The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-05-29
The Man who Killed his Neigh
bors.
BY L. MARIA CHILD.

1t is curious to observe how mans spirit
uul state reflects itself in the people and ami
mails around him: nay, in the very garments,
trees and stones.
Reuben Black was an infestation in the
neighborhood where he resided. The very
sight of him produced effects similar to the
IIindOo magical tune, called RaUg, which is
said to bring on clouds, storms and earth
quakes. His wife seemed lean, sharp and
uncomfortable. The heads OF his boys had a
brislipg aspect,as ifeach individual hair stood
on end with perpetual fear. The cows pok-
ed ont their horns horizontally. as soon as he
opened the barn-yard gate. The dog drop
ped his tail between his legs, aud eyed him
askance, TO see what hnmor he was in. The
cat looked wild and scraggy, and had been
known to rush straight out the chimney when
he moved toward her. Fanny kemble's eX-
pressive description OF the Pennsylvania
stage horse was exactly suited 10 Reuben's
! poor old nag. "His hide resembied nm old
hair trunk" Continual whipping and kick
| ing had made him such Il stole, that no a.
mount of blows could quicken his pace, and
no chirruping could change the detected
| dropping of his head. All his natural lam
guage SAID, as plain as horse could say it,
that he was a unhappy beast. Even the
| trees on Reubens premises had gnarled and
hnotted appearance. The bark wept little
sickly tears of gum, and the branches grew
awry, as if they felt the continual discord, and
made sorry faces Mt each other behind their
! owners back His fields were red with sor-
| rel, or run over with MULLEN. Every ching
seemed as hard and arid as his own yisage.
Every day. he cursed the town and the neigh
borhood, because they poisoned his dogs, s.
stoned his hens, and shot his cats. Continu-
al law suits involved Eim in so much expense
that he had neither time nor money 10 spend
on the improvement of his farm.
Against Joe Smith, poor labOrer in the
neighherhood, he had brought three suits in
succession. Joe said he had returned n spade
he had borrowed, and Reuben swore he had
not. Ie sued Joe and recovered damages,
for which he ordered the Sheriff to seize his
pig. Joe, in his wrath, called him an old
swindler, and n curse TO the Heighborhu0d.--
These remarks were soon repeated TO Reu-
ben. He brought an action for libel and re-
covered twenty five cents. Provoked at the
laugh this occasioned, he watched for Joe 10
pass by, and set his big dog upon him, scream
ing furousy, Call me an old swindler again
will you2" All evil spirit is more contagious
than the plague. Joe went hope aud sced-
ed his wife, and boxedIttle JOe's ears, and
| kicked the cat: and not one of them knew
what it all was for. A fortnight after, Rau-
ben's big dog was found dead by poison--
! Whereupon he brought another action against
Joe Smith, and not being able to prove him
guilty of the charge of dog,murder, he took
| his revenge by poisoning n pet lamb belong
I ing to Mrs. Smith. Thus the bad game went
on, with mutual worliment and loss. Joe's
temper grew more and LAQIe vindictWe, and
the love oftalkiug over his troubles at the
grog shop increased upon him. Poor Mrs
Smith cried, and said it was all owing to
Reuben Black; for better hearted man new
er lived than her Joe, when she first married
him.
Such was the state of things when Simeon
4 Green purchased the farm adjoining Reuben's
A The estate had been much ueglected,and had
4 caught thstles and mullen from the neigh
boring fields. But Simeon was dlligent
5. man, blessed by nature with .ahenlthy organ
iZation and genial temperament;-and a
wise and kind education had aided nature TO
the perfection of her goodly work. His prov
ident industry soon changed the aspect OF
things on the farm. River-mnd, autumn
n leaves, old shoes and old bones were all put
4 in requisiton to assist in the production OF
use and beauty. The trees, with branches
pruned, and bark scraped free from moss
and insects, soon looked clean and vigorous.
Fields of grain waved where weeds had
riOted. Persian Iacs bowed gracefully over
the simple gateway. Michigan roses cover
ed halfthe house with their abundant clusters
Even the rough rock, which formed the door
step, was edged with golden moss. The
sleek horse. feeding inclover, tossed his name
and neighed when his master came near; as