The Hillsborough Recorder

A NEW WAY OF PAYING A SUBSCRIPTION.

A correspondent of the Lagrange Whig, gives the following amusing account of the way a farmer was taught how cheaply he could take the paper. The lesson is worth pondering by a good many men we "wot of:"

"You have some hens at home, of course. Well, I will send you my paper one year for the proceeds of a single hen for one season; merely the proceeds. It seems trifling, preposterous, to imagine the products of a single hen will pay the subscription; perhaps it will not, but I make the offer."

"Done!" exclaimed farmer B--; "I agree to it," and appealed to me as a witness in the affair.

The farmer went away much elated with his conquest, and the editor went on his way rejoicing.

Time rolled around, and the world revolved on its axis, and the sun moved on in its orbit just as it formerly did, the farmer receiving his paper regularly, and regaling himself with information from it. He not only knew the affairs of his own country, but became conversant with the leading topics of the day, and the political and financial convulsions of the times. His children delighted, too, in perusing the contents of their weekly visitor. In short, he said "he was surprised at the progress of himself and family in general information."

Sometime in the month of September, I happened up again at the office, when who should enter but our old friend B--

"How do you do, Mr. B--," said the editor, extending his hand, and his countenance lit up with a bland smile; "take a chair, sir, and be seated; fine weather we have."

"Yes, sir, quite fine, indeed," answered the farmer, shaking the proffered "paw" of the editor, and then a short silence ensued, during which our friend B-- pitched his chair backward and forward, twirled his thumbs abstractedly, and spit profusely.

Starting up quickly, he said, addressing the editor:

"Mr. D--, I have brought you the proceeds of that hen."

It was amusing to see the peculiar expression of the editor as he followed the farmer to the wagon. I could hardly keep my risibles down.

When at the wagon the farmer commenced handing the editor the products of the hen, which, on being counted, amounted to eighteen pullets worth a shilling each, and a number of dozen eggs, making in the aggregate, at the least calculation, $2.50, half a dollar more than the price of the paper.

"No need," said he, "of men not taking a family newspaper, and paying for it, too. I don't miss this from my roost, yet I have paid for a year's subscription, and half a dollar over. All folly, sir: there is no man but can take a paper; charity, you know, commences at home."

"But," resumed the editor, "I will pay for what is over the subscription. I did not intend this as a means of a profit, but rather to convince you. I will pay for—"

"Not a bit of it, sir: a bargain is a bargain, and I am already repaid, sir—doubly paid, sir; and whenever a neighbor makes the complaint I did, I will relate to him the hen story. Good day, gentlemen."