Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-12-19

John had strange fancy for this,les. and
would never allow 'c,n to be dug up or
rooted out Of his half Of the farm. But
Jon athan hated the very idea Of thistle;
he couldn't bear 'em no how. There used
to be some on his part of the farm when II
was new, but he kept moving Of 'em
down. and diggin Of 'em up, and rootin
Of 'em out, till there wasn't one left. Jo-
anthan used to talk to John and try to get
him to do the same. He told him it was
disgrace to a farm to have thistles on it.
But John declared they was the glory Of
farm. and no farm could be perfect with
out thstles. Joanthan said that. besides
scratching and hurting every body that
come near 'em, they would run the land
all out, so that it wouldn't produce no.
thing: and if John kept all them thistles
on his farm he would die poor man at
last. John said he wasn't afraid Of that;
his land was rich enough to produce all
he wanted with the thistles on it; and he
was sure they gave higher character and
dignity to his family, for they was a sign
to every body that passed along the road
that the family lived on a good rich farm,
that supported 'em without their having to
work for it, Things went along IN this
way for some time. Johns children all
grew up to be very fond Of thistles, and
! Jon athan's all hated thistles; and if the
cousins ever had any sparring or quar-
relling it was most always about thi,tles.
! Atlast a squabble broke out between some
Of Johns family and the family Of the
Silverbuckles. The Silverbuckle family
lived on a very large. rich old farm, lying
southwest Of Johns. But as the land
where they ined hadn't been cleared up,
and the line hadn' been fairly run out. and
no marks set up, the boys on each side got
into a dispute about the line. The Silver
buckles said the Sans were getting on to
their land [They called 'em all Sans
because they were the defendants Of old
Uncle SAM So whole gang Of the
Saverbuckles went down and ordered the
Sans off. and told 'em to keep on their
own land. The Sans said they was on
their own land. and they wouldn't stir an
inch back. The quarrel grew so hot that
they soon come to blows. John heard the
rumpus. and seeing that his boys were in
great danger Of getting an awful lickin'.
he called to Jonathan to send over his boys
to help lick the Silverbuckles. "Well now.
brother." said Jon athan. Il think your
boys have been very foolishto get into This
scrape. and guess they've been more to
blame than the Silverbuckles But still,
as you've got into the difficulty. We'll taxi
hold and help you out of it, So Jona-
than called his boys out, and they went
over to help Johns: and all the Sans went
at the Silverbuckles and licked 'em like a
sack. They drove 'em back and followed
'em half way over the Silverbuckle farm.
thrashing of 'em from house to house. and
from field to field, wherever they met them
1t last the Silverbuckies give up. and
owned themselves licked, and begged the
Sans to quit and go home.
Well, the Sans said they was ready
enough to do that, but they warrt agoing
to have all this trouble for nothin; and
they should demand the gold-apple field
to pay 'em for their trouble. This was a
very valuable field on the northwest end
Of the SilverbuckIe farm, and took its
name from an orchard on it that bore very
rich gold colored apples. Them Silver.
buckles sot very high by this field. and
declared they couldn't part with it no hoy
But the Sans said they must have il, and
they wouldn't stir an inch home till they
had deed of it. The Silverbuckles said
they wouldn't give a deed; they acknow.
> lodged the Sans was the strongest, and
could take it by force. ifthey'd mind to;
but they declared it would be an eyerlastin
shame and disgrace for them to do it, Oh
the Sans said, we amt no robbers. to take
a thing by force. We have no idea Of
taking gold apple field without your con.
sent. We calculate TO make fair bar.
gain Gift; and we'll give you hundred
and fifty dollars for it. The Silverbuckies
said no, they wouldn't give deed Well
then, said the Sans. YOU may take your
choice-give the deed or take another
lickin all round. for one or 'tother you
must do. The Silverbuckles, with bunged
eyes and bloody noses. felt as if they was
half dead already. and thought they
couldn't stand another lickin no how, Sc
they give up and signed the deed volun.
tarily.
q The Sans went home in high glee a.
bout their gold-apple field, and sot down
and talked the matter over; what a fine
addition it was to the old farm, and what
pleasant garden spots il would make for
their children and children's children to
live on. And some Of Jonathan's boys
who were always wide awake, started
; right off over to the field, and went to dig
gin on it. And when they come home
they Drought oaSS 1uil OF rlch gold-cOlOr-
ed apples. And when some Of John s
boys begun to stir round. and talk a5ou,
going over to dig and build on the apple
field, Jonathan spoke to John and said
Nov, brother. I'm entirely willing your
boys should go over on to the apple field
and dig as much as they are a mind to,
and build, and plant, and sow, and reap;
!, but before they go there is one thing that
We must have fair understanding about
and that is. they can't never have no this.
ties there. for I've made up my mind tina,
there shant never be no thistles allowed
to grow on gold-apple field
At that, John flared right up, and said
he never would stand that, for gold apple
field belonged to him as much as Il did