Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-11-24
tThe Tree Of Strife and Tree Of Peace

q
the line Of fence that divided the farms of
Moses Barker aud Josiah Benton, in the
town Of Burford, Conn. A giant oak, that
lifted its broad head TO the heavens, and
nightly whispered the secrets of the earth
to the stars, while within its brawny arms
the liinid squirrel found home. aud from
beneath its thick, green leaves, whole
troops Of winged Ministries poured forth
their Jubiiotc Dec, until the whole almos.
phere qulvered with the glad burst of
thanksgiving.
And yet they needed ii ot-they heard
II no,-ihose two angry, passionate men,
who dared TO stand beneath its shade on
that bright summer day, and make the pos
session of il a subject Of strife and bitter
ness. Alas they heard nothing but the
angry beating of their own selfish hearts.
"Cm it if you dare e. cried the elder of
the two, his voice trembling with rage.
Il certainly shall dare." was the angry
reply. "You know well enough that TIE
tree stood some feet on my side until | was
so foolish as 10 move the fence 10 accom-
modate you with water for your cattle. But
the fence shall be put back before another
twenty.four hours, and then, water your
cattle where you can"
"Cut that tree, or alter that fence one
inch. and I'll straighien you. If there's law
in Connecticut" replied Barker. You
have failed TO keep me under warning, and
! can hold the tree aud watering. place by
possession" he continued. with a trium.
plant smile. " And there is another thing
you will make your par, of the fence
through Dow Lot at once, or I'll make
you roube--thats ALL"
"Urnph, shall build the fence when I've
mind to, and not minute before, for all
the Moses Bankers this side Of Canada"
was the provoking reply.
You'll build It when you've mind 10,
will YOU 7" cried the inGuriated Barker.
well see about that. | rather guess
you'll have mind TO in pretty quick time,
if you have me TO deal with"
Perhaps not--lhough | had rather deal
with the devil at any time"
Quick as thought Barker caught a stake
from the fence aud raised it to strike, but
his aim was diverted by young girl, who
came springing over the fence aud caught
his arm. while she cried in ,error--"Father,
father. for mercy's sake don't strike uncle
Sire p
In his rage, the old man attempted to
push her roughly back. but she avoided his
grasp and sprarg directly between them,
while Sire Benton said taunllngly--
For shame, Moses Barker Would
you prove any words true IL you want to
strike any one, strike me. It's all ! ask"
Perhaps that angry man would not have
waited for second invitation, but the
slight form of his only child stood between
him and the object Of his fury, and there
was something in the expression oil her
pure young face, that restrained him. lie
was a man OF too coarse feelings and pas.
sionate temper to suffer very deeply from a
sense of degradation in the eyes Of hi:
child, but something Of this he did feel
aud while il restrained his hand, il also in
creased his irritation. He angrily bad'
her ''go home and keep at home"
81 came 10 call YOU 10 dinner, father
she said, while she fingered as il fearful o
another outbreak.
"Go home, say. There's no use il
lettering here all day, If you did," he salt
+ sicrnly, while he cast glance toward
Benton, who had Withdrawn to the bole o
the disputed iiee, and stood cooily measur
ing its circumference with string whicl
he had drawn from his pocket then will
, a nutercd "let him do it if he dare" b.
followed her with hasiy strides.
These men we're cousins. Their house
stood at scarcely the distance of an arrow
flight from each other, and from the frs
! settlement of the place. their fathers ha
, dweli there and filed up the measure Q
: their days with many acts of neighbour
D kindness and love. True, the Barkers an
D the Benions were somewhat noted for thei
{ hasty iempers, and clouds would sometime
n arise, but they never became so fearful thu
: the clear voices Of the mothers could ne
s be heard, calling TO each other from the
kitchen doors, with some friendly inquir
: after the cheese or web, or so dark as
d hide from the bright eyes Of the chldre
{ the well beaten foot-path that led aero
a the meadow between their dwellings, alon
If which they constantly passed aud re-pas
J. ed, in spite Of wind and weather.
l. AT times little brawl
)r Injuries not at all,
n. II VIC love each other still =
singeth Swedish poet but ah, how can
- pure and noble love deFelope itself in Il
u sitting atmosphere of brawls? Who do
~ not know that "little brawl," if II be
ID dulged, soon 6leth the whole house al
re heart, and then, alas for love Beside
r. like marrying into certain families, IT y
a. take one, you take the whole tribe, al
" their name is Legion.
VI Strife we must have as yet, and strife
We a noble aim we can endure, for we kn'
10 that above and beyond archelh the brig
y. rainbow of peace: but from brawls,-'
We pecinily all family aud neighborhood Draw
ne good Lord deliver Us
" But so prayed not these cousins. I
~ scene we have described was not the FIR
Nv though perhaps the bilterest, that had {
~ CURED within the last Twelve months.
'e' siah Benton was not as hasty and passi'
TN ate as his cousin, but, when once III
..n oughly reused, quite as obstinate and !
III reasonable. For some years past il !
'es been the talk among the neighbors, 4
re- "things did moi go well with Sire Bento
on His family suffered much, and at last, G
- l.