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

piled Reuben. Il don't want any of yous
help
In very friendly tone Simeon answered
4 cannot consent to do that, for evening ls
coming on and you have very little time to
lose. IL is a bad job at any time, but it will
be still worse in the dark
Light or dark, don't ask your help re-
piled Reuben emphatically 4 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 sympathize with others
in the same situation, answered Simeon -
Don't let US waste words, neighbor. II is
impossible for me to go home and leave you
here in the bog, and night coming on.
The team was soon drawn out. and Sine
on and his men went away without waiting
for thanks. When Reuben went home that
night, he was unusually silent and thought
full. After smoking awhile in deep contem-
plation, he gently knocked the ashes from his
pipe and said with sigh, Peg, Simeon
Green has killed me-
.What do you meant said his wife, drop
ping her knitting with look of surprise.
You know when he first came into this
neighborhood he said he'd kill mo replied
he asked me to help draw his team out of the
bog, and told him had enough to do to at
tend to my own business. To-day my team
stuck fast in the same bog. and he came with
two woke of oxen to draw me out, felt sorl
ashamed to have him lend me a hand, 80
told him didn't want any of his help; but
he answered just as pleasant as 1t nothing
contrary had ever happened, that hight was
soming on, and he was not wiling to leave
me there in the mud
'It was very good Of him., replied Peggy
He is pleasant spoken man, and always haf
a pretty word to say to the boys. His wife
seems to be nice neghbor'y body too
Reuben made no answer; but after medl'
tating while, he remarked, 'Peg, you kno"
that big. ripe melon down at the bottom o
the garden? You may as well carry 1t oyel
there ia the morning.
Ills wife said she would, without asking
him to explain where 'overe there was.
But when the morning came, Reuben walk
ed back and forth, end round and round, wIti
a sort of aimless activity often manifested b.
hens, and by fashonables who feel restless
and don't know what to run after. At length
the cause of his uncertain movements wa
explained, by his saying in the form oil
question
i guess may as we'll carry the mellol
myself, and thank him for his oxen. In my
/ furry down there in the marsh didn't thlni
to say was much obliged to him.
He marched of towards the garden, anC
/ his wife stood at the door, with one hand OF
her hip and the other shading the sun from
/ her eyes, 10 see if he really would carry tn
melon into Simeon Green's house 1t wa
the most remarkable incident that had hap
pened since her marriage. She could hard
ly believe her own eyes He walked quick
as if afraid he would not be able TO carry tn
unusual impulse into action if he stopped t
consider the question. When he found him
self IN Green's house. he felt extremely awk
ward, and hastened to say, Mrs. Green, her
is melon my wife sent you, and we reckoI
its a ripe one. Without maniestlng an
surprise ut such an unexpected courtesy, tn
friendly matron thanked him, and invited hin
to sit down. But he stood playing with th
latch of the door, and, without raising nj
eyes, said, May be Mr.. Green is not at hom
this morningF
He is at the pump, and will be in direct
ly.' she replied, and before tho words wer
spoken, the honest man walked in with hi
face as fresh aud bright as June morning
He stepped right up to Reuben, shook hi
hand cordially, and said
Il am glad to see you, neighbor. Take
chair. Take chair
Thank you, cant stap,' replied Reuben
lie pushed his hat on one side, rubbed hi
head. looked out of the window, and the
said, suddenly as if by a desperate eiior
The fact is, Mr.. Green, didn't behave rigf
| about the oxen
Never mind, never mind replied MI
Green. Perhaps, shall get into the bot
again some Of these days. If do l sna
know who to call upon
'Why, you see' said Ruben. still yer
much confused, you sec the nelghoors a0ou
here are very ugly. If had always live
by such neighbors as you are,l shouldt D
just as am
'Ah, we must try to be to each other wha
We want them TO be to US, rejoined Smeor
you know the book says 80. have iearne
by experience that If wo speak kind word
that We hear echoes. Ii we try to mako 9th
ers happy, it fills them with wish to max
US happy. Perhaps you and can bring tn
neighbors round in time. Who knows!-
Let US try, Mr.. Black, let us try. But com
and look at my orchard. want TO show 20
tree which have grated with very eholc
apples II you like, will procure you som
from the same stock
They went into the orchard together, an
a friendly chat soon put Reuben at his case
When he returned home, he made no re
marks about his visit, for he could not, as 20
summon sufficient greatness of sout to te
bis wife that he had confessed himself IN ia
wrong. A gun stood behind the kitchen doc
in readiness TO shoot Mr., Green's dog fc
barking at his horse. He now fred the cor
tents in the air, and put rhe gun away in tn
barn From that day, henceforth, he nevt
sought for aHy pretext to quarrel with eithe
the dog or his master. a short time afto
Joe smith. to his utter astonishment, say
him pat Towser on the head, and heard hiI
say, 'Good fellow!
Simeon Green was far too magnanimous
repeat to any one that his quarrelsome neigl
Dor had confessed himself TO blame. ii
| merelv smiled and said TO his wife, Il though