The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-04-29

ncighbor such-a-one they will let you
have what you want"
have said that she was ga thorn in
the flesh" to Gripe, and so she was al
marvelously sharp one too. She and
GRIPPE had been at enmity from the time
of his first coming into the village, and
the commencement of their quarrels was
occassioned by Gripe's erection of new
grist mill which materially lessened the
number of her customers. AS deserv-
ed retaliation, she had some new fixtures
added to her dam for the purpose of
keeping back the water when she saw
fit. And there was Immediately after
wards very curious phenomenon OBJ
served by the villagers in the mill-ponds,
which was, that though hers seemed to
be generally full enough, Gripe's was
often scantIy supplied with water.
Gripe was obviously nettled, but what
could he do for his antagonist was a
woman! He dared not venture to talk
the matter over with her, for not only
was he himself enraged, but he had heard
of the wonderous powers of her tongue,
and he cared not to encounter it. So
he resorted to the law, but after many
prolonged litigations, it was decided that
he was in the wrong, and she was in the
right; and so his lawsuit brought him
nothing but heavy expenses from his
lawyers, and fresh hatred and new pro-
vocation from his triumphant enemy.
What dilemma for man of spirit like
Gripe, to be in But there was no
help.
The other "thorn'' was Mr.. Ely
Goodwell, and very like thorn did he
appear. Imagine to yourself short,
stout, broad-shouldered, corpulently in
clined, blunt, good-natured farmer, in
dependent as the bird that scars
through the summer sky above him, free
as the air that he breathes and the soil
that be treads upon, with an honest in
tegrity of mind and heart, and a hearty
respect for the same in others, and a
complete detestation of all lordly airs,
and aristocratical foppery; and you
have a general outline of the person and
mind of Mr.. Goodwell. There were
several reasons why Gripe hated this
man. The first and greatest was that
they were both equally related to an
immensely rich old bachelor, and as
there were no other heirs to the property,
it was thought that the old dotard would,
or had made his will, in favor of one of
them, leaving only small pittance to
the other; and while .Goodwell, content
ed with an honest competence, troubled
not his brain with cogitations as to which
would be the old mans favorite, Gripe
looked upon his rival with jealous eyes,
and endeavored to misrepresent his ac-
tions and designs, to the old man, and
ingratiate himself into his good graces.
Another reason for Gripe's hatred was
that Goodwell owned large dwelling
house and garden, both of which were
almost equal to his own, and which were
situated in the midst of his possessions,
even in the squs-e," ornamented with
shade trees, and so he had the streets
all bcrdered with rows of elms, save
where Mr.. Goodwell's old fashioned
taste introduced two stately oaks, two
chestnuts, one pine, and one willow-tree
along the borders of his domains. Gripe
would have gravel sidewalks, while
Goodwell preferred the soft green vel
vet grass in front of his neat white door
yard.
Gripe preferred to have people lift
the hat and bow the head, and call him
Esquire Gripe, when they met him; but
Goodwell only saluted him with the un-
ceremonious, /" How dye do, o,Mr. GRIPPE"
Gripe liked to have folks estimate his
worth according to the weight Of his
purse, and not Of his heart and brains,