Litchfield enquirer., 1862-08-28

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 THR BOUNDARY sToNE-A srAhi \ rRAxsr.ArRD FOR THE wU1cEsrER PALIIkDinM, [ FROM THE YRsxcH or ExMs souvzsrEn. |,
 Before the organization of justice was as com plets as it is to-day, the means of proving prep erty were less sure, and usurpations were there fore easier. One had not always titles which could preve the right of possession: and even when these titles existed they were generally drawn up in manner lsavsing many doubts. Thus people had rssosrse, from the rsuotsst time te outward and sppsfsns sigss which should perpetually establish the rights of each. 1 The boundary stone was one of these signs; it served to indicate the respective limits of pos sessions which joined each other. Unfortunate. ly its destruction or displacement was easy. It was quickly learned that this means of marking boundaries would become illusivs if proof did not come to the aid of right in rendering the boundary stones sacred and branding with infa. my whoever dared to touch them. The popular superstition which was composed not only of beiefs but of interests, fell to inventing divine panishments, especially for those who commit ted this crime. We wish to relate here Q trad. ition of Brittany, relative to this subject, and which will cause what we have just said to be better understood than by any explanations that could be made.
 It was several centuries ago. Miracles were often seen, and the language of the upper coun- try was not then spoken here. This stone was not upon the surface of the land as you now see it but lower down in the arabic land which it separated into two unequal parts; the smaller belonging to 8 man named lyon, whose hut stood near by on the heath the other compri. sing almost all the hllock was cultivated by Claude Perrin of the parish of Tregenest.
 If the poor man had envied the rich, Chris tians would have sighed while saying: It is misery which makes him sin.' They had always understood this, but here it was the rich who snvied the poor man. Such is the folly of mankind. .:,-. ...
 Claude was gathering sheaf while his neigh. bor was gathering single head of grain his barns were filled, while the wife of Ivon was filling her apron and yet he looked with jeal- ousy on the spot of ground where God had pla- ced the bread of the poor man. He hated him for being his neighbor as if it were not necessa. ry to have ncighbor, since it is God alone who owns all things. Perrin sought for long time means of gaining Cor himself the entire hill. He had wished much to pick 8 quarrel with lyon; but unfortunately he was peaceful man, praying night and morning, working without complaint, and taking care of his wifs-who was now wasting away with disease. His courage supplied the place of riches; his patience of happiness. Claude heard him each day guiding his little blow through the fallows, singing his Christmas carols; while he, who was rich and without domestic troubles, could not sing. So true it is that joy comes only to good hearts,
 The envy ot the farmer of Trsgsnsss incrsas- ed as time passed. His avsrice eostinusd to grow with his age. He thought only of hia neighbors field; he dreamed of it; his mind was absorbed with this piece of ground which could not belong to him. He had often con. suited lawyers. and had made them read his ii. ties to discover if the law could not give him means of robbing Ivon. But they said" You must give it up, my man." This made him an- gry. ss..... Hns.
 "Since the lawyers can do nothing about it," said he, "the devil alone remains to hslp me-"
 There was then at Lsndehsn haunted cross- road. Claude Perrin decided to 90 there imms- diately. Arriving there, As found undsr sn old oak, man dressed ia red cloak, and who had black feather. This man said to him:
 70 aude, I know what leads thss hishsr.'
 'What is it, thenr asked the svasicious man.
 Thou comest to ask. the means iof taking lyons field to add to thine own.'
 \Claude began to tremble, for hs knew he was before the Evil One. -.
 I will do as thou desirest,' continued tho red man, upon one conoltion.
 'Name it,
 1t is that thou shalt not be able to undo that which thou wilt have done.' t
 Claude assented. a- ...- ,.
 'Ah well,' replied the demon go tomorrow during the night; take up the boundary stone which separates thy land from thy neighbors and place it on the border of the land; the heaths are long and the grain ripe. No one will perceive it; only, when lyon shall arrive with his sickle, send him away. telling him that all the wheat belongs to thee. The men of jus tice will seek the boundary stone to know the truth and, as they will find it beyond the ara ble lands, they will decide that these are thine, and that the heath belongs othy peighbor.'
 At these words ths demon disappeared. Claude Perrin rstnrned home, and on the night following, ss he had been commanded. displaced the boundary stone without being seen by any one. Some days after, when Ivon wished to harvest; he stopped him by pretending that the harvest belonged to him. The kings peopla were called to decide; they found the boundary l stone on the limits of the arabls land, and sa O..