired tumbling
around among the stones, and Pm going
where there is some virgin soil that will
produce something. So hit upon trade
with Hans. He has been after it, off and
on, for year or more. I wanted $40 an
acre for the old place. He offered me $25
and finally he offered me $50; and after
considering the subject, told him would
take it it he paid me cash down. Hadn't
any idea he would do it but he said if I'd
throw in the stock and farm implements,
he thought he could raise the money. I
finally told him would, and what do you
think, sir ? He hauled out his greasy old
pocket-book and handed me a s., 900 bill to
bind the bargain, and said as soon as the
papers were receipted, he'd pay. the bal
ance, which be has done to day. I feel
kind o. sorry to part with the old place,
but the thing is done and there's an end
ont. What dye think II
At this time my Crumple nature had
c;,
Here was this man Simpson who inherited
this farm-one of the finest in the neigh
borhood-who had skinned it without
scruple until it would scarcely bear white
beans under his system of treatment. And
he has got to leave OF mortgage the farm
of his ancestors they live on !
Then, there was Hans, who came into
the neighborhood with his frow five years
before with only his and his wife's strong
and willing hands. economy and industry.
they had finally paid for, ..and had saved
So 900 with which to pay for Simpsons one
hundred acres. So, in answer to Simpson
1 was ready to respond.
ssWhat do you think am glad you are
going, neighbor Simpson am glad
Hans has got the farm. He deserves it
you don't. He has got brains and indus.
try you have got neither. Under your
management the farm is discredited.-
Your farm lying next to mine deprecl'
ates the value Of my land ten per cent. Z;
the same land owned by Hans will add to
the value of mine twenty per cent. l shall
be the richer for your going and the poorer
for your staying. I am glad you are 60
ing.
You should have seen Simpsons and his
family's faces. They grew cloudy ano
long. Indeed, I believe they began to
scowl at me- Simpson said:
you're pretty rough on an OLD nelgn
Dor, Crumple, now that he's gong.
thought that you and had always peer
good friends. I've tried to be a good anc
accommodating neighbor. You've peer
good to me and Pm sorry to leave you
but if you're glad Pm going, Pm not very
sorry either.''
"Simpson. let us understand each other
AS neighbor, SO far as neighborly inter
course is concerned, I've no faultto find
and am sorry you are going. In TALKING
about you as farmer-you are, and al
ways have been poor one. No man witt
! such farm as yours ought to want TO SCI
at least there ought to be no necesslt
for selling. But you are no farmer. Io'
havn't got single good quality essenIla
to making good farmer. In the mrs
place, you detest the business you don