Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-26
Killing an Enemy.
I'VE me just as much as you please, "

IAeA1Nf
.
Killing an Enemy.
"'Ihat man will be the death of me yet" saic
Pau Leyering.
lie looked worried, but not angry.
"lhee means Dick Hardy p"
"Yes.n
/ W5a' has he been doing to thee now"
The quesioner was friend named James Maj
i tina neighbor.
Giles always doing something, friend Martin
Scarcely day passes that don't have complaint
OF him. Yesterday one Of the boys came and told
me lLat be saw him throw stone at my new
Durham CIV and strike her 10 the head"
" That's very bad, friend Leyering. Does thee
know why be did this! vas Thy Durham trespas.
sing on bis grounds?"
"No, she was only looking over bis fence. lie
has spite against me and mine, and does all he
can to inlure me. You know the fine Bartlett
pear tree, that s'lnds in the corner Of my lot ad-
joining bis Propsry'"
ayes"
:" Two large limbs, full Of fruit, stretched over
on bis side. was out there US. now and dscov-
cred that be had sawed off these two fine limb,
mat hrng overon his side They lay down upon
the ground, and his pigs we're eating the fruit"
why is Dick so sptefu to thee, friend Lever.
ns lie doesen't annoy me. What has thee
done to him ?"
"No,hlug Of any consequence"
" Thee must have done something. Try aud
remember"
" know what first set him out kicked an
ugly dog OF his once. The beast, half starved at
home, suppose, was all the while proving about
here, and snstching up everything that came in his
way One day came upon him suddenly and
gave him tremendous kick that sent him howl
ing through the gate. Unfortunately, as it has
turned out the dogs master happened to be pas
sing along the road The way be swore at me
was dreadful. never saw more yndic,ive face.
On the next morning, splendid Newfoundland
that had raised from pup, met me shiyering at
the door, With his tail cut off? don't know when
] have feI, SO badly. Poor fellow bis pi,eous
look haunts me now. | had no proof against
Dick, but have never doubted SIS to bis agency in
the matter. In my grief and indignation shot
the deg, and so put him out Of my sight"
"Ihee was hasy in that friend Lsyering,"
said the Quaker.
"Psrhaps | was, though have never repented
the act. met Dick few days afterwards. The
grin Of satisfaction on his face accepted as an ac-
knowledgment Of his mean and cruel revenge.
Within a week from that time one Of my cows
had horn knocked of"
"What did thee doY"
a went to Dick Hardy aud gave him piece
Of my mind"
That i, thee scolded and called hard names,
and threatened"
"Yes-just SO, friend Martini
Did any good come Of itg"
about as much good as il had whistled to
the wind
How has it been since"
NO change for the better It grows, il any
thing worse aud worse. Dick never gets weary
Of annoying me-
Has thee ever tried the law with him, friend
Loyeriug The law should protect thee"
40 yes, I've tried the law. Once he ran his
heavy wagon against my carriage, purposey,
and upset me in the road. made d nerrow es-
cape Of my life. The carriage was so badly broken
that i cost me fifty dollars for repairs A neigh.
Dor saw the whole thing, and said it was plainly
intended ty Dick. So sent him the carriage.
makers bill. al which be got ,oto towering pas.
sion. Then threatened him with prosecution
and ho laughed in my face Indignantly. felt
that the time had come to act decsiyely, and sued
him, relying on the evidence Of my neghbor, who
had seen the affair. But my neighbor was afraid
Of Dick, and 50 worked his testimony that the
jury saw only an accident instead Of purpose to
lnlure, and gave a verdict accordingly. After
that Dick Hardy WAS worse than ever. lie took
an evil delight in annoying aud pjuring me. |
am satisfied, that in more than one instance he
left gaps in bis fence in order to entios my cattle
into his deds, that he might SET his savage dogs
on then, and hurt them with stones II /. more
than a child Of mine dlres to cross his premises.
Only last week he tried to put his dog on my lit
lie Florence, who strayed into one Of his fields
after bu,ereups. The dog was less cruel than bis
master, OF she would have been torn by bis teeth,
instead OF being only frightened by his bark"
I" lrs hard case, truly, friend lowering. Our
neghbor Hardy seems possessed OF an evil spirit,
"The very spig; Of The devil" was answered
with feeling.
Hes Thy enemy, essuredly, and II thee
doesn't get rid Of him, will do thee greater harm. "
81 wish | could get rid Of him"
" Thee must, i thee would dwell in safety,
friend Levering.'
The Qaaker's face was growing serious. lie
spoke 10 a lowered voice, and beat towards hi.
neghbor in a confidential manner.
"Thee must put him out OF the way"
"Ffiend Martin !" The surprise of Paul Lev.
tring was uniegnsd.
"fhee must Kill him.