TOO MUCH CREDIT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1523, 7 November 1873, Page 7

TOO MUCH CREDIT.

The Pittsburg Chronicle tells the following good Jttory:— Mr Keene, a shrewd and thrifty farmer of Allenborough, owned a large flock of sheep, and one autumn, when it oame housing time, he was greatly annoyed upon missing a number of his finest muttons, among them three or four wethers which he had raised and fattened for his own table. He was sure it was not the work of dogs, and the most he could do was to await further developments, On the following spring* when his sheep were turned out to. pasture, he instituted a careful watch, and ere long he detected Tom Stickney, a neighboring farmer, in the act of pilfering a sheep ; but he made no noise about it at the time. Stickney was a man well to do, and Keene did not care to expose him. Autumn came again, and on countiug up up his flock, Mr Keene found eight sheep missing. He made out a bill in due form to Thomas Stickney for the eight sheep, and presented it. Stickney choked and stammered, but did not back down. Like a prudent man he paid the bill and pocketed the regeipt, Another Spring time came, aud Mr Keene's sheep were sgain turned out. Another Autumn came, and the farmer again took an account of his stock, and this time fifteen sheep were missing. As before lie made out the bill to Tom Stickney for the whole number, missing ; but this time Tom objected.. "It is tqo mucb of'a good thirg," said he, '* Fifteen sheep! Why, bless your soul, I hadn't had a fifth part of 'em." Mr Keene was inexorable. " There is the bill," said he, " and I have made it out in good faith. I have made no fuss when my sheep have been missing, because I deemed your credit good and sufficient, " Well," groaned Tom with a big gulp, " I suppose I must pay; but," he added emphatically, " we'll close that account from this time. You have given me too much credit altogether—some other rascal has been stealing: on the strength of it."