South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-02-23
Romney Hampshire County, va February g. 1877


= Aeosop ABOUT NuGence.
There was once german duke Who
disguised himself, and during the night
placed greatStonein the middle Of the
road: near his palace. s5, u, IL
Next morning a sturdy peasant nameki
Hahns, came that way with his lumber
ing ox-cart. ooh these lazy people -
said he. ''there is this big stone right in
the middle OF the road. and no one will
take the trouble TO put il out OF the way -
And. SO Hahns went on his way. scold.
ing about the laziness OF the people.
Next came q gay soldier along. He
had a bright plume waving from his hel.
met. and a sword dangling by his side.
and went singing merrily on his way.
His head was held SO far back that he
didn't notice the stone, sc he stumbled
over it. This stopped his song, and he
began 70 storm at the country people,
and call them ''boors and blockheads,
for leaving huge rock in the road Cor
a gentleman TO fall over" Then he
went ON.
Next camc company Of merchants,
with pack-horses and goods, on their
way to the fair that was to be held ut
the village near the dukes palace
When they came to the stone the road
was so narrow that they had to 90 off
in single file on either side. One oftbem,
named Berthold. cried out, did any.
body ever see the like OF that big stone
lying here all the morning. and no one
stopping to take it away?"
1t lay there for three weeks; and no.
L \
body tried TO remove it. Then the duke
sont round word to all the people on his
lands, to meet ut n deep cut i'm tho road,
called Dornthou, near where this stone
lay. as he had something to tell them.
The day came, and great crowd
gathered at the Dornthou. Each side
of the cut was thronged with people
overlooking the road. Old Hahns, the
farmer. was there, and so was Bcrthold,
the merchant.
And now n winding horn was heard
and the people all strained their necks
and eyes toward the castle. as splendid
cavaicade came galloping up to the
Dornthou. The duke rode into the cut,
got down from his hore, and with a
pleasant smile began to speak to the
people thus:
"My friends, it was l who put this
stone here three weeks ago. Every
passer-by has left it just where il was,
and has scolded his neighbor for not
taking it out of the way
When he had spoken these words ne
stopped down, and lifted up the stone.
Directly underneath it, was round
hollow lined with white pebbles, and in
the hollow lay n small leathern bag
The duke held it up that all, the people
might sec what was written on il. On
piece of paper, fastened to the bag,
were these words. "For hin, ulo Efis
up The stone" He united the bag. and
turned it upside down, aud out fell q
beautiful gold ring and twenty large
bright golden coins.
Then everybody wished that he had
moved the stone, instead of going round
it and only blaming his neighbors. They
all lost the prize because they had not
learned the lesson, or formed the habit
Of helpfulness And we shall loose
many prize, "a we 90 on in life, if we
don't form this habit. That bag of mon
ey was the dukes promise of reward
Tor helpfulness. But that promise was
hidden away ander the stone 80 that no
one could see il. Gods promises are
not hidden in this way. They are writ.
ten plainly out in tho Bible, so that we
may all see them and undcrstan them.
DR.. Frartlin used to say, "What
though you have found no treasure, and
had no legacy left you, never mind
Remember that diligence is the mother
of good luck. Then,
Plough deep while sluggards sleep,
And you will have corn to sell and keep.
Work while it is called to-day, for you
know not how much you may be hinder
ed tomorrow. One to-day is worth two
to-morrows and never leave till to.
morrow anything that you can do to-
day"
~ The Democratic City Executive