The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1868-09-12
The Oit0ke1's ReUe'lOe.

IL LUC gunner y xlCCC1LUCs
If Obadiah Lawson and Watt Dood were neg
e bors that is they lived within half mile
J, each other, and no person lived between the
t respective farms, which would have Joined, ha
}. not strip of prairie land extended itself sul
d ciently TO keep them separated Dood was Il
u Oldest settler, and from his youth up had ente
i tanned singular hatred against Quakers ther
n fore, when he was informed that Lawson, a rec
ular disciple Of that class of people, had purcha
Z ed the next farm TO his he declared be woul
Z make him glad 10 meve away again According
ly, system of petty annoyances was commence
by him and every time one Of Lawson's hog
CHANGED TO stray upon Doods place, he was bose
0y men and dogs and most savagely abused
Things progressed thus for nearly year and til
: Quaker, man Of decided peace principles, ap
peared IN no way 10 resent the injuries receives
at the hands of his spiteful neshbor. But mat
ters were drawing to a crisis, for Dood, more en-
ragged than ever, at the quiet Obadiah made oatl
that he would do something before long, to walk
up the spunk OF Lawson. Chance favored hi
design. The Quaker had hgh-blooded flv
winch he had been very careful in raising, anc
which was just four years old Lawson took
great pride in This animal and had refused u barge
sum of money for her.
One evening, little after sundown. rs Wat:
Dood was passing around his corn field he dis
covered The iilly. feeding in the little strip OF
prairie land thni-sepgraed the Two farms aud he
conceived the heliish design of throwing or t,Yo
or three rails OF his fence, that the horse might
| get into his corn during the night He did So
anu the next morning. bright aud early he
shouldered his rife and left the house Not lony
after his absence, hired man whom he had re-
Gently employed, heard the echo Of his gun, ana
III lew minutes, Dood considerably excited and
| Out of breath, Came hurrying into the house,
h. cd b..t H. l.
buck that the deer had attacked him and he
had hardly escaped with his life.
This story was credited by all but the newly
employed hand, who had taken Il dislike to Watt
ana from his manner suspected that something
Was wrong. He therefore slipped quietly away
from the house. and going through The field in
the direction of the shot, he suddenly came upon
LawSon's illy, strechtd upon Inc earth, with a
ouliet-hole through the head from which the
warm blood was still ooZng.
The animal was warm and coud not have
been killed an honr. He haslened back to the
dwelling OF Dood, who met him in the yard, and
demanded somewhat roughly where he had been
We been to see II your bullet made sure work |
OF Mr.. Lawson's fly" was the instant retort. .
watt paled :or moment, but 90 Letting him
sell, ne hercey shonted, 'do you dare to saw |
XII led her p
How do you know she is dead p replied the |
Dood bit his lip, hes,ated a moment, and then
turning, walked into the house
A couple of days passed ~, and the morning
OF the third one had broken, as the hired man
met Trend Lawson, riding in search OF his flIv.
a lew words OF explanation ensucd, when " ith |
a heavy heart, the Quaker turned his horse ard
rode home, where he informed the people Of the
fate OF his hly. No threat of recrinlinaton es-
capped him ne did not even go to law to recover
damages but calmly awaited bis plan and hour
OF revenge 1t came at last.
Watt Dood had Durham heifer. for which he
had paid heavy price, and upon which he count
ed to make great gains.
one morning, Jnst as Obadiah was sitting down
10 breakfast. his eldest son came in with the in
formation that neighbor Dood heifer had broken
down The fence, entered the yard and atcr eat
ing most of the cai'bages, had trampled down
the well-made beds and the vegetables they con-
tanned, out of all shape-a mischief impossible to
repair.
And what did thee do with her, Jacob ~
quietly asked Obadiah
81 put her in the farui-yari -
"Did thee beat her ~
81 never struck her blow
Right, Jacob, right sit down 10 Thy break {
ast, and when done eating, will attend to the
leiier"
Shortly atler he lad finished bis repHst, Law
=. s...sa.e..isorss =. and rode oxer q Doods
Good morning, neighbor Dood how is thy
family p exclaimed Obadiah rs he mounted the
;,eps, and seated himself in chair
''All well believe, was the reply.
81 have a small affair to settle with thee this
and came rather early"
$50 suppose" growled Watt.
''This morning my son found thy Durham
neifer in my garden, where she has destroyed
good deal"
"And what did be do with her p demanded
Dood, his brow darkening.
"What would thee have done with her, had
she been my heifer in thy garden p asked
Obadiah.
sl'd shot her I" retorted Watt madly, "as |
suppose you have done but | suppose We are
even now Heifer for illy is only 'tit for tat"
''Neighbor Dood, thou knowest me not if thou
tbinkest would harm hair of thy heiiers
back She is in my farm-yard, and not even
blow has been struck her, where thee can get her
any time know thee shot my illy but the
evil one prompted thee to do it, and lay no evil
to heart against my neighborS. | came to tell
thee where thy heifer is, and now I'll go home
Obadiah rose from his chair, and was about 10
descend the steps, when he was stopped by Watt,
who hastily asked, ''what was your flly worthY'
"a hundred dollars is what | asked for her, "
replied Obadiah.
"Wait a momentl" aud Dood soon returned,
holding some gold in his hand. "Here's the
price of your filly; and hereafter let their be a
pleasantness between u.s."
: Obadiah mounted his horse and rode home
with lighter heart; and from that day to this,
Dood has been as good neighbor as one could
wish 10 have being completely reformed by the
returning of good for evil.