Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-27
VOL. 76.-39O2. NO. 42.
"Your age"
" Forty, or thereabouts."

"Your age"
"Forty, or thereabouts."
"Your profession ?"
"My profession Oh you mean what
do do ? I'm farmer"
The lawyer wrote two lines, folded the
paper, and gave il to his strange client.
+" Finished already 2" cried Bernard.
"Well, so much the better you don't let
the grass grow under your feet here, | can
see. And how much might there be TO pay
for this opinion, sir 2"
"Three francs"
Bernard paid without word, made his
bow, and went away delighted at having
profted by the opportunity.
1t was four o'clock when Bernard reached
home. He was very tired, and had made
up his mind to rest for the remainder of the
day. But, Just as he entered the house, one
Of the men came to ask il they had not bet
ter carry in the hay in that meadow by the
river It had been cut day or two, and
was quite ready.
"This evening |" exclaimed the farmers
wife, who had just joined her husband at
would be shame to set to work 80 late,
when tomorrow will do just as WELL"
The man suggested that the weather
might change, that the horses were still in
the wagons, and that there was nothing else
for the laborers 10 do. The farmers wife
replied that the wind was in a good quarter,
and that, even If they began, they would not
be able to finish that night, 80 what was the
use
Bernard listened first to one and then TO
the other, at loss how to decide, when he
suddenly remembered the lawyers paper.
"Wait minute" he cried. al have a
lawyers opinion here, a real good lawyer he
is, too. 1t cost me three fraucs, and it ought
to help us to decide this business. Here
Therese, tell RS what it's all about, for you
can read writing like print"
The woman took the paper, and read,
with many stops, the words "Peter Bar
| nard never put off till tomorrow what you
can do today"
| "That's it " cried the farmer, struck by
the fitness of the opinion. Come then, be
quick all of you, horses, carts, lads and
lasses and we'll carry the hay"
| His wife objected still but he declared
that he was not going to pay three francs
for an opinion and then make no use of it
and that he intended to follow the lawyers
advice. He set the example, putting him
self at the head of his laborers, and work
ing as hard as any one, until all the hay wa
safely carried.
The event proved the wisdom of his con
duct; for the weather changed in the night
a sudden storm broke over the valley, ano
returning day showed that the river hac
overflowed its bank, and was carrying away
the hay which lay in swathes and hillocks
The harvest of the neghbors was completely
destroyed. Bernard alone had lost nothing
This first trial gave him such confdenc
in the opinion of the lawyer that from tina
day forward he made it his rule of con
duct, and became, by his method and in
dustry, one of the richest farmers in tn
! neighborhood. Moreover, he never forgo
the service rendered him by NJ, de la G 81
; mondaie, and every year, he took him, il
token of gratitude, couple of his bes
, fowls and he always said, whenever an
one mentioned lawyers, that, next to tn
) commandments of God, the best thing
follow was the advice of good lawyer
1 | Ch1uerb0r