The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-11-05

fence aud caught his arm, while she
cried in terror Father, father, fol
mercy's sake don't strike uncle Sire y
In his rage. the old man attempted
to push her roughly back, but she
avoided his grasp and sprnng directly
between them, while Sire Benton said
tauntingly ..," 1f oe '.ry
For shame, Moses Barker! would
you prove my words true If you want
to strike any one, strike me. 1t is all
! ask, - ....aanuD. ....fIu
Perhaps that angry man would not
have waited for another invitation, but
the slight form of his only child stood
between him and the object of his fury,
and there was something in the express
sion of her pure young face, that re-
strained him. He was man of too
coarse feelings aud passionate temper to
suffer very deeply from sense OF dcgra.
dation in the eyes of his child, but
something of this lie did feel, and while
lit restrained his hand, it also Increased
his irritation. He angrily badc her go
home and keep home.' ..,1.ap,s
] came to call you to dinner, father,
she said, while she fingered as if fearful
of another outbreak. s.s-a'a ~. -..f
8 Go home, l say. There's no use in
lettering here all day if you did, he said
sternly, while he cast a glance towards
Benton, who had Withdrawn to the hole
Of the disputed tree, and stood cody
measuring its circumference with string
which he had drawn from his pocket
then with a nuttercd 'let him do it if
he darc,' he followed her with hasty
strides. pm '''.H
These men were cousins. Their
houses stood at scarcely the distance Of
an arrows fight from each other, and
from the first settlement of the place,
their fathers had dwelt there and filled
up tho measure oftheir days with many
acts of neighborly Kindness and love.
True, The Barkers and Bentons were
somewhat noted for their hasty tempers,
aud clouds would sometimes arise, but
they never became SO fearful that the
clear voices of their mothers could not
be heard, calling to each other from
their kitchen doors, with some friendly I
inquiry after the cheese or web, or so
dark as to hide from the bright eyes OF
the children the well beaten lootpath
that led across tie meadow Between
their dwellings, along which they con
stantly passed and rcpasscd, in spite of
wind aud weather. NOD arrL ,.rgag. 4
Strife We must have as yet, aud sirife (
for nobler aim we can endure, FOR we I
know that above and beyond archGth
the bright rainbow Of peace; but from
brawls, especially all family and neigh,
borhood brawls, good lord deliver us |
I'tBut so prayed not these cousins The
scene We have described was not the first
though perhaps tho bitterest, that had
occurred within the last twelve months
} osiah Benton was not as hasty and pas
sionate as hi bousiu, but, when once
thoroughly reused, quite as obstinate and
unreasonable, For some time past it
had been the talk among the ncighbors
that things did not go well with Sire
Benton His family suffered much from
sickness, and, at last, God took all his
fair children but the eldest boy. His
cattle were not unfrequently disabled,
the dogs killed nearly all his fine flock
of sheep, and his crops were meagrc and
scanty.
Indeed, he experienced many Of those
trials that come as discipline to faith
and patience. Sometimes he felt them
as such and with no one to assist him
but little David, who it must be con-
fcsscd to any one but father, was ra.
thsr a hindrapce than a help he worked
on with untiriug patience, and would
have worked in peace, had it not been
for his close proximity TO his cousin
Barker. .' .u.
With him everything had gone we'll !;
at least SO said the people of the village,
when they looked upon his excellent
farm, bis wcll-flled granrics, his sleek
hoeks and herds, and counted up his
mortgages and notes upon interest. But
could they have looked into his heart
and seen how it grew hard and selfish