Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-08-09


not Mr.. and Mrs. Sparrowgrsss! The city
in the spring, is like the apples of Sodom
"fair and pleasant to behold, but dust anc
ashes within" But who shall sing or say
what spring is in the country!
ITO what shall compare in
1t has glory. and naught else can share il,
The thought thereof is awful, sweet, and holy,
Chasing away oil wordliness and folly"
MRS. Sparrowgrass," said |, "lhe weather
is beginning to be very warm and spring like
how would you like to have little fiesta l''
Mrs. Sparrowgrass said that, in her present
frame o: mind, tester was noi necessary for
her happiness. replied, 81 meant a festa
not tester; a little fete, a few friends, few
flowers, mild sort of spring dinner, if yoc
please; some music, claret fresh lettuce, lamb
and spinach, and breakfast OF eggs fresh
laid in the morning, with rice cakes and cof-
fee" Mrs. Sparrowgr,ss said she was will
ing. Them" said |, "Mrs. S., / will invite
few old friends, and we will have an ee-
giant time" So from that day we watched
the sky very cleverIy Tor a week, to ascertain
the probable course of the clouds, and con-
suited the thermometer to ki ow what chance
there was of having open windows for the
occasion. The only drawback that stood in
the way of perfect enjoyment was, our lawn
hed been half rooted out Of existence by an
irruption of predatory pigs. ltwas vexatious
enough to see our lawn bottom-side up on
festive occasion. But determined to have
redress for it. Upon consulting with the
best legal authority in the village, was told
that could obtain damages by Identifying
The animals, and commencing suit against
the owner. AS had not seen the animals,
/ asked Mrs. Sparrowgrass if she could iden-
tify them. She said she could not Then
said to my legal friend, "what can l do!"
He replied that he did not know. "Then,"
said |, "if they come again, and catch them
in the act, can fire gun among them!"
He said could; but that would be liable
for whatever damage was dore them. 'Then
said I,"it would not answer; my object is to
make the owner suffer, not the poor quadru.
peds." He replied that the only sufferers
would probably be the pigs and myself Then
| asked him, if the owner recovered against
me, whether could bring replevin sui, a.
gainst him. He said that, under the Con-
stitution of the United States, such suit
could be brought. ! asked him if could re-
cover. He said could not. Then asked
him what remedy could have. He answer
ed that if found the pigs on my grounds,
could drive them to the pound, then call upon
the fence viewers, get them to assess the
damages done, and by this means mulct the
owner for the trespass. This advice pleased
me highly; it was practical and humane. I
determined to act upon it, and slept soundly
upon the resolution. The next day our guests
came up from town. explained the lawn
to them, and having been fortified on legal
points, instructed them as IL remedy for tres
pass. The day was warm and beautiful; our
doors and windows were thrown wide open.
BY way of offset to the appearance of the
lawn, had contrved, by purchasing an ex-
pensive little bJou of vase, and filling it
with sweet breathing flowers, to spread a
rural air of fragrance throughout the parlor.
Tne doors Of the bay-window open on the
piazza, in one doorway stood tray of deli
cate confectons, upon two slender quartette
tables. These were put in the shade to keep
cool. had suborned an Italian to briug
them up hand, in pristine sharpness and beau
ty of outline. was taking glass of sherry
with our old friend Capt Bacon, of the U.
S. Navy, when suddenly our dogs commenced
barking. We keep our dogs chained up by
daylight. Looking over my glass of sherry,
| observed detachment Of the most villain
GUS locking pigs roofing up my early pea
patch. "Now," said l., "Captain," putting
down my glass deliberately, II will show you
some fun, excuse me for few mnutes;" and
with that bowed significantly to our festal
guests. They understood at once that eti-
quette must give way when the pea-patch
was about being annihi lated. l then went
out, unclaimed the dogs, and commenced Grv-
ing the pigs out Of the garden. After con.
siderable trampiing of oil my early vegeta-
bles, under the eyes of my guests, managed
to get the lingleader Of the swinish multitude
into my parlor. He was a large, powerful
looking fellow, with great deal of comb,
long legs, noltled completion, and ears pretty
well dogged. He stood for moment at bay
against the sofa, then charged upon the dogs
ran against the centre table, which he &C.
cidentally upset, got headed off by Captain
Bacon, who came 20 the rescue, darted under
our quartette tables,-making general dis
/ LIlUutiou W SouiSStoHO'yS 6o'
cornered in the piazza.
By this time was so much exasperatee
that was capable OF taking the life OF the
intruder, and probably should have done So
had my gun not been at the gunsmth's. II
striking at him with stick, accidently hi
one of the dogs such a blow as to disabl,
him. But was determined to capture tn,
destroyer and put him in the pound. Afte
some difficulty in getting him out of tn
piazza, drove him into the library and fnal!,
out in the ground. The rest Of his coofed
crates were there, quietly feeding on the re
!, mains of the garden. Finally found mysel
on the hot, high road, with all my captive
and one dog, in search Of the pound. No
knowing where the pound was, after drlvin!
them for quarter of mile, made inquir,
of respectable looking man, whom me
in corduroy breeches, on the road. He in
formed me that he did not know. Ithen fe
: in with colored boy who told me the onl
pound was at Dobb's Ferry. Dobb's Ferr
= is a thriving village about seven miles mort
o of the Nepperhap. | made bargain wit