The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-12-28

''Thee means Dick Hardy ?"
Eyes"
'.What has he been doing to thee
now?" asked the questioner, a Friend,
named Isaac Martin, neighbor.
'He's always doing something, friend
Martin. Scarcely day passes that I
don't have complaint of HIM. Yesterday
one of the boy came and told me he saw
him throw q stone at my new Durham
COW, and strike her on the head"
s'That's very bad friend Levering.
Does thee know why he did this2 Was
thy Durham trespassing on his grounds?"
''No, she was only looking over the
fence. He has q spite against me and
mine, and does all he can to iniure me-
You know the fine Bartlett pear tree
that stands in the corner of my lot ad-
joining his property r.
yes
''Two large limbs full of fruit hung
over on his side. You would hardly be-
ieve it, but it is true +; 1 was out there
just now, and discovered that he had
sawed off those two fine limbs that hung
over on his side. They lay down upon
the ground and bis pigs were eating the
fruit therefrom."
''Why is Dick so spiteful to thee, friend
Levering? He doesn't annoy me. What
has thee done to him p
Nothing Of any Importance"
'sThee must have done something.
Try and remember"
81 know what first put him OUT
kicked an ugly dog Of his once. The
beast, half starved at home, L suppose,
was all the time prowling about here,
and snatehing up everything that came
IN his way. One day [ came upon him
suddenly, and gave him a tremendous
kick that sent him howling through the
gate. Unfortunately, as it turned out,
the dogs master happened to be passing
along the road. The way he sworo at
me WAS dreadful. 1 never saw q more
vindictive face. The next morning a
splendid Newfoundland, that I had
raised from a pup, met me shivering at
the door, with his tail cut off. I don't
know when I have felt so badly. Poor
fellow! his piteous look haunts me now;
I had no proof against Dick, but have
never doubted as to his agency in the
matter. In my grief and Indignation I
shot the dog, and put him out of sight. -
''Thee was hasty in that, friend Lev
ering," said the Quaker.
perhaps I was, though 1 have never
regretted the act. met Dick a few days
afterwards. The grin of satisfaction on
his face I accepted as al acknowledge
ment of his mean and cruel revenge.
Within week from that time one of
my COWS had a horn knocked off. -
''What did thee do ?"
81 went to Dick Hardy, and gave him
a piece of my mind"
''That is, thee scolded and called him
hard names, and threatened
ISS-juSt 81, 1lleuU
"Did any good come Of it ?"
"About as much good as though I had
whistled to the wind"
s'How has it been since 20
''No change for the better it grows,
if anything, worse and worse. Dick
never gets weary of annoying me-"
''Has thee ever tried the law with him,
friend Levering2 The law should pro-
tect thee"
go yes, I've tried the law. Once he
ran his heavy wagon against my carriage
purposeiy, and upset me in the road. I
made narrow escape with my life
The carriage was SO badly broken that
it cost me fifty dollars for repairs. A
neighbor saw the whole thing and said
it was plainly intended by Dick. So 1
sent him the carriage makers bill at
which he got into a towering passion.
Then I threatened him with prosecu-
ton, and he laughed in my face malig-
nantly. I felt the time had come to act
decisively, and I sued him, relying on
the evidence of my neighbor. He WAS
afraid of Dick, and SO worked his testi
mony that the jury saw only an accident
instead OF q purpose to injure. After
that Dick Hardy was worse than ever.
He took an evil delight in annoying and
injuring NE. [ am satisfied that in more
than one instance he left gaps in his
fences, in order to entice my cattle into
his fields, that he might set his dogs on
them and hurt them with stones. 1t is
more than child OF mine dares to cross
his premises. OEly last week he tried
to put his dog on my little Florence,
who had sfrayed into one of his fields
after buttercups. The dog wRs less
cruel than the master or she would have
been torn by his teeth, instead of being
only frightened by his bark.
''It's hard case. truly, friend Lever
ing. Oar neighbor Hardy seems pos
sessed of an evil spirit -
1.-The spirit Of the devil" was an
swered with feeling.
Giles thy enemy assuredly and If
thee doesn't get rid of him he will do
thee great harm. Thee must, if thee
would dwell III safety, friend Levering. !"
(The Quaker's face was growing very
serious. He spoke in a lowered voice,
and bent toward his neighbor II conf
dental manner.)
.Thee must put him out Of the way"
s'Friend Martin - the surprise OF
n