The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-11-18

"WOrc you ever more HIllappy ~
your life than you have been since this
trouble came"
81 think not"
"And, if possible, hcighbor Bracket is
more unhappy than YOU"
"Do yon think so?' |
"Ycs. lie is The most angry and
vcngclul."
a bricfpa and then the porSon re-
sumcd:
Brother Wclton, with You are
needed but few words, You are stronger
man than brother Brackctt. 10 yon
not believe he has good heart?"
"Ycs."
81 wish you could show him how true
and good your heart is.
"Parson, y
81 wish YOU could show him that you
possess true Christian courage,
" PQrson, what do you mean
81 wish You had the courage to meet
him and conquer him.
How would you have me do it,"
First, conquer yourself, You are not
offended"
No. Go on.
And thcrcupon the good old clergy
man drew up his arm chair and laid his
hand upon his friend arm, and told him
lust what he would have him do. lie
spoke earnestly, and with tears in his
eyes.
>" Brother Wclon, have you the heart
aud courage to do this!
The farmer arose and took two or
three turns across the floor; and iinalIy
he said
81 will do it,"
On the following day, towards the
middle of the forenoon, Peter Brackctt
stood in his doOr-yard with his head
bent. He was thinking whether he
should harness his horse and he of be-
fore dinner, or whether he would wait
until afternoon. He could not work ; he
could not even put his mind to ordinary
chores
81 WONDER" he said to himself, " how
the trial will come out. s,posc NeIton
II hire old Whitman to take his case
OF course the office II be crowded. Tom
Frost says it's noiscd everywhere, and
that everybody II be there. Plague take
| il. wish"
Iii, mcdtations were interrupted b..
approaching steps, and on looking up he
bchcId ncighbor Wcton.
Good morning, Peter
Brackctt gaspcd. and finally answered:
Good morning though rather cruSuly'
Wclton went ON, frankly and pleas
antly: 80,
"You will 90 to the village to-day?
II s'posc So"
81 have been summoned by Justice
Garfield to be there also; but really,
Peter | don't want to 90. One OF us
will be enough. Garfield is Il fair man,
and when he knows the facts he vii! do
what is right. Now, you can state them
MS well as | can, and whatever his dccis,
ION is, will abide by it. You can tell
him that shot your dog and that your
dog had done me no harm.
"Do You acknowledge that old Carlo
never harmed you-that he never troub-
led YOUR Sheep" inquired BHckctt,
with startled surprise.
1T was not his nature to do harm u
ANYTHING. | am sure he would nave
sooner saved one Of my sheep than have
killed it, ,.
"Thcn what did you shoot him for w.
THAT is what | was Just coming at.
Peter. You will tell the Justice that
had lost several of my best shccp-killcd
by dogs-that ! had Just been taking the
skin from fat, valuable wcthcr that had
been 50 killed and manglcd--that | was
ON my way from my barn to my house,
with my gun in my hand, when ! saw II
dog come out from my she'd My fraI
thought was that he had come from my
shcep-told 1t was almost dark and |
, could not see plainly. Tell the Justice
| had no idea it was your dog. never
, dreamed that had fired that cruel shot
5 at old Carlo until Tom Frost told me.
e " How? You didn't know it was M!
4 dog"
= Peter, have you thought 50 hard q
me M to think that could knowingl.
! and willingly have harmed that grand ole
$ dog? | would sooner have shot one
e my own oxen"
Il i"But, you didn't tell me 50 at first
+ Why didn't you"
\ "Becausc you come upon me so--So--
I suddenly" -,
, 80, pshaw!" cried Bracket, with 4
/ stamp Of his foot. "Why don't you spit
, it out AS it was? Say came down on
YOU so like hornet that you hadn't
chance to think. was blamed fool :
that's what was
"And was another, Peter; if
; hadn't been | should have told YOU tn,