The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-08-21
TIT FOR TAT;


Some seventy or Scvrntv-fve wears ago.
when the town of IIaverhill and Pirrmont.
y. H.. We're but ,hinlv settled. there lived in
that part of the former place known as the
Corner" one Esq, Sprague, who 50 f;u a.
concerned law affairs was the chief spoke in
the wheel the cock Of the walk, none to dis
pute his right. the sole reliance of all such,
for many miles around. as were victims to
outragc. real or inacinarv and meditatc'l le-
ual vengeance in return.
\ better neigihor. a kinder. more accom-
moiatin- man than was the Squire in gene
raj matters, never need to bc hut whoever
wished TO set him to work professionally,
mi.h, just As well calculate on iorhing over
10 h"gin with. ."r the Squire 'iidn' pump his
Trains gratis for any mans benefit. not he
he the quantity small or great Eiuration
cost something. he used to >,v. and those who
would avail themselves OF what he possessed,
must in all cases furnish Retainer.
Well, it happened, once On a time. that
man named Tyler, residing two miles from
the Corner, in the adjacent town aforesaid
had little falling out with one OF hi> nci.h-
hor farmers and determined on knowing
which of the two had law on hi> side. -
over 10 the Corner he posts, enters the
'SIrirc> office, finds Inn at liberty. and with
few prclimnarieS proceeds TO state the case
ftwo Men own land aioining-''
Remarkably backward spring" observed
the 'S1uirc. leaning on his elbow and look
inc carelcs>lv out of the window.
We'll, YES" responded the other. who by
the WAY WAS no: cxperimentallv acquainted
with the 'SIuire> manner of doing business
having thus far in life had the rare good for
tune to keep himself out Of law and in order
and then he hcmncd and begun again:
Just one word of advice, If YOU please
Squire. You see, my neishbov, whose iaru
Joins mine"
saw the eclipse Of the moon last evenr q
presume" again interrupted the profession
al. without seeming aware that business wa
before the house
Tyler did not vet understand the game-
, As is common in settlements comparative
new, small tavors were exchanged among tn
, people without reward ever being so much a
, thought of; it is not strange, therefore, if tn
: man, in propounting a question which h
, knew the other could, if he chose, answer i
: five svllahles, had omitted to reckon the COS
Had the point occurred to him at all-whic
e it had no,-he would most probably hav
o supposed that the offer of pay for so trfling
n service as the one required, would be account
: ed an insult, and nothing ss-humph he
Il as soon dreamed Of mortgaging his orchar
d lot to the person who had directed him whic
n road TO take.
i But this time he was rather more di>col
h ccrted than in the first instance; he had
IT hem twice, with pause OF minute hetwce
. ere he could rally sufficiently to commen'
h thirdly. Then he resumed:
Il say, Square, our farms join; now ], ,
10 my part. have always maintained good al
I respectable fences. while he"
. What did you think of that sermon Su
id day afternoon :" asked the Squire with Il
Y same imperturable nonch,tI"'cs, and lcanir
" over to the opposite arm Of his chair.
to The nonpaving client was coniounlcd
h. What could his friend mean, There was
I'd believing this repeated interruption accide
sc tai No; there must be some design
it all, and what in the name of wond,
H. was that design? Suddenly his memo
Sc served him up dish after dish of the 'Squir'
as proceedings on certain other occasions,
ry furnished bv report, and saw through 1t
I'd without the aid of spectacles.
The Squire wants his dollar" thousht
Sn there's no friendship in law"
u. 50 with smile he took from his pocket