The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-09
THE MAN THAT KILLED HIS NEIGHDORS.
FOUNDED ON FACT.
BY L. MARIA CHILD,

FOUNDED ON FACT.
It is curious to observe how a mans spirit
ual state reflects itself in the people and ami
mails around him; nay, in the very garments,
trees and stones.
Reuben Black was an infestation 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 earth
quakes. His wife seemed lean, sharp and
uncomfortable. The heads of his boys had
bristling aspect, as if each individual hair
stood on end with perpetual fear. The COWS
poked out their horns horizontally, as soon
as he opened the barn-yard gate. The dog
dropped his tail between his legs, and eyed
him askance, to see what humor he was in
The cat looked wild and scraggy, and had
been known to rush straight up the chimney
when he moved towards her. Fanny KEN
ble's expressive description of the Pennsyl-
yanian tage-horscs was exactly suited to
Reuben's poor oldnag ellis hide resembled
an old hair trunk" Continual whipping and
kicking had made him such a stole, that no
amount of blows could quicken his pace, and
no chrruping could change the detected
droopine of his head. All his natural Ian
guage said, as plain as a horse could say it,
that he was a most unhappy beast. Even
the trees on Reuben's premises had gnNrled
and knotted appearance. The bark weept
little sickly tears of gum, and the branches
grew awry, as if they felt the continual dis
order. and made sorry faces at each other
behind their owners back. His fields were
red with solrel, or run over with mullein.--
Every thing seemed as hard and arid as his
own visage. Every day, he cursed the town
and the neighborhood, because they poisoned
his dogs. and stoned his hens, and shot his
cats. Continual lawsuits involved him in SO
much exnense that he had neither time nor
money to spend on the improvement of his
farm.
Against Joe Smith, poor laborer in the
neiohborhood, he brought three suits IN sue
cession. Joe said he had returned spade
he borrowed, and Reuben swore he had not.
He sucl Joe, and recovered damages, for
which he ordered the sheriff to seize his pig.
Joe. in his wrath, called him an old swindler;
and curse to the neighborhood. These
remarks were soon repeated to Reuben. He
brought an action for libel, and recovered
twenty-five cents. Provoked at the laugh
this occasioned, he watched for Joe to pass
by, and set his big dog upon him, screaming
furiously, "Call me an old swlndler again,
will you?" An evil spirit is more contagious
than the plague. Joe went home and scoId,
ed his wife, and boxed little Joe'5 ears, and
kicked the cat; and not one of them knew
what it was for. A fortnight after, Reubens
biz dog was found dead by poison. Where
upon he brought another action against Joe
Smith, and not being able to prove him gull
ty of the charge of dog-murder, he took his
revenge by poisoning pet-lamb, belonging
10 Mrs. smith. Thus the bad game went on
with mutual Worriment and loss Joe's tenn
per grew more and more vindlctive, ant
the love of talking over his troubles at the
grog shop increased upon him. Poor Mrs
Smith cried and said it was all owing tx
+ Reuben Black; for better hearted MAJ
| never lived than her Joe, when she first mar
t ried him.
Such was the state of things when Simeon
Green purchased the farm adjoining Reu
ben's. The estate had been much neglected
and had caught thistles and MULLEN from thu
neinhboring fields. But Simeon was dill
cent man, blessed by nature with health.
G organization and genial temperament; an'
= wise and kind education had aided nature
in the perfection of her goodly work Hi
G provident industry soon changed the aspec
! of things on the farm. River-mud, autumn
leaves, old shoes and old bones, were all pu
. in requsiton to assist in the production o
use and beauty, The trees with branche
pruned, and bark scrapcd free from moss ant
] insects, soon looked clean and vigorous
$ Fields of grain waved where weeds had riot
y ed. Persian lacs bowed gracefully over tn
= simple gateway. Michigan roses 'covere'
: half the house with their abundant clusters
Even the rough rock, which formed the door
= step, was edged with golden moss; Th
sleek horse, feeding in clover, tossed his man
: and neighed when his master came near;
p much as to say, The world is all the pleas
!, anter for having you in it, Simeon Green
b The old COW, fondling her calf under tn
|, Great walnut tree, walked up to him with Sc
It rious friendly face, asking for the slice G
d sugar-beet he was wont to give her. Chant
cleer, strutting about, with his troop Opium
> hens and downy little chickens, took n
v trouble to keep out of his way, but happe
d his glossy wings and crowed welcome in hi
: very face. When Simeon turned his step
&c homeward, the boys threw up their caps an
is ran out shouting, Fathers coming" an
IS the little Mary went toddling up to hin
with dandelion blossom to place in his but
:, ton-hole. His wife was a woman of ie1
words, but she sometimes said to her neigI