The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1854-03-09
WHOLE NUMBER l54

the ashes from his pipe, and said, with
/. sigh, " Peg, Simeon Green has killod
me !" What do you mean ?" said
his wife, dropping her knitting with
look Of surprise. " You know when
he first came into the neighborhood, ho
said he would kill me" replied Reuben,
and he has done it." ;" The other
day he asked me to help bis team out
of the bog, and I told him l had enough
to do to attend to my own business.
To-day my team stuck fast in the same
bog, and he came with two yoke Of OK
en- to draw it out. / felt ashamed to
have him lend mo hand so I told
him wanted none Of his help f; but ho
answered just as pleasant as if nothing
contrary had happened, that night was
coming on, and he was not willing to
leave me in the mud" I" He il
pleasant spoken man," said Mrs. Black,
" and alwaos has pretty word to say
to the boys. Ais wife seems to be
nice neighborly- body, too" Reuben
made no answer, but after meditating
while, he remarked, "Peg, you know
that big ripe melon down at the bottom
Of the garden you may as. we'll carry
it over there in the morning His wife
said she would, without asking him to
explain where " over there" was
But when the morning GENE, Reuben
walked backwards and forwards, and
round and round, with that sort Of
aimless activity often manifested by
fowls, and fashionable idlers, who feel
restles, and do not know what to run
after. At length the cause of his un-
certain movements was explained. "I
may as well carry the melon myself,
and thank him for his oxen. In my
furry down there in the marsh, / forgot
to say that l wrs obliged to him"
He marched off toward the garden,
and his wife stood at the door, with one
hand on her hip, and shading the sun
from her eyes, to see if he would carry
the melon into Simeon Green's house.
1t was the most remarkable incident
that had ever happened since her mar
riage. She could hardly believe her
own eyes. He walked quickly, as if
afraid he should not be able to carry
the unused impulse into action if he
stopped to reconsider the question.
When he found himself in Mr. Green's
house, he felt extremely awkward, and
fastened to say, A" Mrs. Green, here is
a melon my wife sent to yon, and We
think it is a ripe one." Without man
ifesting any surprise at such unexpect-
ed courtesy, the friendly matron thank
ed him, and invited him to sit down.
But he stood playing with the latch of
the door, and without raising his eyes
said, &" May be Mr.. Green is not in this
" He is at the pump, and will be in
directly" she replied and before her
words were spoken, the honest man walk
ed in, with face as fresh and bright as
a June morning. He stepped right up
to Reuben, shook his hand cordially,
and said, 4 am glad to see you neigh
Dor. Take q chair-take a chair"
"Thank you I cannot stop" replied
Reuben. He pushed his hat on one
side, rubbed his head, looked out Of the
and then said suddenly, az if
by desperate effort" The fact Is,
Mr.. Green, did not behave righ' about
the oxen"
Never mihd-never mind, replied
Mr.. Grcen,. Perhaps shall get in
10 the bog again, one Of these rainy
lays. If l do, l shall know who 10
,all upon"
"Why you sec," said Reuben, still
,ery much confused, and avoiding Sim
'on's mild clear eye" you see the
,eighbors here are very ugly. IfI had
Always lived by such neighbors as you
ire, I should>not be just as I am"
"Ah, we'll, We must try to be to 9th
,rs what we want them TO be 10 us"
-ejoined Simeon. You know the good
Book says 50. ! have learned by az
perience, that if We speak Kind words,
We hear kind echoes. If We try TO
make others happy, it fills them With
wish to make US happy. Perhaps you
and can bring the neighbors round IN