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

Reuben made no answer; put alter medl
a,lng while, he remarked, Peg, yol
, know that big ripe melon down at the bot
, tom of the garden? you may as well cary
it over there, in the morning His wife
SAID she would, without asking him to ex
plain where over there was.
But when the morning came Keuber
walked back and forth, and round ant
round; with that sort Of aimless activity
often manifested by hens, and by fashion.
able oilers, who feel restless, and dom
know what to run after. At length, the
cause of his uncertain movements was ex
planned, by his saying, in the form of Q
question, Il guess may as well carry
the melon myself, and thank him for his
oxen? In my furry down there in the
marsh, | didn't think to say was obliged
to him.
lie marched off toward the garden, and
his wife stood at the door, with one hand
on her hip, and the other shaded the sun
from her eyes, to see if he really would
carry the melon into Simeon Green's
house. 1t was The most remarkable Incl
dent that had happened since her marriage
She could hardly believe ner own eyes
He walked quick, as if afraid he should
not be able to carry the unusual impulse
into action if he stopped to reconsider the
question. When he found himself in Mr.
Green's house, he felt extremely awk-
ward, and fastened to say, Mrs Green,
here is melon my wife sent you, and we
reckon it's ripe one Without man
ilesting any surprise at such unexpected
courtesy, the friendly mat.on thanked
him, and invited him to sit down. But
he stood playing with the latch oGthe
door, and without raising his eyes said,
May be Mr. Green amt in, this morn
ing!
ole is at the pump, and will be in d.
rcctIy,' she replied; and before her WORDS
were spoken, the honest man walked in,
with a face as fresh and bright us June
morning. He stepped right up to Reu.
ben, shook his hand cordially, and said
i am glad to see YOU, ncighbor. Take
chair.
Thank you, can't sop, replied Reu'
ben. He pushed his hat on one side, rub
bed his head, looked out of the window
and then said suddenly, as if by a dcsper-
ate effort, The fact is, EIr. Green, l did
Mt behave right about the oxen
Never mind, never mind, replied MI
Green. Perhaps shall get into the bog
some of these rainy days. III do, l shal
know whom to call upon
why you see, said Reuben, very mucl
confused and avoiding simeon's mid clea
eye, you see the neighbors about here are
very ugly. If | had always lived by such
neighbors as you are, | shouldn't be just as
am
'Ah, well, we must try TO be TO Others
what We want them TO be to us, rcjoined
Simeon. You know the good book says
so. l have learned by experience that il
we speak kind words, We hear kind ech
oes. If we try to make others happy, it
fills them with wish to make us happy
Perhaps you and can bring the neighbor.
hood round, in time. Who knows? Lei
us try, Mr. Black, let us try. But come
and look at my orchard. | want to show
you a tree which have grated with very
choice apples. If you like, | will pro
cure you some scions from tho same kind
OF stock.
They went to into the orchard together
and friendly chat soon put Reuben at his
ease. When he returned home, he made
no remarks about his visit; for he could
not as yet summon sufficient greatness O.
soul to tell his wife that he had confessed
himselfin the wrong A gun stood behind
the kitchen door, in readinss to shoot Mr.
Green's dog Cor having barking at his
horse. He now fired the contents into
the air, and put the gun away in the barn
From that day, henceforth, lie never
sought for any pretext TO quarrel with eth
er the dog or his master. A short time
after, Joe Smith, to his utter establishment
saw him pat Tower on the head, and
heard HIM say, Good Gc!Iown
Simeon Green was far TO magnanimous
to repeat to any one that his quarrelsomc
neighbor had confessed himself TO blame
He merely smiled as he said TO his wife,
4 thought we should kill him, after t
while,
Joe Smith did not believe in such doc
trnes. When he heard of the adventures
in the marsh he said, Sim Green's fool
When he first came here he talked very
big about killing folks if they didn't mind
their Ps and Qs. But he don't appear tc
have as much spirit as worm;lot worm
will turn when it is trod on.
Poor Joe had grown more incorporate,
and more quarrelsome, till at last nobody
would employ him. About a year after the
memorable incident Of The watermelon
some ole stole several valuable hides from
Mr. Green. lie did not mention the cir
cumstance to any one but his wife; and
they both had reasons for suspecting that
Joe was the thief. The next week, the
following singular advertisement appeared
in the newspaper Of the country:
Whoever stole lot Of hides Oh Fri.
day the 9TH OF the present month, is here.
BY informed tina, the owner has a sincere
wish to become his friend. If poverty
tempted him to this false step, the owner
will keep the whole transaction secret,
and will gladly put him in the way of OBJ
tanning money by means more likely TO