Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-11

help"
In a very friendly tone Simeon answered,
" cannot consent 10 do that; for evening ,
is coming on, and you have very little time
to lose. 1t is a bad job any time, but it will
be still worse in the dark"
Light or dark. | don't ask your help"
replied Reuben, emphatically. ] wouldn't
help you out Of the bog, the other day, when
you asked me-"
1.-The trouble ] had in relieving my poor
oxen teaches me TO sympathize with others
in the same situations" answered Simeon.
Don't let US waste words about it, neigh
Dor. 1t is impossible for me to 90 home and
leave you here in the bog, and night coming
on"
The team was soon drawn out, and Sim
con and his men went away, without wait
ing for thanks. When Reuben went home
that night, he was unusually silent and
thoughtful. After smoking a while, in deep
contemplation, he gently knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and said, with a sigh, Peg,
Simeon Green has killed Inc :" "What do
you meant" said his wife, dropping her
knitting, with a look of surprise. "You
know when he first came into this neighbor-
hood, he said he'd kill me-" replied Reuben,
- and he has done it.. The other day he ask
ed me to help draw his team out of the bog,
and told him | had enough to do to attend
to my own business. To-day my team stuck
fast in the same bog, and he came with two
yoke Of oxen to draw it out. | felt sort of
ashamed to have him lend me a hand, so |
told him didn't want any of his help but
he answered, just as pleasant as if nothing
contrary had ever happened, that night was
coming on, and he was not willing 10 leave
ne there in the mud"
- II Nroc n varr uoo1 thinm of him ~ r-
piled Peggy. He is a pleasant spoken
man, and always has a pretty word to say to
the boys. His wife seems 10 be a nice,
neighborly woman, too"
Reuben made no answer; but after medi-
tating awhile, he remarked, Peg, you know
that big ripe melon down at the bottom Of
the garden! You may as well carry 1t over
there in the morning"
His wife said she would, without asking
him to explain where over there was.
But when the morning came, Reuben walk
ed back and forth, and round and round, with
that sort of aimless activity, often manifested
by hens, and by fashionable idlers, who feel
restless, and don't know what TO run after.
At length the cause of his uncertain move
ments was explained, by his saying, in the
form of a question
~ guess | may as well carry the melon
myself, and thank him for his oxen! lnmy
furry down there in the marsh, | didn't think
to say | was obliged TO him."
He marched off towards the garden, and
his wife stood at the door, with one hand
on her hip, and the other shading the sun
from her eyes to see if he really would carry
the melon into Simeon Green's house. 1t
was the most remarkable incident that had
happened since her marriage. She could
hardly believe her own eyes. He walked
quick, as if afraid he should not be able to
carry the unusual impulse into action. When
he found himself in Mr.. Green's h'use, he
felt extremely awkward, and FASTENED to say,
Mrs. Green, here is a melon my wife sent
you. and we reckon it's a ripe one."
Without manifesting any surprise at such
unexpected courtesy, the friendly malron
thanked him and invited him to sit down.
But he stood playing with the latch of the
door, and without raising his eyes said,-
g May be Mr.. Green amt in, this morning"
"He is at the pump, and Will be in direct
ly,'' she replied, and before her words were
spoken, the honest man walked in, with a
face as fresh and bright as a June morning
He stepped right up to Reuben, shook his
hand cordially, and said, 81 am glad to see
you, neighbor. Take a chair. Take a chair
"Thank you, | can't STOP" replied Reu'
ben. He pushed his hat on one side, rubbed
his head, looked out of the window, and Their
said suddenly, as if by a desperate effort
The fact is, Mr.. Green, | didn't behave
right about the oxen"
.sNever mind, never mind" replied Mr.
I Green. "Perhaps | shall get into the bog
I again some Of these rainy days. If | do
G shall know whom to call upon"
. "Why you see,' said Reuben, still very
much confused, and avoiding Simeon's milo
; clear eye, 80 you see the neighbors about her
!. are very ugly. If | had always lived b.
Il such ~neighbors as you are, | shouldn't b
Just as | am."
e "Ah, well, we must try TO be TO other
y what we want them to be to u.s." %rejoine
: Simeon. "You know the good book say
so. | have learned by experience that If W
i speak kind words we hear kind echoes. ]
d we try to make others happy, it fills theT
with a wish to make us happy. Perhap
YOU and ! can bring the neighborhood rounC
in time. Who knows? Let us Try, NJ
y Black, let us try. But come and look at m
y orchard. | want to show you a tree which
a have grated with very choice apples. If yc
like, | will procure you some sclons from II
'e SAINT stock"
s. They went into the orchard together, al
as friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease
~ When he returned home he made no renal
10 about his visit for he could not, as yet, sun
a. mon sufficient greatness of soul to tell h
40 wife that he had confessed himself in Il
in wrong. A gun stood behind the kitch'
go door. in readiness 10 shoot Mr.. Green's dc
for having barked at his horse. He no
he fired the contents into the air, and put 4
u, gun way in the barn. From that day, henc
ia forth, he never sought for any pretext TO qua
cir rel with either The dog or his master.
ur short time after, Joe Smith, to his utter q
constituent, saw him pat Tower on I
~ head, and heard him say, " Good fellow /!
20 Simeon Green was far too magnanimo
lie to repeat to any one that his quarrelsor
neighbor had confessed himself TO blame.
IN, | IL naiInl nc hn aid Il his NIIn-