The Tiffin tribune. [volume] (Tiffin, Ohio) 1848-1859, 1857-04-10

he stood playing with the latch Of the
door. and without raising his eyes said.
| May be, Mr.. Green amt in. this morn.
I ing.
He Is At the pump. and willibo IN di.
reclly, she replied; aud before bor words
were spoken, the honest man walked in.
with face as fresh aud bright as June
morning lie stepped rightup TO Reu.
ben, shook his hand cordially. and said
am glad to see you neighbor. Take a
chair.
Thank you, cant stop, replied Reu.
ben. lie pushed his hat on ono side.
rubbed his head. looked out Of the win.
dow, and then said suddenly, as II by
q desperate effort: The fact Is, Mr.. Green.
l didn't behave right about che oxen.
( Never nina, never mind, replied Mr..
Green; perhaps shall get into the boz
again, some Of these rainy days. II I
do, | shall know whom 10 call upon.
Why you see, said Reuben, still very
much confused. and avoiding Simeon's
mild clear eye. you 500 the noighbors a.
bout here are very ugly. IL had al.
ways lived BY such neighbors as you are,
l shouldn't be just as l am.
All, well, we must try to be 10 others
what we want them to be to US, reioined
Simeon You know the good book
says so. have learned by experience
that if we speak kind words, we hear
kind echoes, II we try to make others
happy, it fills them with q wish to make
us happy. Perhaps you and | can bring
the neighborhood round, in time. Who
knowsg Let us try, Mr.. Black Let us
tryl But come aud look at my orchard.
l want to show you a tree, which have
grated with very ch oioe apples. lfyou
like, | will procure you some soions from
tho same stock
They went into the orchard together,
sud friendly chat soon put Reuben at
his ease. When he returned home. he
made no remarks about his visit; for no
could not, as yer, summon sufficient
greatness Of soul to :ell his wife that no
bad confessed himself in the wrong A
gun stood behind the kitchen door, in
readiness to shoot Mr.. Green's dog for
having barked at his horse. He now 6r-
ed its contents into tho air, aud put the
gun away in the barn. From that day
henooforth, he reyer sought for any pre-.
text to quarrel with either the dog or his
master. A short time after, Joe Smith.
to his utter astonisbmont, saw him pat
Tower on the head, and heard him say,
Good fellow.
Simeon Green was too magnauimous TO
repeat to any one that his quarrelsomo
neighbor had confessed himself to blame.
He merely smiled as he said to his wifs.I
thought We should kill him after a
while
Joe Smith did not believe in suoh doc
trines. When he heard Of the adven-
lures in the marsh, he said, Sim Green's
fool When he FIRST came here he talk
ed very big about killing folks, If they
don't mind their Ps aud Qs But be
don't appear to have as much spirit Ns a
wormj for a worm will tusn when it's trod
upon.
Poor Joe had grown more Incorporate
and more quarrelsome, till at last nobody
would employ him. About year after
the memorable incident Of the water-mel-
on, some one stole soma several valuable
hides from Mr.. Green. lie did not mem
tion the circumstance to any one but his
wife; and they both had reasons to be-
lieve that Joe Smith was the thief. The
next week, the following anonymous ad.
vertisement appeared in the newspaper of
the county;
whoever stole lot Of hides on Fri
day night, the fifth Of the present month
is hereby Informed that the owner has a
sincere wish to be his friend. If power
ty tempted him to this false step, the own
or win keep the whole action secret
and will gladly put him in the way of OBJ
tanning money by means more likely 10
bring him peace Of mind"
This singular advertisement Of course
excited good deal of remark. There
was much debate whether or not the thief
would avail himself Of the friendly offer,
Some said he would be a green-horn il he
did; for it was manifestly a trap TO catch
him. But he who had committed the
dishonest deed alone knew whence the
benevolent offer came; and he knew that
Simeon Green was not g man TO set traps
for his fellow creatures.
A few nights afterward timid knock
was heard at Simeon's door, just as the
family were retiring to rest. When the
door was opened. Joe Smith was seen on
the steps, with load of hides on his
shoulder. Without raising his eyes, he
said in low humble tons,I have brought
these back, Mr.. Green. Where shall
put lhem2
Wait a moment,till can get lantern
and will 60 TO the barn with you, he
replied. Then you viii come in. aud
tell me how it happentd. We win see
what can be done for you.
Mrs. Green knew that Joe often went
hungry. and had accustomed 70 the slim
ulas Of rum. She therefore hastened to
make hot coffee. and brought from the
closet some cold meat and pie.
When they returned from the barn, she
said, i thought you might feel the bet
ter for little warm supper, neigb6or
Smith Joe turned his back toward her.
and did not speak. He leaned his head
against the chimney. and after mo-
ment's silence he said ina choked voice.
Al fko E-nk 1...u at,ls.