Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-05
The BIacksmith's Reyenge.

The BIacksmith's Revenge.
Row 10 cEr nD or A DisAcHEEAnLE SEiGnnoR
Mark Butler and Roger Saunders were
neghbors is, so far as the word implies
nearness Of residence Although they lived
within two or three doors OF each other, they
were very unneighborly IN every other sense.
Mark Butler was offended with Roger Saun-
ders and would not speak TO him when they
happened TO meet in the street, and Roger
Saunders could not bear Mark Butler and
did all in his power to vex aud annoy him.
Roger was a blacksmith. and Mark was
carpenter aud people who knew them we'll
used to say that Roger was as hot as his own
| FIRE, and that Mark was as tough aud unim-
| pressible as log Of his own wood and
their comparisons were nearer the truth than
such comparisons generally are. The worst
OF the matter was that both Roger and
Mark professed to be Christian men, and
their conduct was therefore the more blama-
ble. 1t furnished people with an occasion
4 for casting ridicue and contempt upon re-
I ligion aud the inconsistencies OF Christians
have, perhaps, done more to hinder the prog.
ress of Christianity, than the attacks of its
avowed enemies.
For several months this unhappy discord
had existed between Mark and Roger, and
there was no sign of any reconciliation.
| Both Rogers wife--a neat, lively, busting
| little woman, with rosy checks aud black eyes
that sparkled with good humor- and Marks
wife-a delicate, sickly creature, who was pro-
verbal for her love Of peace and quietness--
would gladly have brought about better state
of things; but their influence was of no avail
10 this matter, for Roger and Mark seemed
determined to keep their kindly feeling to-
ward each other as far asunder as the poles
No one observed the growing alienation Of
the two neighbors with more concern and re-
gret than Miles jackson, an old farmer, and
one Of the oldest inhabitants Of the place.
lie had not passed through liie-compara-
lively uneyentful as it had beeu TO him
without having seen mach, and heard more,
Of the banefu effects OF quarreing; and he
thought it was pity that Mark and Roger
should bear such ill-wll toward each other;
| because no one could tell to what sad results
/ il might eventually lead. lie determined TO
| try whether he could not effect some change /;
he knew that he had not very promising ma
/ terial 10 work upon in either case, but he felt
/ that it was his duty to make the attempt
and hope for the best. Miles Jackson was
plain, old-fashoned man, possessing great
| beneyolence of disposition, and touch OF
humor and originality which made him gem
orally welcome wherever he went, and which
gave him liberty TO say anything he pleased
without causing offence Truths, unwelcome
truths, which would have been Indignantly
rspelled if uttered by another man, were pa.
tiently borne from him and he did much
good In this way,
Miles Jackson resolved to make his first
essay upon Roger Saunders, for he consid-
cred that his hot and hasty temperament
rendered him more susceptible than Mark
| Butler. Mark was man of more intelli-
gence and real principle than his neighbor,
and II really convinced of his error. might
be trusted for the future in preference to
Roger; but, Oh the difficulty of that il 90
Miles jackson felt it so strongly that when
he had put on his hat hi turned his head at
once in the direction of Rogers forge.
There was a small bill owing 10 Roger, which
had remained unpaid for more than week,
through the illness Of the man who usually
settled his accounts and Miles put that lit
tie bill, aud the money for IT,, into his pocket,
that it might make him an erraud TO the
blacksmith's.
After the usual salutations We're over,
and the little account duly settled, Miles
was rather at a loss hoW he should introduce
the real object of his visit but his perplex.
ity was suddenly relieved 10y Roger. pouring
forth his long catalogue Of complaints
against Mark Butler; and, like most other
complainers, he made out q good case for
himself and represented himself as man
that was exceedingly injured and ilLused.
1t would not have been civil of Miles
Jackson to contradict any of the assertions
which Roger made, especially when it was
his sympathy, and not his opinion or ad
Z g., ls. a. 4
word about the probability OF there being
as much blame due to Roger Saunders as tc
Mark Butler, although it was by ho mean.
} doubtful matter in his own mind but h,
. quietly assented to all that was said about
: the unpleasantness of having such persol
rs Mark for neighbor, and only expressed
his surprise that his worthy friend Roge
had not endeayored TO get rid of the un
pleasantness long before that time.
Get rid of it, Mr.. jackson how in tn,
world can | do that Mark has as mucl
right to live here, ii he pleases, as have
but | am determined to put stop TO hi
nsolent behavior and remarks, ii | possibl,
can"
"Would it not he the wiser way Roger
10 pass over his conduct as unworthy OF re
taliation Do not stoop to recriminate
Forget and forgive, is ono OF the best o
maxims."
"What and allow ones self to be i'm
posed upon, and called mean-spirited !" eX
claimed Roger, with vehement gesture
> "No, no, Mr.. jackson, right is right, and
b am not going to give way, | win maxi
Mark repent that he ever interfered will
me, that will"
Well" replied Miles jackson, as il con
vinced by the energetic manner of tn
blacksmith that there was no other eours
to be adopted than that which he had pro
posed :" believe after all, that your plan /
the best one, and that ii is nobler 10 conque
than to be conquered ! could tell you of
most capital method for gaining your end
y but perhaps you would not be willing +
e adopt it,"
e "What is il % said Roger, inquiringly,
e why | hardly think you are pr,
!, pared yet to 90 so far" answered Mile
e jackson, hesitatingly, "although il yo
e could, it would finally settle the business.
"Tell me what You mean, and then ca
e decide for myself" said Roger, inpatient,
d "Why" replied Miles Jackson in yer
o deliberate and serious tone, p" if Mark But
Ter were an enemy of mine, would jus
y burn him"
!, "Bmn him !" repeated Roger, with amaz,
d ment, " what do you mean You are mai
/; ing joke of me, Mr.. Jackson"
d "No, indeed, Roger" replied Miles, grayely
IS 81 assure you ! am quite in earnest"
!. "Nonsense, Mr.. Jackson" said the black
!. smith, half good-humoredly, half GROSSLY
e "no one in his senses would think of such
u thing. You only want to laugh me out q
my determination TO make Mark Butte
thoroughly ashamed of himself"
I "On the contrary, Roger, that is the yer
k thing want TO assist you in doing, but yo
r don't seem willing to take my advice VIII
do you so hastily reject plan that you hav
not yet tried ?"
s "Tred exclaimed Roger You are i
d a strange mood this evening Mr.. jackson.
n Then suddenly changing his tone, he added
nI ahnl,ldn,f wnnlar nfinr all IL Nnn hnu