Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Man that Killed his NeighbOrS.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.
FOUNDED ON F7CI'.
ny MRS. LYDIA MARIA CHILD.

1t is curious TO observe how a mans spiri-
tual state reflects itself on 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
Hindoo magical tune called Raug, which is
said to bring on clouds, storms and earth
quakes. His wife SCENE lean, sharp and
uncomfortable. The heads OF his boys had
a bristling aspect, as if each individual hair
stood on end with perpetual fear. The COWS
poked out their horns horizontally as soon as
he opened the barn-yard gate. The dog
dropped his tail between his legs, and looked
askance, to see what humor he was in. The
cat looked wild and scraggy, and had been
known to rush straight up the chimney, when
he moved towards her. Fanny kemble's
expressive description Of the Pennsylvania
stage horses, was exactly suited to Reuben's
old nag. His hide resembled an old hair
trunk" Continual whipping and kicking
had made him such a stole that no amount Of
blows could quicken his pace, and no CHR
ripping could change the detected dropping of
his head. All his natural language said, as
plain as a horse could say it, that ne was a
most unhappy beast. Even the tees on
Reuben's premises had a g%narled and knotted
appearance. The bark wept little sickIy
tears of gum, and The branches grew awry,
as if they felt the continual discord, and made
sorry faces at each other behind their owners
back. His fields were red with sorrel, or
run over with MULLEN. Everything seemed
as hard and arid as his W visage. Every
day he cursed the town and the ~neighbor-
hood, because they poisoned his dogs, and
stoned his hens, aud shot his cats. Contin-
ual law suits involved him in so much ex-
pense that he had neither time or 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 a spade
he borrowed, and Reuben swore he had not.
He 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 a curse to the neighborhood. These re-
marks were soon repeated TO Reuben. He
brought an action for libel, and recovered
twenty-five cents. Provoked at the laugh
this occosioned, he watched for Joe to pass
by, and set his big dog upon him. screaming
furiously, Call me an old swindler again,
will you?" 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-
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-murdef, he took
his revenge by poisoning a pet lamb belong
ing to Mrs. Smith. Thus the bad game went
on, with mutual worriment and loss. Joe's
temper grew more and more vindictive, and
| al, lo,z IS t,lls-- Apar L., s.n..hla. - che
grog shop increased upon him. Poor Mrs
Smith cried and said it was all owing &c
Reuben Black, for a better hearted man new
ner lived than her Joe 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 ha,
caught lhistles and mullen from the neigh
boring fields. But Simeon was a diligen
man, and blessed by nature with a health
organization and a genial temperament; an
a wise and kind education had aided natur
in the perfection Of her goodly work. Hi
provident industry soon changed the aspeC
Of things on the farm. River mud, autum
leaves, old shoes and old bones, were all pu
in requisltion to assist in the production {
use and beauty. The trees, the branche
pruned, and bark scraped free from moss an
insects, soon looked clean and vigorous
Fields of grain waved where weeds had rio
ed. Persien lilacs bowed gracefully ovt
the simple gateway. Michigan roses cove
ed half the house with their abundant clut
tiers. Even the rough rock, which forme
the doorstep, was ed dyed with golden mos
The sleek horse, feeding in clover, tossed h
name and neighed when his master can
near, as much as to say, "The world is &
the pleasanter for having you in it, since
Greer /" The old COW, fondling her CT
under the great walnut tree, walked up to hi
with serious friendly face, asking for the sli
Of sugar beet he was wont to give her.
Chandelier, s~trutting about, with his tro,
of plump hens and downy little chicken
took no trouble to keep out of his way, b
tapped his glossy wings, and crowed a W,
come in his very face. When Simeon tut
ed his steps homeward, the boys threw
their caps and ran out shouting, "Fathe
coming!" and little Mary came toddIing
to him with a dandelion blossom 10 place
his button-hole. His wife was a woman
few words, but she sometimes said to |
neighbors, with a quiet kind of salisfactiC
" Every body loves my husband, that kno
him. They can't help it,"
Simeon Green's acquaintance knew 4
he was never engaged in a law suit in
life; but they predicted that he would 6nC
impossible to avoid it now. They ted
his next neighbor was determined to qual
with people, whether they would or not; t
he was like John Lilburne, of whom JuC
jenkins said, "lf the world was emptied
every person but himself, Lilburne wo
still quarrel with John, and John with
burne."
rs that his character! " said Simeon
IF he exercises it upon me, | will soon
him."
IN In every neighborhood there are pers
who like 10 foment disputes, not from
definite intention of malice or mischief,
merely because j, makes a little ripple of
element in the dull stream of life, like a c
test between dogs or game cocks. s.
people were not slow in repeating Sim