Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-01
Neighbor Cray.


No: and what's more. / don't wan
to meet him.. was abruptly answered
Don't want to meet him.
NO. I've just said what / mean,
replied Tompkins, ill-naturedly. 4
don't want to meet him, nor have am
thing to do with him.
You'll change your mind. l think.
said the blacksmith.
will ~ a sneer curled the lip
of farmer Tompkins.
Yes. and that before Mr.. Gray i,
two months in Splinterville,' replied
Peter Craig. But, pray, tell us what
you have against our new neighbor.
oh. nothing very particular, only
/ don't like him.
There is one thing to be said in hi:
favor remarked the blacksmith-'hc
keeps good stock
'Humphl No better than is to bc
found in the neighborhood,' said
Tompkins. No better, in fact, than
| have
I'm not so sure of that returned
Peter Craig. Il put shoes on his
carriage horses yesterday, and, if I'm
any Judge. their match is not within
ten miles of these parts. No, no.
friend Tompkins, you hav'n't the
horse-nesh on your sixty acres that
will compare with neighbor Gray.s.
Bah! neighbor Gray's! Nobody's
got any thing from patent pitch
fork up to threshing machine, that
will com pare with ncighbor Gray :
1t makes me downright angry to hear
people talk after this fashion. Who's
Mr.. Gray. I'd like TO know
Hes a gentleman said the black
smith. little warmly.
Gentleman Tompkins spoke will
a bitter snccr, i hate gentlemen
The gentleman is the only true
man" remarked Peter Craig.
'Of course: kid gloves, calf-skin
broadcloth. and beaver, are every
thing, and the individual nothing
Not so fast. friend Tompkins; no,
so fast. 1t is the heart that makes
the gentleman
If that is the case, | don't think
there's much chance for your new
neighbor. But, gentleman, or no gen
tleman, | detest this Gray from the
bottom of my heart, and wish he were
a thousand miles away from Splinter
ville!'
AS Tompkins closed this sentence
in a pretty loud tone of voice, his ca
caught the sound of footstep. ant
turning quickly, he saw Mr.. Gray ap
preaching through the blacksmith,
shop, having entered by the opposite
door from the one near which tn,
little group Of men were Standing
He was near enough to have heard tn,
closing sentence, and, from the expires
sion of his countenance, it was pretty
evident that its meaning was under
stood.
The moment Tompkins saw him
his face crimsoned, and, turning of
abruptly, he strobe away. AS he die
so, he thought he heard the voice o
MIR. Gray calling after him. But h
had not the manliness to stop anC
meet, face to face, the individual who's,
name he had used so freely.
An ill-natured, jealous minded, un
happy kind of a man was this Tomp
kins. You will find his counterpart
in almost every neighborhood. Mr.
Gray. towards whom he cherishe,
such unkind feelings, had bought
some months before, the farm tha
immediately Joined his, and, a few
weeks previously, taken formal pos
session. Now, Tompkins wanted thi
farm, and had been for some time en-
deavoring to strike a bargain with it
previous owner, when Mr.. Gray, see
ing the property advertised for sale
complied with the terms, and bccam
the purchaser. Tompkins wished t,
exchange his farm for the other, an,
give notes for the difference in price
and although the owner mad two o
three times declined his offer, he wa
still in hope of making the arrange
ment, when Mr.. Gray dashed all hi
hopes to the ground.
From that moment he hated Nh
Gray in his heart, and wished him al
manner of evil. But for all this
Tompkins didn't feel very ..comforta
Die in mind about the harsh sentenc
which lac was very certain Mr.. Ora.
had heard. Talk as freely as he woul
behind his neighbor's back. he va
not quite prepared to denounce him t
his face; and for this reason, if fo
none other, he could show no cause 70
his animosity. The farm was in mar
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