The Grange advance., 1874-08-26
ITEMS FOR The YouN6 FOLKS.
THE DISHONEST PEASANT.


In the year 1704 poor Frencnman
was passing the winter in a village in
Germany. One cold morning he had
occasion to buy a load of wood. He
found peasant who had one to sell,
and asked him what the price was. The
peasant, who perceived by his broken
German that he was a foreigner, and
that his ignorance might be taken. ad-
vantage of, answered that the price
was three louis d'ors. The Frcnchman
endeavored to beat him down, but in
vain. At last he took it. and paid the
money that was asked.
The peasant. delighted to have made
so good a bargain, drove with his
empty cart to the village Inn, which
was not far distant, and ordered break
fast. While it was getting ready, he
entertained the landlord with an ac-
count Of the way in which he had
cheated the Frenchman, and made MIN
pay three louis d'ors for a load of wood
which, at the utmost, was not worth
more than seven shillings and sixpence
talking as if he had done a very
clever thing. l. !.
The landlord was a good man, and
told him that he ought to he ashamed
of himself thus to have taken advantage
of the ignorance of poor foreigner.
SWELL" said the peasant, with a
scornful laugh, ''the wood was mine .
had right to ask just what pleased
for it's
The landlord made no reply. When
breakfast was over, the peasant asked
how much was to pay. The landlord
replied, ''Three louis d'ors."
''What ?" said the peasant, S'three
louis d'ors for cup of coffee and few
slices of bread and butter y
eyes," said the landlord, with the ut
most composure; the coffee and bread
and butter were mine have a right
to ask just what I please for them. My
bill is three louis d'ors; and shall
keep your horse and cart until you pay
me. If you think am charging you
too much, you can go before the
judge
The peasant, without saying anything
more, went to the judges Office and
made his complaint. The Judge was
surprised and indignant at the land
lord extortion, especially as he had
always borne an excellent character.
He ordered him to: be brought be-
fore him and his reception Of him was
somewhat stern. But the landlord
told him. the whole 3story-how, the
peasant had. taken advantage of the
poor einigrant's ignorance to cheat him,
what their conversation was, and how
HIS own conduct was simply visiting
upon the head of a dishone st man, the
wrong he had done to another . tj1 =
Under such circumstances the Judge
decided that the landlord had done
right, and that the peasant should pay
the three louis d'ors. The peasant,
with d very ill grace, drew out his purse
and laid the money on the table. @G
! "I do not want this money!" said
the landlord to the judge, as you may
we'll suppose. Will you have the good
ness to change one Of these louis d'ors,
and give the peasant seven shillings and
l,sixpence out of it-for that, as he con-
fessed to me, is all that his wood is
worth-and return the remainder to
the poor Frenchman? For the, break
fast want nothing
The judge counted out the seven
shillings and sixpence. TO the peasant,
and dismissed him with . severe re-
buke. The rest was returned to tho
Frenchman, who, on hearing the story,
vent to thank the kind innkeeper, and
with great difficulty persuaded him. to
accept small sum for the peasant S
Ebfeakfast.
THE BROKEN PANE. y
b At5our school there was ! boy by
the name Of Robert Rich. One ,dsy he
was throwing stones, he hit : window, I
and broke : pane Of glass. No person