Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-15

Mark Edgarton was one Of the unhappi-
est men that ever lived, and yet he was
surrounded by all those outward circum-
stances which, in the eye of the world, &c
to make up the chief source of human COM
fort. He was farmer, and well off in
pecuniary affairs not only owning one Of
the best farms in the country, with an ex-
cellent stock, and spacious buildings, but
having money at interest. And then he
had health Of body and sound constitu-
ton and he had one Of the best of wives,
and some ssof the best Of children; and he
had many friends, and few enemies -
What, then, should make Mark Edgarton
unhappy? It was spirit which he carried
in his .bosom-an evil genius that often
times gained possession Of his soul. In
short, he was cursed with high temper,
and it was continually gaining the mastery
over him. Those who knew him best, and
had reason to like him for his better quail
ties, could in measure, overlook his fire.
quent outbursts Of passion and they had
become so used to them that they seldom
suffered themselves to be annoyed by his
storms.
But there was one who was annoyed by
them-one who could not escape the storm
one who could not smile the effects Of the
passion away !; and that was Mark Edgar
ton himself. While others seemed to bow
unframed beneath the torrents of his wrath
he was shaken and tossed upon the reboun-
ding tide. His wife suffered much, and SO
cid his children; but he loved them we'll,
and his love was manifested in so many
ways, that they had after all more occa-
sion to bless than to blame him.
One day Mr. Edgarton came into the
kitchen. and sat down by the window
His brow was contracted, his lips bare and
quivered his hands clenched, and his whole
frame under the tremor of some great ex-
element.
"Was chat Mr.. Lander who just went
out of the yard ?" inquired Mrs. Edgarton,
in a careful Tone She had heard high
words in the shed, and she knew there had
been trouble.
"Yesv Y growled her husband, with a
gnash Of She teeth. cit was Mister Tim
Lander But I'll give him lesson one Of
these daysE'
"What has he done?'
Done You'd better ask what be hasn't
done Confound him I'd like to wiring
his neck for him p
"Why-I thought Mr.. Lander was one
of the most quiet and inoffensive men in
town. What has he done, Mark p
''Inoffensve CRASHED out Mr.. Edgar
ton with as much Of concentrated sarcasm
and wrath combined as he could command
in single expression. Il don't know
what you mean by that; but | can inform
Mister Timothy Lander, and the rest Of his
kidney that I don't want any of their med
ding p
elias he meddled with your affairs,
Mark p
"Yes p
"How?D
"No matter! Hes meddled enough for
one day, and I guess you'd better attend to
your own business nowH'
Mrs. Edgarte1 said no more. She pitt
ed her husbend and hence his harshness was
borne the more easily. Shortly afterwards
Mark went out, and one of the boys came
in, aad presently she heard her son telling
to his sister the story of his fathers inter
view with Finn Lander.
Mr. Edgarton had been putting up an
open shed on one side of his barn yard, for
the sheep and cattle to run in; and Lander
as he stood looking at it, suggested that il
would have been better to have placed it
eight or ten inches higher. Mr.. Edgarton
said it was just right as it was. Then Mr..
Lander remarked that when the snow anc
ice melted in the Spring the water Nigh
flow into it, whereupon Edgarton said that
he would venture that, to which Lander
replied that it wonld be easier to raise j
now than when it was all finished Mr.
Edgarton said that he should never raise i
any higher. Mr.. Lander smiled and assn.
red the builder that he would have to raise
it. He said that he had been caught in
just such trap and he knew. Mr.. Edgar.
ton then very warmly advised Lander te
mind his own business. "Wait till YOU
| raise the sill of that shed p was Lander
significant rejoinasr. This was suficien