The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-03

fruit. flowers, garden produce III gen
eral, local curiosities and specimens,
birds or animals, diving or dead ETC.,
etc. And yet, through this rule, as
through many an enactment, a coach
and four has been driven. Fol instance,
when a wealthy nobleman did not
dare to offer a young princess a dla-
mond neclace. which she wished for
a birthday present, he has got out of
the difficulty by sending her a dni
wearing la diamond necklace. Dolls,
exactly the size of the young lady for
whom thew were intended, have also
been the innocent cOnveyancers OF &C
curatelv fitting silk dresses, high
priced furs, velvet cloaks and NANTES.
Elaborate lace robes and skirts, and
other costly articles of dress, which
circumstances and social barriers pre-
vented the giver from laying directly
at the fair recipients feet.
Even admitting the small gift to be
a sprat thrown out to catch a macker-
ell, never mind that. Accept h sprat
and repay it with a mackerel. 1t is
more blessed to give than to receive.
But the gift ome from an interested
motive. Well, what of that: Are
your own actions altogether purely
disinterested, especially in the case of
anNlDllP IlhclS ~ DioSuA -" SN0
favors of Others? 1t wiser to take it as
iattering to your dignity, a proof of
YOUR importance, a tribute to yourself
esteem. a plain admission that you
are somebody worth cOnciliating by a
by a little trouble,,and a.tritiing outlay.
Votive sprats laid upon your altar
need remind you of nothing more I'M
pleasant than that you are possessed
of mackerel which other people would
be very glad to have. Remember
that it is better to be envied than
pitied, and graciously receive any
small fry homage that may be offered
by your less wealthy OF influential
acquaintance.
Moreover. there are times Gas in
cases of sickness, or loss, or Temporal
ry deprivation of any accustomed OBJ
iect when small presents becomc
doubly s~easonable and acceptable.
And a small present that is at once ser
viceable and ornamental, frequently
in sight and repeatedly III use, is es-
pecially both a judicious thing to give
and an agreeable thing to receive.
It's daily presence recalls the glver to
mind, and its daily utility causes him
to be gratefully remembered. such a
things acts much more etfectually as
a token anu ii SOuNCllII iiuI a 4
or knick-nack of greater ~cOstlines,
! which is used or perhaps only looked
( at twice or thrice in the course of a
wear. and slowed away safe out of
sight in it's drawer er jewel-case for
the rest of the twelvemonth. We
| have only to consult our wv proper
feelings, and recall our W private
experience, to admit the truth of this
remark.
In some countries, gifts comes due,
like rents and bills, at certain seasons
In France, there is the universal new
years gitttax, perplexing peoples wits
to make a choice, and often pressing
hard upon their pockets. Easter eggs,
are less unavoidable; they, however,
should contain some surprise. Their
value ranges from the merest trifie,
though costly trinkets, up to the ines
Unable and the priceless.
Throughout the whole of q recent
passion week, a lovely and not unprO-
tected creature was disconsolate, be-
cause her dearest friend-She had no
husband-was mean enough to refuse
her a charming carriage, brilliant har-
ness, and perfect pair of cream-cOlOred
horses, on which she::had set her femi-
nine mind. Sympathy blunts the
edge of sorrow. SO she cOnfided her
griefs to a friend of her friend.
Whether they mingled their tears. we
know not. But the consequence was
means of procuring the equipage in
question. IL was an eXtravagent but
not an extraordinary egg.
The lady, not to be out done, con-
trived a monster egg some five feet
lnnr anl fhrna foot Inpn When fin
ished, it was taken to her friends
apartments, like a sedan chair, by a
couple of porters, only reclining on It's
side. He eagerly opened it, and dis.
covered-not a magnificent New
foundland dog, with a jeweled collar,
nor a LilIiputian tiger to ride behind
his cab, but-sweetly sleeping on
bed of roses-the lady's pretty, prec-
ious, and pretentiOus self!
A code now lying before us directs
whatever the object presented tt
you-even a copy of the Budget or one
of Tom Noodles tragedies-manifes
your great satisfaction as receiving it
Let your thanks be warm, and no
forced or affected This is e~quivalenr
to our homely saying, Never look
gift-horse i'll the MOUTH" about which
a good deal may be said. Never lool
a gift-horse in the mouth" may b.
taken to mean that any horse, even
R~osinante, gratis. is better than n,
horse at all, and Is, therefore, to be &C
copied without any fault-finding
Otherwise, no one observes the rule
everybody does look gift-horses in tn
mouth. Givers, therefore do well t.
take care that the horses mouth vii
pear approximations Journal.
Z Il is a sad thing that the yellow fexe