Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-05-20
Instantaneous
The Man that Killed his NcighbOrS
BY l.. MARIA CHILD.

1t is curious 10 observe how a mans
spiritual state reflects itself into the peo-
pie and animals around him; nay, in The
very garment, trees and stones.
Reuben Black was an in(estation in the
neighborhood where he resided The
very sight Of him produced effects similar
to the Hindoo magical tune, called Raug,
which is said TO bring on clouds, storms
and earthquakes. His wife seemed lean,
sharp and uncomfortable. The heads Of
his boys had bristing aspect, as if each
individual hair stood on end with pcrpe.n-
al fear. The COWS poked out their horns
horizontally, as soon as he opened the
barn-yard gate. The dog dropped his
tail between his his legs, and eyed
him askancc, to see what humor he
was in in. The Cat looked wild and scag-
gy, and had been known to rush slraigh,
up the chimney when he moved toward
her. Fanny KembIe's expressive descrip-
ton Of the Pennsylvania stage-horse was
exactly suited to Reuben's poor old nag
His hide resembled an old hair trunk :"
Continual whipping and kicking had made
him such stole, that no amount Of blows
could quicken his pace, and no chirrup-
ing could change the detected dropping of
his head All his natural language said,
as plain as a horse cOuH say it, that he
was most unhappy beast. Even the trees
on Reuben's premises had gnarled and
knotty appearance. The bark wept little
sickly tears ofgum, and the branches grew
awry, as if they felt the continual discord,
and made sorry faces at each other behind
their owners back. His fields were red
with sorrel, or run over with mullcin.-
Every thing seemed as hard and arid as
his own ysagc. Every day, he cursed
the town and neighborhocd because they
poisoned his dogs, and stoned his hens,
and shot his cats, Continual lawsuits
involved him in so much expense that he
had neither time nor money 10 spend on
the improvement of his farm
Against Joe Smith, a poor laborer IN
the neighborhood, lie had brought three
suits in succession. Joe said he had re-
turned a spade he had borrowed. and
Reuben swore he had not. He sued Joe
and recovered damages, for which he or
dered the Sheriff TO seize his pig Joe,
in his wrath, called HIM an old swindler
and a curse TO the neighborhood. These
remarks were soon repeated to Reuben
lie brought an action for libel, and recov-
cred twenty-five cents. Provoked at the
laugh this occasioned, he watched for Joe
to pass by, and set his big dog upon him,
screaming luriousy, Call me an old swim
der again, will you:" An evil spirit is
more contagious than the plague. Joe
went home and scolded his wife, and box
ed little Joe's ears, and kicked the cat !;
and not one oflhem knew what it was all
for. A fortnight after, Reuben's big dog
was found dead by poison. Whereupon
he brought another action against Joe
Smith, and not being able TO prove him
guilty of the charge of dog-murder, he
took his revenge by poisoning pet lamb,
belonging to Mrs Smith. Thus the bad
game went on, with mutual worriment and
loss. Joe's temper grew more and more
sictctive, and the love Of talking over his
troubles at the grog shop increased upon
him. Poor Mrs. Smith cried and said it
was all owing to Reuben Black; for a
better hearted man than her Joe never
lived, when she first married him.
Such was the state of things when Sim
con Green purchased the farm adjoining
Reuben's. The estate had been much
neglected, and had caught thstIes and
mullen from the neighboring fields But
Simeon was diligent man, blessed by
nature with a healthy organization and a
genial temperament; and a wise and kind
education had aided nature in the perfec-
ton of her goodIy work, His provdent
industry soon changed the aspect Of things
on the farm. Rver-mud, autumn-leaves,
old shoes and old bones, were all put in