Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-22
An Instructive Parable.
BY " ONE OF EN-"

There was once upon a time man who
kepta store, and sold goods by whole
sale and also by retail.
And he became melancholy, because
customers were shy aud times were hard
sensation is disagreeabe.
And my ruin is more painful to bear
because it is slow in progress, even as
water doth gradually become hotter in
the pot whenever the lobster boileth. un.
til the crustaceous creature shrieketh out
his soul in anguish.
Lo! it is better TO be ruined quickly
than to endure this slow torture.
will give my money away to the poor
man, even the poorest, which is he who
printeth newspapers; and will shut up
shop. and wrap myselfin sack cloths OF
desolation. and pass my days in the pur-
lieus or broken banks, cursing the hard.
ness of the times, and rending my gar.
ments.
And the bowling of Rome shall be as
dulcet sounds of dulcimers, aud they who
blow the flutes and instruments of music
compared to the din will make in the
ears of the wicked-even in the ears OF
bank directors.
And even as he said, so he did; for he
was not like other mems sons who are
foolish and know it not, and say they will
do so and so, performing which is con-
trary.
For the sons of men are tickle, and he
that is born of woman doth often times
spite his face by diminishing the length
of the nose thereof
And 10! the prnter-even he who pub
llsheth newspapers-was made glad by
the bounty of him who sold by wholesale
aud retail; and he did sound his praises
and did print them moreover, and did
blow his trumpet of fame respecting that
mans dealings from the rising of the sun
even to the going down of the same.
And he-even the printer of papers
did magnify and enlarge upon the stock
of goods which the trader had in his store
and the newness and the beauty and the
cheapness thereof, until the people-yes
all of them, far and near-were amazed
And they said 10! this man hath gath
cred from the east and from the west
costly merchandise and wares of Won
drous value-even the workmanship p of cum
mug artiticers-and we knew it not. We
will lay out silver and gold in these things
which the printer speaks Of, and that
which he doth publish shall be ours. For
this mans merchandise is better than the
bank notes of those who promise to pay,
and therein lie, ,even banks of deposit which
beguile us to deposit our money and swim
die US like sin.
But the trader was still sad, and he
said; the money that these people bring
me for the goods in my store l give to
the printer, and thus will l ruin myself
do that which no man hath done in my
time nor before.
l will make the printer man, whom all
men scorn for his poverty, rich, and he
shall be clad in fine linen and rejoice.
And the sons of men shall meet him in
the market places, and sheriffs shun him
and the scoffers shall be rebuked and
shall take off their hats to him that was
poor.
And he shall flash the dollars in the
eyes of the foolish, and shall eat bank
notes and sandwiches.
Yea, even shall he light his pipe with
paper money, and grow fat.
For shall ruin myself and he who
advertises me shall enjoy my substance.
But 10! the trading man-even he who
sold observation-disclosures rich, and even
as the unclean beast leth in the mire,
stirred he not, by reason of much green
backs.
And the people focked to his store
from the north and from tbe south, and
from the east and from the west.
And the printer rejoiccd. aud his "phat"
did abound.
But the trader could not become poor;
and his melancholy ceased, and the smiles
of happiness were upon his face.
And his children did become mighty in
the land by reason of the dollars which
many of the people who did read his ad-
vertisements had poured into the traders
money bag.