Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-15
UNCLE JOE I'm COURT.
BY COL. DUNLAP.

BY col. DUNLAP.
Joe Bassett was queer genius-"Uncle
Joe" every body called him-and, though
possessing but very few of the goods ofthis
world, yet he was one of the most useful
men in town. If any one wanted an OLD
job done he was the man to do it. In short,
he was a sort of universal "Man Friday"
and for consideration he would perform
any work which might be called for. He
was happy old fellow as full of tun as an
egg is full of meat, and he could crack son
very hard jokes without hurting anybody.
He owned a little cottage over back of the
village, to which was attached few acres
of good land and besides this he had cow,
and some other items of stock. He lived
quite comfortably, 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 a fine piece of
land adjoining Uncle Joe's lot, and he was
not long in making himself very disagree
able to our good Man Friday. He was
proud, selfish person, and little mean
withal. Uncle Joe had some geese and they
ran upon Lobers land; upon which the in
dignant captain threatened to shoot them If
he caught them there again.
"Ef yo'd make your fence tighter my
geese wouldn't get through" meekly sug-
gested poor Joe.
e"My fence is as tight as the law requires"
answered the doughty captain; and with
this he walked away.
So Uncle Joe had to go to work and tight
en- the fence, and put larger yoke upon his
geese.
Lober's next move was against his hens.
| He swore that he would shoot them if they
were not kept out of his lot Joe built a
| hen-house, and placed his feathered birds
| therein; but it was a sore trial TO him, and
people sympathized with him, though they
could not help him. .' ih,
One season Capt Lober plowed up hisland
some ten acres of it-and sowed it with
wheat. The grain came on finely, and the
owner used to take men out there to show
them his field. 1t was acknowledged to be
the best of wheat in town. But the captain
was destined to piece of ill-fortune which
he had not thought of. This land was at
some distance from his dwelling, and when
busy at other points week or two might
pass without visiting it. One afternoon he
came to see his wheat, and when he reached
the edge of the field he stood aghast at the
sight that met his gaze. The tall grain was
trodden and trampled down over half of the
lot, presenting a scene of havoc and de-
struction truly horrible to behold. And the
astounded owner was at no loss to account
for the desolation, for near the center of the
lot he saw horse. 1t was a jaunt heavily
built animal, of dingy white color; and
though evidently well stricken with years
yet he capered and frisked about with
marvellous spirit-now cropping a few of the
-well-filled wheat heads, and anon tramp
ling away upon the devoted grain, as though
he were treading the wine vat. 'iwIT
1 dor fn FOL n1 he
which Captain Lober then and there poured
forth; but they were terrible ones, and the
white foam stood upon his lips as he raved.
AS soon as he could collect his thoughts he
started for Uncle Joe's. He knew that Joe
must have seen the horse in therefor the
animal could not have been less than three
or four-days at the work-and perhaps the
depl edator might belong to Joe. just as
the captain reached the road, he met Sam
Warner. Sam was not temperance man,
nor did he belong to the church, but he was
a particular friend to Uncle Joe, and didn't
think much of Daniel Lober. t'' o.
Mr.. Warner cried the captain, trembling
all over with rage, does Joe Bassett own a
horse? r... t.
Yaas. B'lieve he does, Squire, returned
Sam.
Is it white one? .i 5al
Kind o. whitish. or j"u
How old is itP ,.. .. .... ....... ..5-.
Wal-'tain't very old nor very young.
But it's kind o. shaky around the knees.
CAPTAIN Lober posted off to Uncle Joe's
cot, and found the old fellow at work about
the premises. ..rraa.,y .t. s..'s
Mr.. Bassett, he said with awful meaning,
do you own horse?
Wall rather kalkilate as how dew,
Squire, answered the old fellow. lfis.
And did you know that your horse had
destroyed more than halfof my wheat?
Je-reau- -saleml You dOant say so, Squire
exclaimed Joe, in terror, -l.al.I
It. isia fact, sir; and now you may settle
1t or suffer the consequences. ..J %
But, 'Squire-railly | kantbelieve 1t. My
hoss is such quiet eritter. nG t3at1a
Are you willing to settle it.? cried the
captain, madly. Iov -. r.i.ap /
| But--e'Squire--railly-- couldn't pay ye
noth'n-sartin couldn't.
know that your horse has been in my field ?
1couldn't swar' 'at:he hadn't, that's fact,
. That's enough. And with this the cap1
tain went off. He went to one OF the, asses
sors, from whom he learned that Joe owned
some two or'three hundred dollars worth
ofproperty and then he went to a lawyer,
and had Joe Bassett sued, setting the dam
ages at one hundred dollars, The lawyer
sent Joe letter, but the old fellow refused
to take any notice of 1t, and the case was
carried into court, Captain Lober having
sworn that he would udp push splU Uncle Joe 70 Y the
''Sf The @ court Vas III session, and the day for
the trial arrived, The, room was crowded,
for a whisper had gone abroad that Uncle
Joe would get the best of it. Finally the
case was called on, and Lober's counsel
made statement of, the cause which had led
to the, suit, enlarged upon the damage
which had been done to his clients proper
| ty, and explaining how little the transgres+
sor had seemed to care for 1t. t.,,','i |
| Where is the defense?
No body seemed to know ee,.- ili1
lonIs the defense in ecOurtYR I17l dgid |
ALL eyes were turned upon Uncle Joe,