The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-08-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
Uncle Joe in Court.


Joe Bassett was queer genius, Uncle
Joe,' everybody called him--one possess.
ing but very few Of the goods Of this
world, yet he was one of the most useful
men in town, If any one wanted job
of work done, he was just the one to do it.
In short, he was the universal "man
Friday" and for consideration be would
perform any kind Of work which might be
called for. He was happy old fellow,
and he would crack some hard jokes with.
out hurting any body. He owned little
hut over back Of the village, to which a
few acres of good land we're attached;
and beside this he had COW and some
other items Of stock. he lived quite com.
Portable, and the impression had gone
abroad that he had managed to lay up
some money.
Capt. Daniel Lober, who had recently
settled in the town owned 6ne piece Of
land adjoining uncle Joe's lot, and he was
not long in making himself very disagree.
able to our man Friday. He was proud,
selfish and a little mean withal. Uuole
Joe had some geese, and they ran upon
Lober's land upon which the indignant
captain threatened to shoot them if he
caught them there any again.
IF ye'd make yer fence tighter, they
would not get through" meekly suggested
Uncle Joe.
My fence is as tight as the law re.
quires," returned the doughty captain, and
with that be walked away.
So Uncle Joe had to 60 to work and
tighten The fence, ,aud put largo yokes upon
his geese.
Lober's next movement was against
Joe's hens. He swore he woull shoot
them if they we're not kept out of his lot
Joe built hen house and put his feath.
cred bipeds therein, but 1t was sore trial
to him, and the people sympathized with
MIN though they could not help him.
One season Capt. Lober ploughsd up
| his lot. some ten acrss of it, and sowed it
with wheat. The grain came on fnelly
and the owner used to take men out there
to show them his grain. 1t was ackowl.
edged to be the best piece of wheat in
town. But the plain was destined to
some i'll fortune he had not thought Of
This land was at some distance from hi.
dwelling, and when he was busy at other
points week or two might pass without
his visiting it. One afternoon he came
to see his wheat, ard when he reached
the edge of the Aeld he stood aghast al
the sight which met his gaze. Tae tall
stout grain was trodden and tramplec
down. Over hal' the lot presenting .
scene of havoc and destruction truly hor
rible to behold. And the astunishet
owner was at no loss to account for tn,
'lesolation, for near to the centre Of tn,
lot be saw horse. It wa, gaunt, heav,
ruilt animal, OF dingy white color, ant
although evidently well stricken in year
yet he capered and frisked about will
marvellous spirit now cropping few vel
6lled whs,t heads. and anon trampling Of
the beautiful grain as though he wtr
treading the wine vat.
: should not dare to tell all the oath
which Capt. Lober then and there pcurs'
fourth but they were terrible ones. AM
the white foam was upon his lips as b
raved. As soon as could collect hi
thoughts, he started for Uncle Joes. n
. knew that Joe must have seen the hors
in there, for the animal must have bee
, there three or four days at work. An
perhaps the derredatOr belonged to Jo'
Just as the Captain reached the road b
met Sam Warner. Sam was not ten
perance man, nor did he belong to tn
church; but was particular friend {
Uncle Joe's, and didn't think much {
Daniel Lober.
"Mr. Warner, does Joe Basset own