LANDLORD AND TENANT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 53, 27 January 1880, Page 3

LANDLORD AND TENANT.

(From the Sheffield Telegraph. ) In these days when farmers' grievances are in everybody’s mouth, the following story is worth telling : —“ A fanner called on the late Earl Fitzwilliiuu to represent that his crop of wheat had been seriously injured in a field adjoining a certain wood where his lordship’s hounds had during the winter frequently met to hunt. He stated that the young wheat had been so cut up and destroyed that in some parts he could not hope for any produce. ‘Well, my friend,’ said the earl, ‘ I am aware that we liave frequently met in that field, and that wo have done considerable injury ; and if you can procure an estimate of the loss you have sustained, I will repay you.’ The farmer replied that, anticipating his lordship’s consideration and kindness, he had requested a friend to assist him in estimating the damage, and they thought that, ns th.-. crop seemed entirely destroyed, LSO would not more than repay him. The earl immediately gave him the mono}’. As the harvest approached, however, the wheat grew, and. in those parts of the field which were the most tram pled the corn was strongest and most luxuriant. The fanner went again to his lordship, and, being introduced, said, ‘I am come, my lord, respecting the field of wheat adjoining such a wood.’ Lord Fitzwilliam immediately recollected the circumstance. ‘ Well, my friend, did nutlaliow you sufficient to remunerate you for your loss i’ ‘ Yes, my lord, but I find that I have sustained no loss at all, for where the horses had most cut up the land, the crop is most promising, and therefore I have brought the LSO back again.’ ‘Ah,’ exclaimed the venerable earl, ‘ this is what I like. This is as it should ho between man and man.’ Ha then entered into conversation with the farmer, asking him several questions about his family, how many children, and what was the age of each. His lordship then went into another room, and on returning gave the fanner a cheque forLIOO, saying, ‘ Take care of this, and when your eldest son shall become of age present it to him, and tell him the occasion which produced it.’ Thus, while meeting an honorable act with a generous return, Lord Fitzwilliara at the same time adopted a most effectual means of transmitting a lesson of integrity to another age, and of stamping the deed with bis approbation”.