Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-12-31
HILLSDALE, DEC. 81, 1850.

His next exploit was 10 snoot wary OIech
handsome ChaHtceer, because he stood on
the stone wall and crowed in the Ignorant
Joy of his heart, two inches beyond the ron
tier line that bounded the contiguous farms
Simeon said he was sorry for the poor bird,
and sorry because his wife and children
liked the pretty creature; but otherwise II
was no great matter. He had been inten.
ding to build poultry yard with q 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 hack and forth and crow
and cackle to their hearts content; there they
could enjoy themselves and be out OF harms
way.
But Reuben Black had great degree of
ingenuity and perseverance, which might
have produced great results to 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
Green's premises. Whether the sunny state
of things on this side a more cheerful effect
on the tree, know not, but it happened that
this overhanging bough bore more fruit, and
One day little George Greene, as he went
whstling along, picked up a 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 ola wasp. 1t was
Reuben Blacks whip, followed by such
stream of angry words that the poor child
rushed into the house in all agony of terror.
But this experiment failed also. The boy
was soothed by his mother, and told not to
go near the tree again; and there the matter
ended.
This imperturabe good nature vexed Reu-
ben more than all the tricks and taunts he
met from others. Evil efforts he could un-
derstand and repay with compound interest;
but he did not know what tp make of this
perpetual fOrbearance 1t seemed to him
there must be something contemptuous in it.
He disliked Simeon Green more than all the
rest of the town put together, because he
made him feel so uncomfortable in the wrong
and did not afford him the slightest pretext
for complaint. IL was annoying TO see eve
rything III his neighbours domains looking SO
happy, and presenting such bright contrast
to the forlorness Of his own. When their
wagons passed each other on the road, it
seemed as if Simeon's horse tossed his head
higher, aud flung out his name as if he knew
no was going by Reuben Blacks old nag
He often said he supposed Green covered
his house with roses and honey-suckles on
purpose 10 shame his bare walls. But he
didn't care, no, not he. He wasn't going to
be fool enough TO rot his boards with such
stuff. But no one resented his dsparaging
remarks. or sought to provoke him in any
way. The roses smiled, the horse nelghed,
and the calf capered, but none of them had
the least idea that they were insulting Reu-
ben Black Even the dog had no malice in
his heart. though he did one night chase
home his geese and bark at them through
the bars. Reuben told his master the next
day, and swore he would bring an action b.
gainst him il he did not keep that dog at
home; Simeon answered very quietly that he
would take better care of him. For several
days strict watch WIS kept, in hopes Tow
ser would worry the Geese again; but they
PASSED home unisturbed and not single
WOW furnished excuse for law suit.
! The new ueighbOfs not only declined quar-
lelling. but they occasionally made positive
| advances towards friendly relation. Sim
enn's wife sent Mrs Black a large basket
! foil of very fne cherries. Pleased with the
unex pectsd attentions. she replied. Tell
I your mother IL was very Kind Of her, and
am very much obliged 10 her. Reuben,
/ who sat smoking in the chimney corner, lis
| tened tu the message once without any man
! ifestation Of impalieuce, except whiting the
smoke ihrUpgf his pipe a little faster and
/ ferceT Than usual. Bot when the boy was
/ going out of the door, aud the friendly words
were again repeated. he exclaimed. Dom
make a fool of yourself, Peg. They want
/ 10 give rs hint 10 send a basket Of your
/ peats; that's the upShol Of he business. You
may send EN- basket when they are ripe;
I for | scnrn TO be under obligation, especial
/ ly 10 you smooth tongued folks.
Poor Peggy, whose arid life had been io'
/ the moment retre he'd with little dew OF
! kindness, Admitted dsIrusI into her b'@om:
and the halo that redisied round the npe
| glowing cherries, departed.
| Not long alter this advance towards good
| neig hboihOOd, some labOrers employed by
/ Simeon Green, passed over BIT Of marshy
| ground. with heavy-team, stuck fast IN 4
bog OccasIoned by long -continueI faln.-
/ The poor oxen were entirely unable To exifi-
cate themselves. and Simeon ventured TO
ASK assistance from his waspish neighbour.
/ who was working az a short distance. Reu-
/ 0en replied grufly, I've got enough TO do
! To attend o my own business The civil re-
/ ques, mat he might be allowed 10 Use his OK
! en and chain tor few moments, being an
/ swered IN the same surly tone. Simeon ST.
/ leuuy walked oft in search Of a more pbli-
! gIDg neighbor
! The men who were left waiting with the
/ patent suffering oxen, scolded about Reu-
/ beu's Ill nature, aud said they hOped he
would get stuck in The same bog himself
! Their etnployeT TeiOiued, III he does, we
will do our duty and help him ont.
There is such thing as being TOO good ma
tured,' said they. 1T Reuben Black takes
the noiiun that people are afraid Of him. 1t
makes him trsInple on them worse than
ever.
Oh, wait awhile said MI. Green. smi-
! ling; Il viii hill him before long. Wait aud
1 see II don't Kill hun
Ii chanced soon after that Renben's team
did stick fast in the same bog, as the work
/ A A ..kaa.vaH A IN