The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-09

body loves my husband, thaC knows him.
They can't help it."
Simeon Green's acquaintance knew that
he was never engaged i'll lawsuit in his life !;
but they predicted that he would find it i'm
possible to avoid it now. They told him his
next neighbor was determined to quarrel
with people, whether they would or not {;
that he was like John Lilburne, Of whom
Judge jenkins said, If the world was emp
tied of every person but himself Lilburne
would still quarrel with John, and John with
Lilburre."
els that his character" said Simeon. off
he exercises it upon me will soon kill him"
In every neighborhood there are individ-
uas who like to foment disputes, not from
any definite intention of malice or mischief,
but merely because it makes a little ripple in
the dull stream of life, like a contest between
dogs or game-cocks. Such people were not
slow in repeating Simeon Green's remark
about his wrangiing neighbor. xiii me!
will he ?" exclaimed Reuben. He said no
more but his tightly compressed mouth had
such significant expression that his dog
lodged him, as he would the track of tiger.
That very night Reuben turned his horse
into the highway, in hopes he would commit
some depredatons on neighbor Green's pre-
misses. But Joe Smith seeing the animal at
large, let down the bars Of Reuben's own
cornfeld, and the poor beast walked in, and
feasted as he had not done for many year.
1t would have been a satisfaction to Reuben
if he could have brought lawsuit against
his horse but as it was, he was obig ed to
content himself with beating him. His next
exploit was to shoot Mary Green's handsome
chanticleer, because he stood on the stone
! o,,1 o,,o,,,ol in, bn iunoropt of his
heart, two inches beyond the frontier line
that bounded the contiguous farms. Simeon
was sorry because his wife & children liked the
pretty creature ; but otherwise it was no great
matter He 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 to make haste and
do it. He would build them a snug warm
house to roost in; they should have plenty of
gravel and oats, and room to promenade back
and forth, and crow and cackle to their
hearts content; and there could enjoy them
selves, and be out of harms way.
But Reuben Black had degree of ingen-
uitv and perseverance which might have
produced great results for mankind, had
those qualities been devoted to some more
noble purpose than provoking quarrels. A
pear tree in his garden very improperly
stretched over friendly arm into Simeon
Geeen's premises. Whethar the sunny state
of things there had a cheering effect on the
tree Know not; but it happened that this
oyerhanging bough bore more abundant
fruit, and glowed with a richer hue, than the
other bouGhs. One day, little George Green,
as he went whistling along, picked up 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 wasp.
It was Reuben Blacks whip, followed by
such 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 soothcd by his mother, and told
not to 20 near the pear tree again; and there
the matter ended.
This imperturbable good nature, veXed
Ronben more than all the tricks and taunts
he met from others. Evil efforts he could
understand, and repay with compound inter
nst hut he did not know what to make OF
this perretual forbearance. 1t seemed TO
him there must be something contemptuous
in II. He dislked Simeon Green more than
all the rest Of the town put together, because
bo made him feel so uncomiortabIy IN the
wrong. and did not afford him the slightest
nroteXt for complaint. 1t was annoying to
See every thing in his neighbours domains
looking SO happy, and presenting such a
bricbt contrast to the forlOrnncss OF his own
When their wagons passed each other on
fine road. it seemed as if Simcon's horse toss
cd his head higher, and flung out his name,
&c if he knew he was going by Reuben Black
old nag. He often said he supposed Green
covered his house with roses and honcysuck-
les on purpose to shame lis bare walls But
he didn't care-not he He wasn't going tc
| be fool enough to rot his boards with such
, stuff. But no one resented his dlsparagln9
/. remarks, or sought to provoke him in any
} way. The roses smiled, the horses ncighcd
1 and the calf capcred but none Of them hac
: the least idea they were insulting Reuber
Black. Even the dog had no malice in hi
I heart, though he did one night chase home
= his reese, and bark at them through the
/, bars. Reuben told his master the next day
e he swore he would bring an action against
: him if he didn't keep that dog at home; an(
Y Simeon answered very quietly that he woult
/ try to take better care of him. For severa
e DAYS strict watch was kept, in hopes Towze1
s would worry the geese again; but they paceC
t home undisturbed and not solitary bow
: WOW furnished excuse for law suit.
t The new ncighbors not only declined quar-
f rclling, but they occasionally made positive
$ advances toward friendly relation. Sine
i on's wife sent Mrs Black u large basket full
: ofvery fine cherries. Pleased with the uneX
: pected attention, she cordially replied, "Tel
c Your mother it was cery kind of her, and
d am nv very much obliged to her" Reuben, wit
). sat smoking in the chimney corner, listened
: to this message once without any manifesto
e ton of Impotence, except whiting the smok'
e through his pipe little faster and fierce
S than Usual. But when the boy was going on
J. Of the door, and the friendly words wer
=" again repeated, he exclaimed, =" Don't maxi
e a fool of yourself, Peg. They want to giv'
: us hint to send basket Of our pears; that
If the upshot of the business. You may senc
! ,o,, a hnsket when theY oct rine for | scorI