Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-07-22
Gclertc0 Gales.
From The Soturday Epening Post.
THE
NEIGHBORS
OR
WELL ENOUGH FOR NOW,
BY HARRY HARTMAN.
BY HARRY HARTMAN.
CHAPTER !.

'Comc nelghDor Moulton, why uoh
YOU put up good fence, and make q
thorough job of it "
oh this will do well enough for now
That's always the way with YOU
You do thing well enough for no,c
and then you have to 60 TO work and
do it over again--so, between now and
then, you're always at it, and never
DONE
Don't fret, Slocum, don't fret. You
arc forever in "a stew and a worry
There never was man like you, never =
Mr.. Slocum gave the matter up in
despair, and walked away leaving the
other to botch up his work, as he per-
ceived he was determined TO do. Moul-
ton was preclsely one Of the most untidy +,
insufficient, slovenly men who ever liv-
ed. His gates and doors were always
off the hinges, his harness patched with
ropes and twne, his fences ,ottering, his
windows stopped with rags and old hats,
himself and his children half clad, and
in short all that apperlained to him in n
slovenly and shiftless dishablle Yetthe
poor fellow never was ide-and never
seemed to have moment of leisure TO
read or to think. lie rose daily with
the consciousness that he was far behind
his business, and spent the day in con.
tinual and useless struggle to catch up.
Something or other was every moment
giving way about his premises, aud his
well enough for now arrangements were
constantly breaking up his time, his pa
tience, and his property. 1t was hurry,
tease and run, all day long, and night
brought no relief and no comfort.
Mr.. Slocum, his neighbor, was in es-
cry thing his opposite. His motto was
whatever is worth doing at all, is woSh
doing WE'LL and ,ceH with him, meant
thoroughly and perfectly, not merely
well enough for now, but well enough
forever, so for as the perishableness Of
material, or the mutations of time and
seasons would permit. His farm, his
persons, his wife, his children, his cattle
every thing in short which came un-
der his control, or profted by his exam
pie, bore the impress Of his THRIFT, pune
tualny and neatness. And yet he never
seemed in haste and while he was new
er at loss for something to do, was
never unable to take an hour or a day
for an extra call upon his time, or for the
purpose Of wholesome recreation, or the
of his family. lie was
read up to the improvement and dlscove-
ry in his business and as making use
of the discoveries and experience OF 9th.
ers naturally suggested additional I'M
he was really in advance OF
his books, in every thing that they con-
tanned Of practical advantage and utility.
On all subjects Of general information he
was at home, and ready to converse un-
iersiandingIy, and wac, in fact, the
of what an intelligent and in
lustrious farmer may become - the most
man in the State.
The sore plague, and indeed almost
he only plague of his life, was his un-
thrifty neighbor, Moulton. Wherever
heir premises united, Slocum was oblg
I'd to pay the penalty Of his neighbor's
,arelessness. Witch grass and weeds,
however carefully eradcaIcd from his
,wn land, would force themselves through
o colonize the tidy enclosures which
Slocum had taken so much pains TO keep
,lear of all such native nuisances.-
Whereve, the repairs of fence devolv-
ID upon Moulton, it was less than half
,ne, as will bo readily inferred from
he conversation with which our sketch
'pens. Slocum had gradually put al
most the whole Of their party division
walls himself in order, proferrIng the ox-
ra labor to the eye sore Of poor fences
but as an unlhrllty farmer is proverbi-
al for wild cattle, bad boys and careless
arm hands, poor Slocum's efforts were
Of very little avail, with ncigbor who
destroyed as last as ho built up.
The wear and tear OF mind, under such
an inillciion, daily aud ineessant, is no
small item IN tho account OF the well dis.