Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-05-20

eS prUneu, ana park SCraped Tree iron
moss and insects, soon looked clean ant
vigorous, Fields of grain waved wher
weeds had rioted. Persian ilacs bowe,
gracefully over the simple gateway. Mich
igan roses coved halflhe house with thei
abundant clusters. Even the rough rock
which formed the doorstep, was edgec
with golden moss. The sleek horse feed
ing in clover, tossed his name and neigh
ed when his master came near; as mucl
as to say, "The world is all the Ieasantel
for having YOU in it, Simeon Green" Tht
old COW, fonding her calf under the grea
walnut tree, walked up to him with ser
Gus friendly face, asking for the slice o
sugar beet he was wont to give her. Chan
tlcleer, strulting about, with his troop 0
plump hens and downy little chickens
took no trouble to keep out of his way
but tapped his glossy wings and crowet
a welcome in his very face. When Sim
con turned his steps homeward, the boy:
threw up their caps and ran out shouting
"Father's comingp' and little Mary wen
toddIing up to him with dandeIion bios
som to place in his button.hole His wife
was woman of few words, but she some
times SAID to her neighbors, with a quie>
kind satisfaction, Everybody loves my
husband, that knows i'm. They cant
help it,"
Simeon Green's acquaintane knew tina,
he was never engaged in lawsuit in his
life; but they predicted that he would find
1t impossible to avoid it now, they told him
his next neighbof was determined 10 quar-
rel with people whether they would OF
not; that he was like John Liburnc, OF
whom Judge Jenkins said, "It the world
was cmptied every person bat himself,
Liburne would still quarrel with John, and
John with Liburne."
''ls that his charactcr?" said Simeon.
eff he exercises it upon me, will soon
kill him."
in every neighborhood there are ind-
viduals who like 10 foment disputes, not
from any definite intention of malice or
mischief, but merely because it makes Il
little ripple Of excitement in the dull stream
of life, like contest between dogs or
game-cocks. Such people were not slow
in repeating Simeon Green's remark about
his wrongIing neighbor. "KiII mel will
he?" exclaimed Reuben. He said no
more; but his tightly compressed mouth
had such a significant expression that his
dog lodged him, as he would the track Of
tiger. That very night Reuben turned
his horse into the highway, in hopes he
would commit some depreciation on neigh
Dor Green's premises, But Joe Smith,
seeing the animal at large, let down the
bars of Beuben's own corn-ield, and the
poor beast walked in, and Toasted as he
had not done for many year, 1t would
have been great satisfaction to Reuben
if he could have brought law suit against
his horse; but as it was, he was obliged to
content himself with beating him. His
next exploit was to shoot Mary Green's
handsome chandelier, because he stood
on the slone-wal and crowcd, to the ig-
norant joy Of his heart, two inches beyond
the frontier line that bounded the contig-
uous farms. Simeon said he was sorry
for the poor bird, and sorry because his
wife and children liked the pretty crca-
ture; but otherwise it was no great matter.
He had been intending TO build a poultry
yard, with good high fence, tina, his
hens might not annoy his neighbors; and
now he was admonishcd TO make haste
and do it. lie would build them a snug
warm house to roost in; they should have
plenty of gravel and oats, and room to pro-
mcnade back and forth, and crow and
cackle TO their hearts content; there they
could enjoy themselves, and be Out Of
harms way
But Reuben Black had degree, of in
genuity and perseverance which might
have produced grea, results for mankind,
had those qualities been devoted to some
more noble purpose than provoking quar-
rels, A. pear tree in his garden very i'm
properly stretched over friendly arm in
to Simeon Green's premises, Whether
the sunny state Of things there had a
cheering effect on the tree | know not !;
but it happened that this overhanging bow
bore more abundant fruit, and glowed
with richer hue than the other bows. -
One day, little George Green as he went
whistling along, picked up pear that had
fallen into his fathers garden. The in
slant he touched it lie felt something on
the back of his neck, like the sting of a
wasp. 1t was Reuben Blacks whip, fol-
lowed by such storm Of angry words that
the poor child rushed into the house in an
agony Of terror But this experiment
failed also. The boy was soolhed by his
mother, and told not to 60 near the pear
tree again; and there the matter ended.
This imperturbabIc good nature vexcd
Rueben more than all the tricks and taunts
he met from others. Evil efforts lie could
understand, and repay with compound in
terest; but he did not know what to make
of this perpetual forbearance. 1t seemed
TO him there must be something coniemp-
tuous in it. He disliked Simeon Green
more than all the rest of the town put to-
gether. because he made him feel so un-
comfortably in the wrong, and did not ar-
ford him the slightest pretext for com
plant. 1t was annoying to see every thing
IN his neighbours domain looking so happy,
and presenting such bright contrast to