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

ldTue, lei uOWH lIlB vars VI htuUen y UWn
corn-feld, and the poor beast walked in and
toasted as he had not done for many a year.
1t would have been a great satisfaction to
Reuben if he could have brought law suit
against his horse, but as it was, he was OBJ
liged to content himself with beating him.
His next exploit was to shoot Mary Green's
handsome chanticleer, because he stood on
the stone wall and crowed, in the ignorant
Joy of hia heart, two inches beyond the from
tier line that bounded the contiguous farms.
Simeon said he was sorry for the poor bird,
and sorry because his wife and children liked
the pretty creature but otherwise it was no
great matter. Ho had been intending to
build a poultry yard, with a good high fence,
that his hens might not annoy his neighbors /;
and now he was admonished 10 make haste
and do it. He would build them a snug,
warm house 10 roost in they should have
plenty Of gravel and oats, and room to pro-
menade back and forth, and crow TO their
hearts content; there they should enjoy
themselves and be out Of hams way.
But Reuben Black had a degree of inge-
nuity and perseverance which might have
produced great results for mankind, had those
qualities been devoted to some more noble
purpose than provoking q%uarrels. A pear
tree in his garden very improperly stretched
over a friendly arm into Simeon Green's pre-
misses. Whether the sunny state of things
there had a cheering effect on the tree, |
know not; but it happened that this over
hanging bough bore more abundant fruit, and
glowed with a richer hue than the other
borghs. One day little George Green, as
he went whistling along, picked up a pear
that had fallen into his fathers garden. The
instant he touched it, he felt something on
the back of his neck like the sting of a wasp.
1t was Reuben Blacks whip, followed by
such a 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 soothed by his mother, and told
not to 60 to the pear tree again; and there
the matter ended.
This imperturbable good nature vexed
Reuben more than all the tricks and taunts
he met from others. Evil effort he could I'M
derstand, and repay with compound interest;
but he did not know what to make of this
perpetual forbearance. 1t seemed to him
that there must be something contemptuous
in it. He disIiked Simeon Green more than
all the rest of the town put together, because
he made him feel so uncomfortably in the
wrong, and did not afford him the slightest
preteXt for complaint. 1t was annoying to
oGO CfCl1 tiillS III mo ilCl0lDOl , Ollldll
looking so happy and presenting such a
bright contrast 10 the forlornness of his own.
When their wagons passed each other on the
road it seemed as if Simeon's horse tossed
his head higher, and flung out his name as il
he knew he was going by Reuben Blacks
old nag. He often said he supposed Green
covered his house with roses and honey
suckles on purpose to shame his bare walls.
But he didn't reno he! He wasn't 90
ing to be fool enough 10 rot his boards with
such stuff. But no one resented his dispa-
raging remarks, or sought to provoke him in
any way. The roses smiled, the horse neigh.
ed, and the calf capered !; but none of them
had the least idea that they were insulting
Reuben Black. Even the dog had no malice
in his heart, though he did one night chase
home his geese and bark at them through the
bars. Reuben told his master, the next day,
he swore he would bring an action againsl
him if he didn't keep that dog at home; and
Simeon answered very quietly that he would
try TO take better care of him. For several
days a strict watch was kept, in hopes Tow
ger would worry the geese again; but they
paced HON undisturbed, and not a single
l bow-wow furnished excuse for a lawsuit.
The new ~neighbors not only declined quar-
reling, but they occasionally made positive
advances toward a friendly relation. Sine.
= on's wife sent Mrs. Black a large basket full
{ of very fine cherries. Pleased with the un
. expected attention, she cordially replied
= "Tell your mother it was rery kind in her
. and | am very much obliged TO her." Reu
= ben, who sat smoking in the chimney cor
. ner, listened 10 this message once. withou
> any manifestation of Impotence, excep
u whiting the smoke through his pipe a it'll
faster and fercer than usual. But when tn,
boy was going out of the door, and the friend
= ly words were again repeated, he exclaimed
Don't make a fool of yourself. Peg. The,
want to give us a hint 10 send a basket 0
y our pears; that's the upshot of the business
You may send 'em a basket when they ar
ripe for | scorn to be under any obligation
II II especially to your smooth-tongued folks."-
Poor Peggy, whose arid life had been for III
~ ~ moment refreshed with a lillle dew of kind
ness, admitted distrust into her bosom, an
~ the halo that radiated around the ripe glow
ing cherries departed.
Not long after this advance towards goa
neighborhood, some laborers employed h
=, Simeon Green, passing over a bit Of marsh
u ground, with a heavy team, stuck fast in
. bog, occasioned by long continued rain.-
" The poor oxen were not able TO extrica
y themselves, and Simeon ventured to ask a
- s%istance from his waspish neighbor, who WI
r. working at a short distance. Reuben reptile
~ grufly, "fve got enough 10 do to attend
VI my WI business" The civil request tn
he might be allowed to use his oxen al
~, chains for a few minutes being answered
the same surly tone, Simeon silently walk,
-, off, in search of a more obliging nsIghbOr.
Me The men, who were left waiting with Il
:, patient, suffering oxen, scolded about Re
i'm ben's Miniature, and said they hoped he won
ri get stuck in the same bog himself. Tn,
employer said, "lf he does, we will do o
duty and help him out" "There is SUI
ser a thing as being too good-natured, ;" said the
Nd Ii Reuben Black takes the notion that pc
~ pie are afraid Of him, it makes him tram
" on them worse than ever"
"Oh, wait a WHILE" replied Mr.. Gree