Stuyvesant: A Franconia Story

fic

ct he had a great mind to go himself, and help plow, and so put off making his cage until the next day. It is very probable that he would have decided upon this plan, but while he was hesitating about it, B

ether Frink had been drinking any of it. He was very confident that the water had d

"the first thing is to

y bigger. He had not. Phonny then carried the trap to the back side of the shop and put it upon a great chopping-blo

s shop in order," said Stuyvesant,-"that

let you use it. But what sho

the hen-house," said Stuyvesant, "an

in his work and looked up t

hen-house!

ve," said Stuyvesant. "He sa

he laid down his saw, which he had just taken to hang up

hnut. He found him harnes

e you given Stuyvesant th

chnut, "but he has not told me yet w

the eggs if he takes care of the h

of them," s

y. "If I had known that you would be willing to let

t would be safe to let i

?" asked

d be persevering and faithfu

tuyvesant?" asked Phonny. "Stu

ess and perseverance, for

t me have it as well

ither of you. It shall go to t

ot accept your of

chnut, "I beli

now," said Phonny, "and tha

orse. When the horse was all ready, he gathered up the reins and stood

be settled, whether you or Stuyvesant has the best right to

long the yard, until he came to the shop-door, and there he sto

ants to have the care of the hen-house on the same terms I offere

you that I would take it, but if Phonny wa

are willing, I suppose, if Stuyvesa

his, however, Phonny seemed to spea

decide on which side the right is. So that you see we have got the quarrel into a very pretty shape now. The question is, which of you can have the pleasure an

not any such thing. A quar

to quarrel. We can not possibly get along, without quarrels. The onl

and paper in your sho

said

them ou

a small piece of paper, and held

you willing to submit this case

said

," said S

a statement of it

of the wagon beside him, and began to write. In a

B. accepted the offer C. made application for it. C. immediately accepted the offer, before A. decided upon B.'s application. Now the question is who

, "there is a simple s

tand it very we

Beechnut; "then I'

nut bega

certain

aused and looke

echnut," sai

you say Beechn

nued Stuyvesant, "is the

offer," continued Beechn

to you or me,"

derstand so far. But what

hnut, "means preceden

understand than pri

e considered as first in order of time, the one who

ccepted first,

was only explaining to you what the question is. You m

im all about it, just as it was, instead of making

ct, without knowing who the real parties are, and how they are to be affected by his decision. Here's Mr. Wallace now, who would not like very well to decide in favor of his brother and against you,

nny, "I will car

" said Beechnut, "and not tell him

Phonny, "

will know who the parties are, and then

honny, "I will

t go with you,

" said

o his cousin Wallace's room. He found Wallace seated at his table in his alcove, where he usuall

ked up to the table, and Wallace aske

AP

nded him

, "is a case for

nt to be thinking on the subject, and then he took his pen and wrote sever

d up the paper, and told Phonny that he must

hat it was from Bee

knew that there was nobody else here who would have ref

paper and carried i

it, and read a

consider and decide upon the offer, before C. came forward. In all cases of

esant had had a reasonable time to consider my offer, before

id Phonny, "he

nt said

"and tell you what I conclude upon it when I return. Perha

ey resumed their work of putting the tools in order, and while doing

had abundance of time to consider

question to Wallace,

nny, "let's go

Stuyvesant, "

e must not tell him wha

aid Stu

him in his alcove as before. They advanced to the table,

his offer," said Phonny, "don't

t whatever might be the subject of the discussion, he was not himself the person represented by B.

ich is B., and of course you ma

th an expression of surprise a

yvesant, "let us tell

first offered to Stuyvesant, that Stuyvesant did not accept it for an hour or two, and that in the course of that time he,

ys would not be more than would be reasonable. Now, I think in such a case as this, any person who should receive such an offer as Beechnut made, ought to have time enough to consider the whole subject fairly. He would wish to see the hen-house, to examine its condition, to consider how long it would take him to put it in order, and how much trouble the care of the hens would make him afterward. He would also wa

with a sigh, "I suppo

nt walked back to