Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-04-14
The Man Who Struck Himself.
BY I. s. ARTHUR.

III L. o. AhIhuk
Jason Elder belonged to that rather large class
of persons who find pleasure in the suffering or
mlsfortuncs of their fellow-men This is stating
the case rather broadly, and we do not, in the
least, doubt that Jason, should he ever chance to
discover this introduction of himself to the pub
lie, will eject our classification, SO far as he is
conccrned. We make 1t understandingy, how
ever. The fault we have indicated is usually the
companion OF another. The man who feels plea
sure in the ill-fortune of his neighbor will hard
Iy hesitate to infct an injury, if it can be done
with impunlty.
Men of the class to whom Jason Elder belong
ed rarely passed far on their life journey with
out MISUNDERSTANDING withssome of their fellow
passengers. OF course, they are always in the
right, and their fellow passengers in the wrong
And, as they are the injured and the oppressed,
it is the most natural thing in the world for them
to feel indignant, and quite as natural to re-
talate-gving blow for blow.
"The man who wrongs me, neither forgive
nor forget" This was one of Jason Elders say
ings and very bad saying we cannot help de-
caring it to be-partculary so in Jason's case,
tor he quite lived up 10 his principles. Of course,
judgment as to wrong was always rendered by
himself, and on evidence wholly er-parte. If lie
believed that another meant to do him wrong
and he could believe, meimes, on very slight
evldence-.an evil purpose was as quickly born
in his mind as if positive testimony were before
his eyes.
In fact, Jason Elder was a very bad sort of a
man, and often very troublesome to these who
had any dealings with him.
Among those who we're favored with the hearty
dislike OF Elder, was a masier-mechanlc in 9
small way, named Martin Lee, who, by industry
and economy, had accumulated enough to buy
himself house of moderate size, as home fol
his family. Elder also owned house in lh'
same neighborhood. These houses were bull
on piece of ground that originally belonged
to the same estate.
Mr.. Lee was very upright man-too upright
and independent TO have much intercourse will
man like Elder, and not mortally offend him
He had so offended him, snd the offence wa
neither forgotten nor forgiven. : In more thai
one instance his enemy had sough, to do him in
jury, but the poisoned arrows, flung from his bow
had flown harmessly by him.
One day, while IN conversation with one @
those idle gossipping individuals, who give NOR
attention to other peoples business than they dc
to their own, the latter said, in responding t
seine i'll natured remark uttered against Mr.. Lee
IL learned a fact yesterday that, may be yo
would like TO hear?"
"About thar Lee ?" eargerly inquired Elder
"Yes, or, might better say, about the groun
on which he has built that snug little house,"
"Indeed !" Our gentleman was all aIiv
now, and commenced rubbing his hands in de
lighted expectation. "What about the ground
"Tnle detective" was the laconc answer.
MOT"
"Fact Had it from old Larkn; and rathe
think he ought to know something about it."
"Well, that is news! Got bad title, eh
wonder who's on the hip now, Mr.. Mart
Lee?"
But surely, Mr. Elder" said his informan
"you will not take advantage of this ilformatio
to inure our friend Lee?"
"Won't |, indeed Wait and see. If don
deal hima staggering blow, my name is nj
Jason Elder-,hal's all. always said I'd bid
my time. Ha ! ha A flaw in his title. b.
J that's just his way of doing business I'd lih
to see any one pick flaw in mine"
True to the evil purpose declared Elder toe
the first opportunity to search out the party
whom the property owned by Lee would reveI
in case defect really did exist in his title, ar
: communicated the fact alleged. This indlvidus
whose name was Earl, seemed at first ncred
ous: but when Larkin was mentioned as autho
I ity, seemed to feel quite an interest in the ma
: ter.
o "lam really indebted to you," he said, wi