Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-10-25
THE MAN THAT KILLED HIS NEIGH.
BORIS.
A story with a MOral--FOunded on Fact:
BY LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
-coNcLUDED.l

a long continued rain. The poor oxen were
entirely unable to extricate themselves, and Sim
i con ventured to ask assistance from his waspisl
neighbor, who was working at short distance
Reuben replied gruf1y, "Pve got enough to dc
to attend to my own business. The civil re.
quest that be might be allowed to use his oxen
and chains ter few moments. being answered
in the same surly tone, Simeon silently walked
off in search of a more obliging neighbor
The men who were waiting with the patient
suffering oxen, scolded about Reuben's i'll nature
and said they hoped he would get stuck in the
same bog himself Their employer reioned, .sit
ne does we will do our duty and help him out u
There is such thing as being too God natur-
ed" said they. s'If Reuben Black takes the
notion that people are afraid of him, it makes
him trample on them worse than ever''
"Oh, wait awhile replied Mr.. Green smiling,
81 will kill him before long Wait and see if
don't kill him."
1t CHANGED, soon after, that Reuben's team did
stick fast in the same bog, as the workmen had
wished. Simeon observed it from neghbor-
ing field, and gave directions that the oxen and
chains should be Immediately conveyed to his
assistance. The men laughed, shook their heads,
and said it was good enough for the old hornet.
They, however, cheerfully proceeded to do as
their employer had requested
Simeon, as he came along side the foundered
team. ''But my men are coming with two yoke
of oxen. and think we shall soon manage to
help you out"
"You may take your oxen back again. repli-
ed Reuben; 81 don't want any of your help
In very friendly tone Simeon answered, 81
cannot consent to do that; for evening is coming
on and you have very little time to lose. 1t is
bad job any time, but it will be still worse in
the dark
"Lght or dark, don't ask your help" rep-
ed Reuben emphaticaly. 81 wouldn't help you
out of the bog the other day, when you asked
me-"
"The trouble had in relieving my poor oxen
teaches me to sympathze with others in the
same situation," answered Simeon. at is i'm.
possible for me to go home and leave you here
in the bog, and night coming on"
The team was soon drawn ont, and Simeon
and his men went away, without waiting for
thanks. When Reuben went home that night
he was unusually silent and thoughtful. After
smoking awhile, in deep contemplation he gent
ly Knocked the ashes from his pipe, and said,
with sigh, s'Peg, Simeon Green has killed me''
"What do you mean?" said his wife. dropping
ner knitting, with look of surprise. s.You
know when he first came into this neighborhood,
he said he'd kill me-" replied Reuben; sand he
has done it. The other day he asked me to help
him draw his team out of the bog, and Itold him
| had enough to do TO attend to my own business.
To-day my team stuck fast in the same bog, and
he came with two yoke of oxen to draw it out
| felt sort of ashamed to have him lend me
hand, so | told him didn't want any ofhis help;
but he answered, just as pleasant as if nothing
contrary had ever happened, that night was CO.
ming on, and he was not willing TO leave me
there in the mud"
sit was very good of him." replied Peggy.
ale is pleasant spoken man, and always has
a pretty word to say to the boys. His wife seems
to be nice neighborly body, too" Reuben
made no answer, but after meditating while, he
remarked, "Peg, you know that biz ripe melon
down at the bottom OF the garden? you may as
we'll carry it over there III the morning." His
wife said she would, without asking him to eX-
plain where .'over there' was
But when the morning came, Reuben walked
back and forth, and round and round, with that
sort of aimless activity often manifested by hens,
and by fashionable idIers, who feel restless, and
don know what to run after. At length the
cause of his uncertain movements was explain
cd, by his saying, in the form of a question, "
may as well carry the melon myself, and thank
him for his oxen. In my furry down there in
the marsh, didn't think to say was obliged to
him." 5s
He marched off towards the garden, and his
wife stood at the door, with one hand on her hip,
and the other shading the sun from her eyes, to
see if he really would carry the melon into Sim
con Green's House. 1t was the most remarka-
bic incident that had happened since her marriage
she could hardly believe her own eyes. He
walked quickly, as if afraid he should not be a.
BILE to carry the unusual impulse into action if he
stopped to reconsider the question. When he
found himselfin Mr.. Green's house, he felt ex-
tremely awkward, and fastened to say, "Mrs.
Green, here is a melon my wife sent, and we
reckon it's fpe one.' Without manfesting
any surprise at such unexpected courtesy, the
friendly matron thanked him and invited him to
set down. But he stood playing with the latch
of the door, and without raising his eyes, said,
''may be Mr.. Green amt in this morning"
s'He is at the pump, and will be in directly
she replied, and before her words were spoken
the honest man walked in, and with lace as
fresh and bright as a June morning. He step
ped right up to Reuben, shook his hand cordially
and said, 81 am glad to see you, neighbor. Take
a chair"
Thank you, can't STOP" replied Reuben
He pushed his hat on one side, rubbed his head,
looked out of the window, and then said sudden
ly, as if by a desperate effort, "The fact is MIR.
Green, didn't behave right about the oxen.
"Never mind, never mind, replied Mr. Green.
"Pernaps shall get into the bog again some OF
these rainy days If do, shall know whom
| to call upon"
"Why you see" said Reuben, still very much
confused, and avoiding Simeon's mild clear eye,
| 'you see the neighbors about here are very ug-
ly. If Ialways had lived by such neighbors as
you are, shouldn't be just as | am"
Sab well, we must try to be to others what
we want them to be to u.s., rejoined Simeon
You know the good book says so. have learn
ed by experience that if we speak kind words
we hear kind echoes. If we try to make others
happy, ii fills them with wish to make us hap
py. Perhaps you and can bring the neighbor-
hood round, in time. Who knows2 Let us
Try, Mr.. Black, let US try. But come and look
at my orchard. | want to show you tree which
| have grated with very choice apples. Ii you
like. will procure you some scions from the
same stock"
They went into the orchard together, and
friendly chat soon put Reuben at his ease. When
he returned home he made no remarks about his
visit; for be could not, as yet, summon sutfi-
cient greatness OF soul to tell his wife he had
confessed himself in the wrong. A gun stood
behind the door in readiness to shoot Mr.. Green s
dog for having barked at his horse. He now
| fired the contents into the air. and put the gun