St. Landry democrat., 1882-06-24
THE EDITORS WAGER.

Inc editor sat in his chair alone
a ouser person there never was known
Mhen IN came farmer, jolly old soul,
whose name for long years had been borne on
the roll
Of paying subscribers. He had come into
town
To bring his good wife and some farm produce
down,
And having moment Or two he could spare
Had run in as usual, to bring in a share
VI MS own inward sunshine to tighten the
Of the man of the press and his dull cherries
The editors smile, as he lifted his eyes
And saw who was there, was of joyful sur
prise;
And he greeted his friend with deal of glad
For a good chat with him was like taking
rest.
When at length, the old farmer got ready to
He said, with sly little laugh in his sleeve:
My dear friend, there is one thing just want
Now, please don't get vexed, foryou know it's
my way
But what makes you put in each paper you
print
So much that is worthless-do you take the
Well-petty misfortunes-and little misdeeds-
AND lots of small matter that nobody reads
The editor looked at him square in the face.
AT first with frown, then smile took its
My dear friend" he replied, I'm surprised
you know
Every line in the paper is read-but it, so;
AND now. if you wish, will make my words
good,
And prove what say, as every man should.
IL put in the very next paper line
Or two about youth coarse print or fine,
Whichever you choose, and just where you
may say,
And if you don't find on the very next day
That your neighbors all read it, promise to
give
Free subscriptions to you as long as you live"
Agreed" said the farmer, ''you shall sing
Put it right in the middle of one of those
Fine-type advertisements-I never yet knew
Any person of sense to read one of those
through
If l hear from it twice, will bring down to
The best load of garden sauce ever grew"
Then the .goo1 days were passed, and the
And the editor laughed to himself without
doubt,
AS he thought of his wager and how it would
And the nice little joke he would have on his
Then he wrote just two lines, and he ordered
In the smallest of type-thinking: Eth win
that bet
And he placed them himself. to be sure and not
fail,
In the midst of close agate rea-estate sale.
For. to better succeed in his little designs,
He'd selected place where to put these lines
And have them connected with what followed.
and make
A sentence complete in ITSELF without break,
These the lines that he wrote: "Our old friend
good James True,
Who is one of the best men the world ever
knew,
Of the wen known Hope Farm'-that was all
About James, but the next line below these two
twill be sold very cheap"-then went on to
The beauties and bounds Of the estate to be
sold.
The paper was printed. The next day but one,
The farmer came in, with his eyes full of fun;
:" You have won." he began, Just as sure as
you're born;
Why, before I'd got breakfast ate yesterday
morn.
Two or three neighbors called purpose to see
What that meant in the paper they saw about
q hadn't seen it YETI Then, during the day.
Every neighbOr that met me had something to
say
About my being sold. I was sold very cheap,
And you did it well, too; it was too good to
Solve told the whole story, and came with all
speed
To bring you the garden sauce, as agreed"
The editor looked from his window and saw
His friend had brought in all his horses could
All for him; he declined to accept it, but
found a#H
That his friend would not listen, and was off
with bound,
Saying, cheerly, as he went out: "In your
next sH zam
Just say Jim True's preaching, and this is his
text:
There is naught in the paper-fruit, flowers or
weeds
Not line in the paper that nobody reads
Providence (R. L) Journal.