The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-11-28
THE OLD MAN ALWAYS RIGHT.

take it. for granted that you have
been in the country, and seenaa very
old farmhouse with matched roof, and
MOSES and small plants growing wild
upon the thatch There IS stork s nest
on the summit of the gable; for we can't
do without the stork. The walls of the
house are sloping, and the windows are
low, and only one 'of the latter Is made
so that it will open. The baking-oven
sticks out of the wall like a little fat
body. The elder-tree. hangs over the
paling, and beneath its branches, at
the foot of the paling, is pool Of water
in which few ducks are disporting
themselves. There is a yard-!dog, too,
who barks at an Corners,
Just such a farmhouse stood out in
the country and in this house dwelt an
old couple-a peasant and his. wife.
Small as was their property, there was
a single article that they could do with
out-a horse, which made living out
of the grass it found by the high-road.
The old peasant rode into town. on this
horse; and often his neighbors borrow
ed it from him, and rendered the old
couple some service in return for the
loan, of it. But they thought it would
be best if they sold the horse, or ex-
changed it for something that might be
more useful to them. But what might
this something bel?
"You'll know the best, old man."
said the wife. g. 1t is fair-day to-day, so
ride into town, and. get rid of the horse
for money, or make a good exchange;
whichever way You do will be right to
me. Ride to the fair +it' .'',i 7T.t i
And she fastened his neckerchief for
him, for she could do that better than
he could; and she tied it in double
bow, for she could do that very prettily.
Their, she brushed his hatwith- the palm
of her hand, and gave him kiss. So
he rode away upon the horse that was
to be sold or to be bartered for some
thing else.s Yes, the old man. knew
what he was about. s 1,5Fvt,t,
The sun shone hotly down, not cloud
was to be seen in the sky. The road
was very dusty, for may people, who
were all bound for the fair, were driv-
ing or riding, OF, walking upon it. There
was no shelter anywhere from the sun
beams. - ,g.r.u-n,s ~r~.,s
! Among the rest was a man trtdging
along, and driving "a COW to the fair.
The cow was as beautiful creature as
any COW could be. y = y. '''-.7'
"She gives good milk, I'm sure"
said the peasant. THAT would be a
very good .exchange-the COW for the
horse.'' u .eHsrss 81
"Hallo, you. there with the GOVT"
he said. "I'n tell you what fancy
a horse costs more than acew, but don't
care for that; a COW would be more
useful to me- If you like, we'll ex-
change.nsfioY9H1 ToiSsicTFuoS
"To be sure I will,p said the man
and they exchanged accordingly. ffta
So that was settled, and the peasant
might have turned back, for be had done
the business he came to do; but as he
had once made up his mind to go to the
fair, he determined to proceed, merely
to have look at il; so he went on to
the town with his COW. q, an,
Leading the animal, he strobe steadi-
ly on; and after time he overlook a
man who was driving sheep. 1t was
"a good fat sheep, with fine fleece on
its back Ss-& a E-1.N Seb4L
81 should like to have that fellow
said our peasant to himself. "He
would find plenty of grass by our pal
ings, and in the winter 1--WE could Keep
him in the room with u.s.. Perhaps it
would be more practical to have sheep
instead of COW. Shall we exchange?''
The man with the sheep was quite
ready, and the bargain was struck. So
the peasant went on In the high-road
with his sheep. atsisl .7ala gla5f3ztN
Soon he overlook another man, who
came iato the road from field, carry
ing great goose under his arm. s'r
That's heavy thing you have there.
1t has plenty of feathers and plenty of
fat, and would look well tied to a string.
and padding in the water at our place.
That would be something for my old
woman; she could make all kinds of
profit outof it. How often she has
said, If we only had a goose!' Now,
perhaps, she can have one: and, if pos
sible,~ it shall be hers. Shall We sex.
changeP iii give you my sheep for
your goose, and thank you into the bar
gain.', So sSsDsg y stS4&Sa Z E
The other man had, not the least OBJ
lection; and accordingly they ex-
changed, and our peasant became pro-
prietor of the goose. z "a i5~A 2 DE
BY this time he was very near the
town. The crowd senthe high-road be-
came greater and greater; there was
quite crush Of men and cattle. They
walked in the road, and close by the
palings; and@-at the barrier they ever
walked into the toll mans potato field,
where his one fowl was struttinp about.
with a string to its leg, lest il should
take fright at the crowd, and stray away.
and so be lost. This fowl had short
and .winked with both ;ts