Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-08-31
Misteltanu.
killing an Enemy.

MhiuS u" hMCHiy.
"That man will be the death of me
yet," said Paul lowering.
He looked worried, but not angry.
"Thee means Dick Hardy?'
"Yes.' ...
"What has he been doing to thee
now?"
The questioner was Friend named
Isaac Martina neighbor.
"He's always doing something, friend
Martin. Scarcely a day passes that
don't have a complaint of him. Yes
terday one of the boys came and told
me that he saw him throw stone at
my new Durham cow, and strike her
in the head"
'That's very bad, friend lowering.
Does thee know why he did this? ?
Was thy Durham trespassing on his
grounds?"
mo, she was only looking over his
fence. He has spite against me and
mine, and does all he can to injure me.
You know the fine Bartlett pear tree,
that stands in the corner of my lot ad-
joining his property"
eyes"
"Two large limbs, full of fruit,
stretched over on his side. You would
hardly believe it, but it's true. was
out there just now, and discovered that
he had sawed off these two fine limbs
that hung over on his side. They lay
down upon the ground, and his pigs
were eating the fruit"
"Why is Dick SO spiteful to thee
friend Levering? He doesn't annoy
me. What has thee done to him."
"Nothing of any consequence"
''rhee must have done something
Try and remember"
~ know what first set him out.
kicked an ugly dog of his once. The
beast, half-starved at home, l suppose
was all the while prowling about her,
and snatching up everything that came
in his way. One day came upon hin
suddenly, and gave him tremendous
kick that sent him bowling through
the gate. Unfortunately, as it has turn
ed out, the dogs master happened to b.
passing along the road. The way he
swore at me was dreadful. 1 never
saw a more vindictive face. On the
next morning, splendid Newfound.
land, that l had raised from pup, met
me shivering at the door with his tail
cut Off I don't know when I have
felt so badly. Poor fellow! his piteous
look haunts me now. l had no proof
against Dick, but have never doubted
his agency in the matter. In my griel
and Indignation shot the dog, and Sc
put him out Of my sight"
"Thee was hasty in that, friend Lev.
ering!" said the Quaker.
perhaps was, though ! have new.
er repented the act. met Dick few
days afterwards. The grin of satisfac-
ton on his face i accepted as an ac-
knowledgement of his mean and cruel
revenge. Within q week from that
time one of my cows had horn knock.
ed off,"
"What did thee do?"
81 went to Dick Hardy and gave
him piece of my mind"
''That is, thee scolded, and called
hard names, and threatened"
"Yes-just SO, friend Martin"
"Did any good come of it?"
"About as much good as if I had
whistled to the wind"
"How has it been since?'
"No change for the better. 1t grows,
If anything, worse and worss. Dick
never gets weary of annoying me-"
"Has thee ever tried the law with
him, friend Levering? The law
should protect thee"
20 yes, I've tried the law. Once he
ran his heavy wagon against my carri-
age, purposely, and upset me in the
road. / made narrow escape of my
life. The carriage was SO badly broken
that it cost me fifty dollars for repairs.
A neighbor saw the whole thing, and
said it was plainly intended by Dick.
So / sent him the carriage makers bill,
at which lie got into towering pas
sion. Then ! threatened him with
prosecution, and he laughed In my face
Indignantly. ] felt that the time had
come to act decisivly, and sued him, re-
lying on the evidence of my neighbor,
who had seen the affair Rnt NV
neighbor was afraid of Dick, and so
worked his testimony, that the jury
saw only an accident instead of pur-
pose to injure, and gave their verdict
accordingly. After that, Dick Hardy
was worse than ever. He took an evil
delight in annoying and injuring me.
l am satisfied, that in more than one
instance, he left gaps in his fences in
order to entice my cattle into his fields,
that he might set his savage dogs on
them, and hurt them with stones. 1t
is more than child Of mine dares, to
cross his premises. Only last week he
tried to put his dog on my little Flor
ence, who stxayed into one of his fields
after buttercups. The dog was less cru
el than his master, or she would have
been torn by his teeth, instead of be-
ing frightened by his bark"
"It's q hard case, truly, friend Lev
ering. Our neighbor Hardy seems pos
sessed Of an evil spirit"