THE GUNPOWDER HARVEST. 127 yet had little intercourse with Europeans, a merchant went into their country, made them acquainted with firearms, and sold them muskets and gunpowder, receiving furs in exchange. Some time after, a Frenchman, going upon the same business, with a stock of gunpowder, found that they had still a good deal of that article on hand, so that he could not induce them to buy more. In this difficulty he was tempted to practise a base cheat upon the poor Indians. He persuaded them that gunpowder was a seed, which would grow like millet if sown in the ground. They consequently sowed all they had, and bought more from him, for which they gave him skins and furs. The Indians placed a guard to protect the field from wild beasts, and went from time to time to see if the powder was growing. It was not long before they began to suspect the trick which had been played upon them; and when the season had passed without any crop appearing, no doubt of the imposture remained on their minds. The Indians, however, like most men, can be deceived but once. Some time afterwards, the author of the cheat, though he did not choose to pay them a second visit himself, sent a partner of his to the Missouri, with an excellent assortment of goods. The Indians, somehow, found out that this Frenchman was associated with the man who had imposed upon them, but still said nothing to him of the perfidy of his friend. They. gave him the public hut, which was in the middle of the village, to deposit his bales in; and there they were all ostentatiously laid out for the purpose of barter. The persons who had been tricked into sowing gunpowder now gathered, and entering confusedly into the Frenchman's store, cach helped himself to what pleased his fancy, and in the twinkling of an eye the whole stock disappeared. The Frenchman complained loudly of these proceedings, and went to the great chief to demand redress. The chief answered him very gravely that he should have justice done him, but for that purpose he must wait for the gunpowder harvest. His subjects, he said, had been advised by a Frenchman to sow that commodity as soon as it was reaped, they were all to commence a great hunt, and all the skins they got were to be given to their present visitor, in return for his goods, and for the advice given by his countryman. The Frenchman alleged that, though gunpowder grew in France, the Missouri ground was not fit for producing it, so that no harvest would ever be reaped from it in that country. But all his reasoning was useless. He returned much lighter than he went, and not a little ashamed of having been corrected in a point of moral duty by a nation of savages. The effects of the Frenchman's dishonesty did not stop herc. The Indians would never again deal with any one of that nation, so that their commerce was entirely lost to France. Such results often arise from unfair dealing. The making of a particular kind of lace in a certain district of England, was some years ago brought to an end, because the article was easily, and therefore very frequently, made of good appearance, but in reality worthless. People being often deceived in it, at length entirely gave up wearing it. It was stated some years ago in the House of Commons, that Ireland could produce as much flax as was needed in the whole of Britain; but, nevertheless, much flax was imported from abroad, and a higher price given for it than for Irish flax. The reason was, that Irish flax was often found to be made up wet, or with mud in the inside of the parcels, to make it weigh more heavily; the effect of damp being to heat and injure the material. When a few persons connected with a trade act thus dishonestly, buyers find it necessary to inspect everything before purchasing it. The inspection costs time and trouble, which are the same as money in business. A trader, therefore, cannot give so much for goods which he suspects, as for those which he is sure will be sound and good; and if he can have a choice amongst dealers, he will prefer doing business with the honest. In some cases it has been found, as in that of the lace manufacture, that the risk of being cheated is so great, that the trade is altogether given up. Thus we can easily see how important it is that all dealing should be fair. Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small; but thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have, that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.-Deuteronomy, xxv. 13, 15. A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight.-Proverbs, xi. 1. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.-Proverbs, xx. 11. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.-Proverbs, xx. 21. Look out of your door-take notice of that man; sce what disquieting, intriguing, and shifting he is content to go through merely to be thought a man of plain-dealing: three grains of honesty would save him all this trouble. STERNE. A right mind and generous affection hath more beauty and charms than all other symmetries in the world besides: and a grain of honesty and native worth is of more value than all the adventitious ornaments, estates, and preferments, for the sake of which some of the better sort so often turn knaves-forsaking their principles, and quitting their honour and freedom for a mean, timorous, shifting stato of gaudy servitude.-SHAFTESBURY. CONSCIENTIOUSNESS-IN ADHERING TO Ir almost always happens, that when any one makes a promise, some other person or persons are concerned in his keeping his word. These other persons, expecting him to do as he said, usually arrange their own proceedings accordingly. They are therefore disappointed, and their affairs may be seriously deranged, if he does not exactly do as he gave them reason to expect. In youth, we ought scrupulously to fulfil every engagement we may have made, which is not in itself wicked, even though it may appear disadvantageous to ourselves; for if we allow ourselves to I regard lightly any promise, however trifling, at that period of life, we shall be apt to break more important engagements afterwards, and thus incur the indignation and contempt of all who know us. THE MOOR AND THE SPANIARD. Many hundred years ago, when Spain was partly occupied by the Moors, or people of Morocco, a Spanish gentleman killed a young Moor in a sudden quarrel. He immediately fled; and seeing a garden, he threw himself over the wall, without being perceived by his pursuers. Seeing the owner, a Moor, in the garden, he asked to be concealed. It was a custom of the Moors to protect any one who had ever eaten with them. The owner of the garden, to assure the Spaniard of his safety, gave him a peach to eat, and then locked him up in a summer-house, telling him that, as soon as it was dark, he would provide for his escape to a place of greater safety. The good Moor then went into his house, where he had just seated himself, when a great crowd, with loud lamentations, came to his gate, bearing the body of his son, who had just been killed by a Spaniard. He soon discovered that the man who had taken his son's life was he whom he had just been assuring of protection. Nevertheless, he would not break his word. Saying nothing in the meantime to any one, he went in the evening to the garden-house, relieved the Spaniard, and mounted him. on one of his swiftest horses. "Christian," said he, “the man you have killed is my son. You ought to suffer; but you have eaten with me, and I must keep my word. Fly far while the night covers you, and you will be safe before morning. Though you are guilty of my son's blood, I thank God I am innocent of yours, and that my plighted faith is preserved." JOHN, KING OF FRANCE. John, king of France, was taken prisoner in battle by Edward the Black Prince, and brought to England. After remaining there in captivity four years, he was allowed to return to his own country, that he might endeavour to prevail upon his subjects to agree to a peace proposed by the king of England. The proposals of the English king, which, among other things, stipulated for four millions of gold crowns as a ransom for the French monarch, were not favourably received in France, and the peace was not carried into effect. When King John found that his people would not pay the money required for his liberty, he did not, as many would have done, resolve to stay in France. He determined immediately to return to England, and surrender his person once more into the hands of King Edward. Some of his councillors advised him against this step, but he was not affected by their councils. "If faith and loyalty," said he, were banished from the rest of the world, they ought still to remain enshrined in the hearts of kings." He accordingly returned to England-became again a prisoner and soon after died in London. |