Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-06-12


'lcai Christians spoke of their depredations in
terms OF gentle remonstrance, and repaid them
with unvarying kindness.
They went farlher--they openly announced :
You may do US what evil YOU choose. we will
return nothing but good Lawyers came into
the neighborhood and offered their services TO
settle disputes. They answered:
We have no need of you AS neighbors.
we receive you in the most friendly spirit
What will you do, If rascals burn your barns,
and steal your harvess ,!
I'VE will return good for evil. We believe
this to be the highest truth, and therefore the
best expediency.'
When the rascals heard this, they consider
ed il a marvellous good joke, and did many
provoking things which 10 them seemed witty
Bars were taken down in the nigh, and cows
let into The cornfelds The Christians repair.
ed the damages as well as they could, put The
cows into the barn, and a, twilight drove them
gently home, saying Neighbor, your cows have
been IN my field, have fed them well during
The day, but would no, keep them all night
II this was fun, they who planned The joke
found 10 heart to laugh al it, By degrees a
visible change came over these troublesome
neighbors. They ceased 10 Gu, off horses tails,
and break the legs of poultry. Rude boys
would say to younger brother: Don't throw
that stone, Bill F.! when killed the chicken last
week, didn', they send i, TO mother, because
they thought chicken broth would be good for
poor Mary! | should think you would be
ashamed TO throw stones al their chickens
Thus was evil overcome with good, till Eol one
was found TO do them wilful injury.
Years passed on and saw Them thriving in
worldly substance, beyond ;her neigbors, ye,
beloved by all. From them the lawyer and The
constable obtained no fees The sheriff slam-
mered and apologized when he took their hard
earned goods in payment Of The war tax They
mildly replied: ''Tis bad trade, friend Ex-
anime il in the ligh, Of conscience and see if it
be noi.' But while they refused 10 pay such
fees and taxes, they were liberal TO proverb
lent purposes.
Al the end of ten years, the public lands,
which they had chosen for their farms, were
advertised for sale by auction. According TO
the custom, those " ho had setled and cul,va.
ted the soil, were considered 10 have The right
10 bid it in a, The Government price, WHICH al
that time was ten shilings per acre. But the
fever of land speculation then chanced TO run
unusually high. Adventures from all paris Of
The country were 1ocking to the auction; capi-
,aIists in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York
and Boston, were sending agents 10 buy up
western lands. No one supposed that custom
or equity would be regarded The first days
sale showed that speculation ran 10 the verge
of insanity. Land was eagerly bought in at
seventeen, twenty-five and thirty dollars per
acre. The Christian colony had small hopes
of retaining their farms: AS first settlers they
had chosen the best land and persevering ln-
dusiry had brought it into The highest cultsa-
lion. Its market value was much greater than
the acres already sold al exorbanl prices. In
view of these facts they had prepared their
minds for another remove into the wilderness,
perhaps TO be again elected by similar pro-
cess Bu, the morning their loi was offered
for sale, they observed, with gralelu! surprise,
that their neighbors were every where busy
among the crowd. begging and expost"la'ng ::
|. Dom, bid on these lauds These men have
been working hard on Them for Ten years. Du
ring all tha, time. they never dad harm 10 man
or brule. They are always ready TO give good
for evil. They are blessing TO any nelghbor-
hood 1t would be a sin and shame 10 bid on
their lands. lie, them go al the Government
price.
The sale cane on The cultivalOrs OF The soil
offered ten sbillngs, intending TO bid higher IL
necessary. But among all that crowd of sell
fish, reckless spectators, not one b,d ooer them :
Without an opposing voice, The fair acres re-