The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-07-18
The Golden Rule in Practice,

As have before had occasion 10 re.
mark, these pictures Of real life which
give 10 Us happy thoughts. and make
brighter tue humanity Of our time, ara
worth preserving and transmitting
The following anecdote Of the English
Duke Of Portland find among my
scraps. where il has rested for a. least
score Of years. and 1 think il viii
bear now 10 be Reproduced
The duke found that one of hi. ten
ants vas falling. year after year. into
arrears Of rent. He made strict itl-
! quiries. and learned that the fsriner
I WAS hard working. industrious, frugal
man. with large family. and that the
farm had been run down when he took
( il. Not only had the land been sadly
/ Impoverished, but the buildings had
/ been out OF repair, and in sonse piaces
/ shattered. The ste ewsrd asked what he
>>should do. Before answering, the duke
rode over the place. and locked around
/ for himself. and WAS soon satisfied that
the tenant Was = good and experienced
farmer, his great drawb back upon such
tarm being his extreme poverty
There WAS not really upon the whole
place produce enough to pay the whole
arrears
John said his lordship, rs the
farmer met him In the yard, Il have
come 10 look over tie farm bit. You
must show ine"
TreInblingly the poor tenant obcyed
After they had seen aii tina, needed to
be seen TO complete an understanding OF
the case, said the duke
John. this will lever answer |
see you are quite under the weather.
especially with your large family. All
the crops you have OH hand and all
your stock won't pay the arrears of
rent"
Alas. my lord, know it full well
don't sleep for ths thinking Oft
Well. we'll went Oh the duke.
ehcorily I'm tell you what We will
do. will take the farm into my own
hands. and you shall work it for me.
| will hire you. and pay you fair
wages"
John bowed his head He would
DO anything Of right that lay in his
pow.r He didn't exactly like the idea.
al his time of life, to be . day laborer.
without farm; but there was no help
for II.
From that time things began 10 wear
new aspects on the farm First came
reinforce naents Of stock aud hsy and
grain aud then many loads Of rich
manure; and at the proper time extra
quality of seeds also lumber for the
repairing of the buildings. with paint
and glass The duke rode over fire.
Quently. and found that the man was
exer,ing himself with all his power aud
energy Had the place been his own
hr ,uuld mot nasU w" ..v.~ ivy"i aud
faithful. Crops grew abundsntly; the
stock increased and f'ourishe1; the
fences and outbuildings were put in
complete order and everywhere were
signs of success and thrift. Finally the
steward was able to announce that the
farm was more than paying its way
Well. John" said the duke, on bis
next visit, after he had looked around q
little, and drank mug Of the danes
home brewed ale II think the farm
will do very we'll now. Suppose we
change back | don't care 10 keep IL
any longer. aud would rather you
should he the tenant You have your
head above water, and l hope you will
be able to keep it there. Ny steward
understands. and will put you down
/ again on his books"
And then the duke rode of, leaving
the poor farmer in dumb astonisbment.
+ II Was hard for him To credit the evi.
drncc Of his own senses; but upon sp-
plying to the steward he found that he
had been really re entered as tenant OF
the farm. just rs il now stood in its
improved condition. all free and square
from past obligation. Of course he was
happy: and was not there another
party just as happy rs he!