The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-12-09
UNCLE JOE IN COURT.

Uncle Joe everybody called MIN
and, though possessing but very few
Of the goods of this world, yet he was
one of the most useful men in town.
If any one wanted an odd job done,
he was the man to do it, In short, he |
was sort of universal Man Friday,
and for consideration he would per-
form any work which might be called
for. He was happy old fellow; as
full OF fun as an egg is full Of meat,
and he could crack some very hard
jokes without hurting anybody. He
owned little hut 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 had lived quite comfort
ably, and the impression had gone
abroad that he had managed to lay up
some money.
Captain Daniel Lober, who had re-
Gently settled in the town, owned a
fine piece of land adjoining Uncle
Joe's lot, and he was not long in max
ing himself very disagreeable to our
good Man Friday. He was proud,
selfish person, aud little mean withal.
Uncle Joe had some geese and they
ran upon Lober's land; upon which
the indignant captain threatened to
shoot them if he caught them there
again.
"Ef ye'd make yer fence tighter my
suggested poor Joe.
my fence is as tight as the law re-
quires," answered the doughty cap
tain; and with this he walked away.
So Uncle Joe had to 60 at work and
tighten the fence, and put larger
yokes upon his geese.
| Lober next move was against j Oe' s
hens. He swore that he would shoot
them if they were not kept out of his
| lot. Joe built hen house, and placed
his feathered bipeds therein: but it
was a sore trial to him, and people
sympathized with him. though they
could not help him.
One season Captain Lober plowed
up his handsome 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
piece of wheat in town. But the cap
tain was destined to piece Of ill-for-
tune which he had not thought Of.
This land was at some distance from
his dwelling. aud when busy at other
points a week or two might pass with
out his visiting it. One afternoon he
came to see his wheat. aud when he
reached the edge of tile field he stood
aghast at the sight which met his
gaze. The tall. stout grain was trod-
den and trampled down over halt of
the lot, presenting scene Of havoc
and destruction truly horrible to be-
hold. Aud the astonished owner was
at no loss to account tor the desola-
tion, for near the centre Of the lot he
saw a horse. 1t was jaunt, heavily
built animal, Of a dingy white color;
and though evidently well stricken
with years, yet he capered aud frisked
about with marvellous spririt-now
cropping few of the well filled wheat
heads, and anon trampling away upon
the devoted grain, as though he were
treading the wine-vat.
| should not dare to tell all the
oaths which Captain Lober then and
there poured forth; but they were ter
rible ones, and the white foam stood
upon his lips as he raved As soor
aa he could collect his thoughts, he
started for Uncle Joe's. He knew
that Joe must have seen the horse il
therefor the animal could not have
been less than three or four days a
the work--and perhaps the depreda
tor might belong to Joe. Just as thu
captain reached the road, he met San
Warner. Sam was not a temperanc.
man, nor did he belong to the church
but he was a particular friend to Tn
Gle Joe. and didn't think much o
Daniel Lober.
"Mr. Warner" cried the captain
trembling all over with rage, doe
Joe Basset own horse?'
"Yaas. B'lieve he does, Squire,
returned Sam.
SIS it white one?"
Kind O. whitish."
''f[ow old is it2"
"Wal-'taint very old nor yer,
young. But it's kind O shaky rount
the knees"
Captain Lober posted of to Uncl.
Joe s cot, and found the old fellow a
work about the premises.
Mr.. Basset," he said, with awfu
meaning, do you own horse?'
"Wall-I rayther calkilate as haow
| dew, Squire" answered the old fel
low.
And did you know that your hors
had destroyed more than half of m
wheat?'
"Je rew-salem! Yeou doant say Sc
Squirrel exclaimed Joe, in terror.
1T is fact, sir; and now you ma
settle it, or suffer the consequences.
But. Squire-railly-I can't be
lievc it. My hoss is sich quiet crit
ter"
Are you willing to settle it?' erie
the captain madly.
"But-'Squire railly-I couldn'
pay We nothin'-sartin l couldn't"
Then you'll pay somebody else
You know that your horse has bee
in my iield?'
II couldn't swar at he hadn that
a fact"
That's enough And with thi
the captain went off. He went to on
of the assessors, from whom he learn
cd that Joe owned some two or thre
hundred dollars worth of property
and then he went to a lawyers an
had Joe Basset sued, setting the dam
ages at one hundred dollars. Th
lawyer sent Joe a letter. but the oil
fellow refused to take any notice of i
and the ease was carried into cour
Captain Lober having sworn that h
} would push Uncle Joe to the last eS
tremity.
The court was in session. and tn
day for the trial arrived. The ROOF
was crowded. for whisper had gon
abroad that Uncle Joe would get tn
best Of it. Finally the case was calle
on, and Lober's counsel made a state
, ment O: the cause which had led [
the suit, enlarging upon the damae
which had been done to his client
property, and explaining how littl