Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-02-06

stroying my corn.
And so saying, farmer Gray hurried off
toward his cornfield. When he arrived
there he found four large hogs tearing
down the stalks, and pulling OFT and eat
ing the ripe ears of corn. They had al
ready destroyed good deal. But he
drove them out very calmly, and put up
the bars through which they had entered,
and then commenced gathering up the
half eaten ears of corn, throwing them
out into the lane, for the hogs that had
been so suddenly disturbed in the pro-
cess of obtaining liberal meal.
AS he was thus engaged, Barton, who
had, from his own house, seen the farmer
turn the hogs out of his corn field, came
hurriedly up, and said:
Il am very CORY, Mr.. Gray, indeed l
am, that my hogs have done this! Will
most cheerfully pay you for what they
have destroyed"
ooh, never mind, friend Barton-never
mind Such things will happen occasion
ally. My geese. you know, annoy you
very much sometimes"
Don't speak of it, Mr.. Gray. They
didn't annoy me so much as | imagined
they did. But how much corn do you
think my hogs have destroyed? One
bushel, or two bushels; or how muchs
Let it be estimated, and will pay you
most cheerfully?"
'No, no. Not for the world, friend
Barton. Such things will happen some
times. And, besides, some of my men
must have left the bars down, or your
hogs never could have got in. So don't
think any more about it. 1t would be
dreadful if one neighbor could not bear a
little with another"
All this cut poor Mr. Barton to the
heart. His own iil-natured language and
conduct, at a smaller trespass on his
rights, presented itself to his mind, and
deeply mortified him. After a few mo-
ment's silence, he said:
''The fact is, Mr.. Gray, I shall feel bet
ter if you will let me pay for this corn
My hogs should not be fattened at your
expense, and l will not consent to it's
being done. So l shall insist on paying
you for at least one bushel of corn; for |
am sure they have destroyed that much,
if not more"
But Mr. Gray shook his head, smiling
pleasantly, as he replied:
Don't think anything more about it,
neighbor Barton. 1t is matter deserv-
ing of no consideration. No doubt my
cattle have often trespassed on you, and
will trespass on you again. Let US, then,
bear and forbear.
All this cut the shoemaker still deeper,
and he felt still less at ease in mind after
he parted from the farmer than he did be-
fore.
"You told him your mind very plainly,
| hope" said Mrs. Gray, as her husband
returned.
81 certainly did," was his reply.
81 am glad you did. l hope he will
think twice before he kills any more of
my geese" :,
think we shall be troubled again"
"What did you say to him =? And
what did he say for himself 90
'Why, he wanted very much to pay me
for the corn his pigs had eaten, but |
wouldn't hear to it. | told him that it
made no difference in the world. That
such accidents would happen some
times"
"You did ?"
"Certainly l did"
"And that's the way you spoke your
mind to him 90
'.Preclsely. And it had the desired
effect 1t made him feel ten times
worse than if l had spoken angrily to
him."
"Well, perhaps you are right" Mrs.
Gray said, after few moments thought
full silence. II like Mrs Barton very
much-and now l come to think of it, |
should not wish to have any difference
between our families"
read the Chatauqua Farmer a good deal
and derived instructions from its enter
tanning columns, and l find it very pleas
ant to sit with him occasionally during
the long winter evenings. His only fault
is his quick temper-but [ am sure it is
much better for us to bear with, and
soothe that than to impose and excite it,
and thus keep both his family and our
O{/n in hot water"
"You are certainly right" Mrs. Gray
said, 'and l only wish that could always
think and feel as you do. But l am a lit
tie quick, as they say"
''And so is Mr. Barton. Now Just the
same consideration that you would desire
others to have for you, you should exer-
else toward Mr.. Barton or any one else
whose hasty temper leads him unto words
or actions that in calmer or more thought
full moments are subjects of regret"
On the next day, while Mr.. Gray stood
in his door, from which he could see all
over the two or three acres of ground that
the shoemaker cultivated, he observed
two of his own cows in his neighbours
corntield, browsing away in quite con-
tented manner. AS he was going to call
one Of the farm hands to drive them out,
he perceived that Mr.. Barton had become
acquainted with the mischief that was
going on and had already started for the
field of corn.
"Now we will see the effects of yester-
days lesson" the farmer said to himself,
and then paused to observe the manner OF
the shoemaker toward his cattle in driv-
ing them out of the field. In few min
utes Mr.. Barton came up to the cows
or driving them with stick, he merely
drove them out in quiet way, and put
up the bars through which they had en-
tered.
Admirable" calculated Mr.. Gray
"What is admirable?" asked his wife,
who came within hearing distance at that
moment.
"Why, the lesson gave our friend Bar
ton yesterday works admirably.
"Why, two of our cows were in his corn
field few moments ago, destroying the
corn at rapid rate"
well what did he do then?' in
quick, anxious tone.
"He drove them out"
"Did he stone them, or beat thcm?"
ooh, no. He was as gentle as a child
towards them"
"You are jesting."
mot l. Friend Barton has not forgot