The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-07-29
correspondence.


That Tree Controversy.
Ma. EplToR.-- noticed that Mr. $. t.
Rockwell had procured tho printing Of a
handbiil at your office, which he has in.
dustriously circulated about, and made
other statements in your paper, in which
he attempts to detail on account OF an at.
fair that happened a few days since, be.
tween him and myself near my premises.
Now it is not my desire to drag this I'M
pleasant matter into public view, further
than to correct the gross misrepresenta-
ticns which he attempts to palm off as
facts, under the guise Of a saint. t this
had been his first attempt at usurpation
aud aggression upon the the tree subject,
might have suffered it to pass with less
feeling but not so. Five or six years
ago, hired a man who went with me
and took up beautiful tree and planted
in front of the Methodist Church, and
with pride saw it grow finely the first
year But to my surprise, one day the
next spring, on going home to my dinner,
l found the tree that | had planted and
nursed, pulled up, and thrown over into
my back yard. | inquired into the mat
ter, and found that this Mr.. Rockwell had
committed the act and said that an elm
tree which he had put in its place, was a
better tree, and assigned that as reason
for pulling up the othcr,tha l had plant
ed. [ let that pass, but thought then,
and think now, that he had no business to
do it. But recently, on going home saw
that tree that had planted for the
third time in front of my house, had been
trimmed and slashed, leaving nothing but
bare pole, with few small branches at
the top, much resembling "a mules tail /;
and upon inquiry, | found that this same
Rockwell did it. | must confess that |
felt indignant Rockwell came along as
he says, on his way to the prayer-mceting,
and | told him | had bone to pick with
him for spelling my tree. His reply was
that it was not my tree, and that he
should trim that or any other tree stand
ing in the highway. [ said to him that
he must not cut my tree again, and he
still said he should. then put my hand
upon his shoulder and told him to 90
along about his business, if he had any,
and he went. He said | told him to Ego
along you old scamp" probably did
it, would be the most natural thing in the
world to think SO.
He claims that people invite him to
trim their trees on the account Of his
wonderful skill and superior taste. Well
this may be So but the town authorities
we're obliged to interfere through their
attorney. j. w. Stewart, and order him
to stop trimming the public trees Others
threaten to indict various punishments
upon him, such as horscwhipping, kicking
etc., should he have the tenerity to slash
their trees. So you see large proper
ton Of our citizens fail to sec his remark.
able skill and taste, which he rchearses in
prose and sings in poetry The most
ridiculous and wicked part of the whole
matter is, that he proposes to pray for
me The idea ola mans going and com.
uniting tresspass upon a neighbor, and
then talking loudly about praying for him
because he showed him from his premises
and from his sight, is wicked beyond en-.
durance. Whatever misgivings | may
have had about the propriety Of laying
hands upon this piece of humanity under
consideration it is not because he did not
richly deserve that treatment, and moro
too.
But forbear further comments at this
time, hoping that he will DO hereafter
more truthful and more honest, and re.
Train from trespassing upon public and
private property.
Now Mr.. Editor, have never attempt.
ed to write poetry, not even an "epitaph
on horse, therefore | shall be obliged to
borrow from DR.. Watts few appropriate
lines. AS Rockwell says, in substance,
that took him by the shoulder and
plunged him off the sidewalk to the
ground, and hurt his hand, | think the
following lines are very appropriate
Plunged in gulf of black despair,
Awretched sinner lay, &c.
As Mr.. Rockwell wished to have the
truth before the public, have reluctant
y made the above statement to show the
aggravating nature Of his offence, and to
show what reliance can be placed upon
his published or private statements
HARRY G.. LANGwoRTHY.