The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1847-05-07

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| been great satisfaction to Reuben if he
could have brought law suit against his
horse; but as 1t was, he was obliged 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 crow ed, in the ig-
norant JOY of his heart, two inches hey ond
the frontier line that bounded the con
| tiguous farms. Simeon said he was sorry
for the poor bird, aud sorry because his
wife and children liked the pretty crea
ture; but otherwiseit it was no great matter.
lie had been Intending to build poultry
yard, with good highfenoe, that his hens
might not annoy his ne,ghbors; and now
he was admonished to make haste and do
it. He would build them snug warm
house to roost in; they should have plenty
ofgravel and oats, and room to prone
made back and forth, crow and cackle to
their hearts content; there they could en-
Joy themselves, aud be out of harms way
But Reuben Black had degree of in
genuity aud perseverance, which might
have produced great results for mank ind,
had those qualities been devoted to some
more noble purpose than provoking quar-
reIs. pear tree in his garden very i'm.
properly stretched over friendly arm in
to Simeon Green's premises. Whether
the sunny state of things there had a
| cheering effect on the tree | know not {:
| but it happened that tins oyerhanging
bongh bore more abundant fruit, and
glowed with a richer hue, than the other
| boughs. One day, lltlle George Green
as he went whistling along, picked up a
| pear that had fallen into his fathers gar
den. The instant he touched it he felt
something on The back of the neck, like
the sting Of wasp. 1t as Reuben Black 5
whip, followed by such storm of angry
words that the poor child rushed into the
house in an agony OF terror. But tthis ex-
pertinent failed also. The boy wassooth.
| ed by his mo other, and told not TO 60 near
|
the pear tree again; and there the matter
| ended.
This impeIturbab bic good nature vexed
| Reuben more than all the tricks aud
be could understand, and repay with com
pound interest; but lie did not know whaj
to make of this perpetual forb earance,
II seemed to him there mus be some hing
contemp uons in il. He dsiked Simeon
Green more than all the rest of the town
put together, because he made him fee 81
uncomfortably in the wrong, aud did not
afTrd him the slightest pretext for com
plant. 1t was annoying to see every
thing in his neighbours domains looking SO
happy, and presenting snch bright con,
| trast to 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 ii he knew he was going by Reuben
Blacks old nag, lie often said he ,snp.
posed Green covered his house wltli roses
aud honeysuclles on purp 1se to shame his
bare walls. Bot he didn't care-not he!
his boards with such stuff. B1; no one
resented his disparaging remarks, or
sought to provoke him IN any way. The
roses smiled, the horse neigled, and the
calf capered; but none of them had the
least idea they were insulting Reuben
Black. Even the dog had no malice IN
his heart, though lie did one night chase
home his geese, and bark at them through
the bars Reuben told his master, the
next day, he swore he W ould bring an ac-
ton against him if lie di mt keep that dog
at home; and Simeon answered very quiet
ly that lie would try to take better care of
him. For several days strict watch was
kept, in hopes Tower would worry the
geese again; but they paced home undis-
.tnrbed, and not solitary bow-wow fur
nished excuse for law suit.
The new neighbors not only declined
qnarrell,ng, bat they occasionally made
positive advances toward friendly rela-
tion. Simeon's wife sent Mrs Black a
large basket full of very fine cherries.
Pleased with the unexpected attention,
she cordially replied, Tell your motker
it was very kind n her, and I am, very
much obliged to her. Reuben, who sal
smoking in the chimney corner, listened
to this message once without any mans
festation ofimpatience, except whifiug
the smoke through his pipe little faster
and fiercer than usual. But when The boy
was going out Of he door, and the friendly
words were again repeated, he exclaimed,
'DJn't make fool of yourself, Peg They
W ant1to give us a hint to send basket Of
our pears; that's the upshotof the business.
You may send 'eni a basket, when they
are ripe; for scorn to be under obliga-