The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-06-01
MISCELLANEOUS
THE MAN THAT KILLED Ills NEICHBORO.
By L. MARIA CHILD.

itual state reflects itself into the people anc
animals around him; nay, in the very gar
menr, trees and stones.
Reuben Black was an infestation in the
neig hborhood where he resided. The yer,
sight Of him produced effects similar to The
Hindoo magical tune, called Raug, which i.
said to bring on clouds, storms and earth.
quakes. His wife seemed lean, sharp aud
uncomfortable. The heads Of his boys had
a bristling aspect. as if each individual hal,
stood on end with perpetual fear. The cows
poked out their horns horizontally. as soon
as he opened the barn-yaId gate. The dog
droOped his tail between his legs, and eyed
him sskance, to see What humor be was in.
The cat looked wild and scaggy, and had
been known to rush strait up the chimney
when he moved toward her. Fanny Kem-
ble's expressive description of the Pennsyl-
vania stage horse was exactly suited to Reu-
ben's poor old nag. His hide resembled an
old hair trunk Continual whipping aud
kicking had made him such a stole, that no
amount of blows could quicken his pace, and
no c%hirruping could change the detected
dropping of his head. All his natural Ian
guage said. as plain as a horse could say il,
that he was a most unhappy beast. Even
the trees on Reuben's premises had a gnarled
and knorty appearance. The bark wept little
sickly tears Of gum, and the branches grew
awry, as if they felt the continual discord,
aud made sorry faces at each other behind
their owners back. His fields were red with
sorrel, or run over with mullen. Every thing
seemed as hard aud arid as his own yisage.
Every day, he cursed The town and neighbOr-
hood because they poisoned his dogs, and
stoned his hens. and shot his cats. Contin-
ual lawsuits involved him in so much ex-
pense that he had neither time nor money
to spend on The improvement of his farm.
Against Joe Smith, a poor laborer in the
neighborhood, he had brought three suits in
succession. Joe said he had returned spade
be had borrowed. and Reuben swore he had
not. He sued Joe and recovered damages,
for which he ordered the Sheriff 10 seize his
pig. Joe, in his wrath, called him an old
swindler and a curse to the neighborhood.-
These remarks were soon repeated TO Reu
ben. He brought an action for libel, and re-
covered twenty-five ceuts. Provoked at the
laugh this occasioned, he watched for Joe to
pass by, and set his big dog upon him, scream
ing furiously. Gall me an old swindler again.
will your An evil spirit is more contagious
than the plague. Joe went home and scold-
ed his wife, and boxed little Joe's ears, and
kicked the cat; and not one Of them knew
what it was all for. A fortnight after, Reu-
hens big dog was found dead by poison
Whereupon he brought another action a.
gainst Joe Smith, and not being able to prove
him guilty of The charge OF dog murder, he
took his revenge by poisoning a pet lamb. be
longing 10 Mrs. Smith. Thus the bad game
went on, with mutual worriment and loss
Joe's temper grew more and more vicdictive.
and the love Of talking over his troubles at
the gIog shop increased upon him. Poor
Mrs. Smith cried and said that it was all ow-
ing to Reuben Black; for a better hearted
man than her Joe never lived, when she first
married him.
Such was the state OF things when Simeon
Green purchased the farm adjoining Reuben's.
The estate had been much neglected and had
caught thistles and mullen from the neigh
boring fields. But Simeon was a dilligent
man, blessed by nature with a healthy organ
ization and a genial temperament; and a wise
aud kind education had aided nature in the
perfection OF her goodly work. His providenr
industry soon changed the aspect of things
on the farm. Rlver-mud, autumn-leaves, old
shoes and old bones, were all put in requisi-
ten 10 assist in the production of use and
beauty. The trees, with branches pruned.
aud bark scraped free from moss and insects.
soon looked clean and vigorous. Fields Of
grain waved where weeds had rioted. Per-
sian lilacs bowed gracefully over the simple
gateway. Michigan roses covered BALI the
house with their abundant clusters. Even
the rough rock, which formed the doorstep.
was edged with golden moss. The sleek
horse, feeding in clover, tossed his name and
neighed when his master came near; as much
as to say, The world is all the pleasanter Tor
haying you in il, Simeon Green!' The old
COW, fondIing her calf under the great walnut
tree, walked up to him with serious friendly
face, asking for the slice Of sugar beet he was
wont TO give her. Chandelier. strutring a.
bout, with his troop Of plump hens and downy
little chickens, took no trouble to keep out Of
his way, but tapped his glossy wings and
crowed a welcome in his very face. When
Simeon turned his steps homeward, the boys
threw up their caps and rem out shouting
Fathers coming! and little Mary went tod
ding up TO him with a daudelion blossom to
place in his button hole. His wife was a
woman of few words, but she sometimes said
to her %neighbors, with a quiet kind ~satisfac-
ton. Everybody loves my husband, that
knows him. They can't delp it,
Simeon Green's Acquaintance knew that
he never was engaged in a lawsuit in his life;
but they predicted that be would find it i'm
possible to avoid it now, they told him his
next ueighbor was determined 10 quarrel with
people whether they would OF not; that he
was like John Liburne, of whom Judge Jen-
kins sai6, III the world was emptied OF every
person hut himself. Liburne would still quar-
rel with John, and John with Liburne.'
is that bis character = said Simeon IF
ne exercises it upon me, | will soon killhim.'
In every neighborhood there are individu-
ais who like TO foment disputes, not from any
definite intention Of malice or mischief, but
merely because il makes a little ripple of ex-
element in The dull stream Of life, like a con.
test between dogs or game-cocks. Such peo-
pie were not slow in repeating SimeonGreen's
remarks about his wraDgling neighbor. Kill
me- will he!' exclaimed Reuben. He said
no more but his tightly compressed mouth
had such a significant expression that his