Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-29
D
Tit for Tat
OR THE LITERALLY EDUCATED DOG.

Some seventy or seventy-hye years ago,
when the towns of HaverhiIl and Piermont,
N. H., were but thinIy settled, there lived
in that part of the former place known as
" the Corner" one Esq. Sprague, who So
far as concerned law affairs was the chief
spoke in the wheel, the cock of the walk,
none to dispute his right, the sole reliance
of all such, for many miles around, as were
victims to outrage, real or imaginary and
meditated legal vengeance in return.
A better neighber, kinder, more accom-
modating man than was the Squire in gen.
eral matters, never need to be; but who
ever wished TO set him to work profession
ally, might Just as well calculate on forking
over to begin with, for the Squire didn't
pump his brains gratis for any mans bene-
fit, not he-be the quantity small or great,
Education cost something, he used to
say, and those who would avail themselves
of what he possessed, must in all cases fur
nish a retainer.
Well, it happened, once on time, that
man named Tyler, residing two miles
from the Corner, in the ad accent town afore-
said, had little falling out with one Of his
neighbor farmers, and determined on know
ing which of the two had law on his side.
So over to the Corner he posts, enters the
'Squire's Office, finds him at liberty, and
with few prelimlnaries proceeds to state the
case -
d" If two men own land ajoining-"
Remarkably backward spring." observ-
ed the Squire, leaning on his bow and
looking careIessly out Of the window.
We'll, yes" responded the other, who
by the way was not experimentally acqualn-
ted with the 'Squre's manner Of doing
business, having thus far in life had the rare
good fortune to keep himself out of law
and in order and then he hemmed and be-
gun again
8" Just one word of advice, if you please,
Squire, You see, my neighbor, whose
farm joips mine"
"Saw the eclipse Of the moon last eve-
ming, | presume" again interrupted the
professional. without seeming aware that
business was before the house.
Tyler did not yet understand the game
As is common in settlements comparative.
ly new, small iavors were exchanged among
the people without reward ever being so
much as thought of; it is not strange, there
fore, if the man, in propoundiug question
which he knew the other could, if he chose,
answer in FIVE syllables, had omitted to reck-
on the cost Had the point occurred to
him at all-which it had not--he would
most probably have supposed that the offer
of pay for so tritlng service as the one
required, would be accounted an insult,
and nothing less-humph he'd as soon
dreamed of mortgagng his orchard lot tc
the person who had directed him which
road to take.
But this time he was rather more discon
certed than in the first instance; he had t.
lem twice, with a pause of minute be
tween, ere he could rally sufficiently to com
mence thirdly. Thea lie resumed =
" | say, Squire, on, farms Join; now /
on my part, have always sA...t,.utl gooC
and respectable fences, while he
"What did you think Of that sermon
Sunday afternoon ?" asked the Squire wit
the same mperturable nonchalaace, an,
leaning over 10 the opposite arm of hi
chair.
The nonpaying client was COMPOUNDED
What could his friend mean! There wa
no believing this repeated interruption &C
cidental No; there must be some desig
in it all, and what in the name of wonder
was that design? Suddenly his memor
served him up dish alter dish ofthe Squire
proceedings on certain other occasions, a
furnished by report, and saw through it a
without the aid Of spectaces.
"The Squire wants bis dollar" though
he, there's no friendship in law"
So with a smile he took from his poke
milrea, tossed it upon the desk near him
and again put the question. The SOUR
smiled too, and this time did not interrupt
but on hearing the case, answered prompt
ly, deciding in his clients favor The lat
ter, highly gratfied, rose to 60 Tn
Squire followed as far as the door, an
said, apoIogeticaIy,
Il don't know but you think me rattle
small in the way of deal, neighbor, but yo
see how it is, liberal education can't @
for nothing, in these days"
go, all right all perfectly right" return
ed the other, and the two parted the best q
friends.
Not long after, as Tyler was busy pru