Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-24
The Way TO Kill an Enemy.


BrT. S. ARTHUR.
"That man will be the death of me yet"
said Paul Levering. He looked worried out
not angry.
"Thee means Dick Hardy ?"
yes"
"What has he been doing to thee now ?"
asked the questioner, Friend named Isaac
Martin, neighbor.
"He's always doing something, friend
Martin. Scarcely day passes that don't
have complaint of him. Yesterday one of
the boys came and told me he saw him
throw stone at my new Durham COW, and
strike her on her head"
"That is very bad, friend Levering. Does
thee know why he did this Was the Dur
ham trespassing on his grounds p
No, she was only looking over the fence.
He has a spite against me and mine, and
does all he can to injure me. You know the
Bartlett pear tree, that stands in the corner
of my lot, adjoining this property"
Yes"
1.-TWO large limbs full of fruit hung over
on one side You would hardly believe it,
but it is true; | 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 his pigs were
eating the fruit
"Why is Dick so spiteful to thee, friend
Levering He doesn't annoy me. What
has thee done to him ?"
"Nothng of any consequence"
"Thee must have done something. Try
and remember"
al know what first put him out kicked
an ugly dog of his once. The beast, half
starved at home, suppose, was all the time
prowlng about here, and snatched up every
thing that came in his way. One day
came upon him suddenly, and gave him
tremendous kick that sent him bowling
through the gate. Unfortunately, as it has
turned out, the dogs master happened to be
passing along the road. The way he swore
at me was dreadful. | never saw more
vindictive face. On the next morning
splendid Newfoundland, that had raised
from pup met me shivering at the door,
with his tail cut off don't know when
have felt so badly. Poor fellow his pite-
GUS look haunts me now had no proof
against Dick, but have never doubted as to
his agency in the matter. In my grief and
indignation, shot the dog, and so put him
out of sight
"Thee was hasty in that, friend Lever
ing" said the Quaker.
Perhaps was, though | have never re-
gretted the act. | met Dick few days
afterwards. The grin Of satisfaction on his
face | accepted as an acknowledgement OF
his mean and cruel revenge. Within a
week from that time one of my cows had IA
horn knocked Off"
"What did thee do ?"
81 went to Dick Hardy and gave him
piece of my mind"
THAT is, thee scolded and called him
hard names, and threatened"
"Yes-just so, friend Martin
Did any good come of it 2"
About as much good as though | had
whisted to the wind
How has it been snce?"
No change for the better; it grows, if
anything worse and worse Dick never
gets weary of annoying me-
60 Has thee ever tried the law with him,
friend Levering The Law should protect
thee
90 yes, I've tried the law. Once he ran
his heavy wilgon against my carriage pur-
posely, and upset me in tie road. | made a
narrow escape with ny 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 | sent him the carriage
makers bill, at which he got into tower
ing passion. Then threatened him with a
prosecution, and he laughed in my face ma
lignantly. felt the time had come to act
decisively, and | sued him, relying on the
evidence of my neighbor He was afraid of
Dick, and so worked his testimony that the
jury saw only an accident instead of pur-
pose. After that Dick Hardy was worse
than ever. He took an evil delight in an
noying and injuring me. | 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 prem
ises. Only last week he tried to put his
dog on my little Florence, who had strayed
into one of his fields after buttercups. The
dog was less cruel than the master or she
would have been torn by his teeth, instead
of being only frightened by his bark"
"lt's hard case, truly, friend Levering.
Our neighbor Hardy seems possessed of an
evil spirit"
The spirit of the devil" was answered
with feeling.
He's thy enemy assuredly; and if thee
doesn't get rid of him he will do thee great
harm. Thee must, if thee would dwell in
safety, friend Loring."
The Quakers face was growing very seri-
Gus. He spoke in a lowered voice, and
bent toward his neighbor in a confidential
manner.
Thee must put him out of the way"
Friend Martin !" the surprise Of Pau
was unfeigned
"Thee must kill him."
The countenance of Levering grew black
with astonishment.
"kill him !" he calculated.
" Ii thee doesn't kill him he'll certainly
kill thee, one of these days, friend Levering
And thee knows what is said about self-pres
ervation being the first law OF nature"
"And get hung"
al don't think they'll hang thee" cooly
returned the Quaker. "Thee can go over tc
his place and get him all alone by thyself
Or thee can meet him in some by-road No
body need see thee, and when he's dead,
think people will be more glad than sorry
" Do you think I'm no better than mur
derer !, Paul Leyering, stain my hands with
blood ?"
"Who said anything about staining thy
hands with blood p said the Quaker, mildly
"Why, your
"Thee's mistaken, never used the wore
blood"
"But you meant it, You suggested mur
der"
"No, friend Levering advised thee Il
kill thy enemy, lest some day he should xii
thee"
"lsn't killing murder, should like t.
know p demanded Levering
"There are more ways than one to Kill
au enemy" said the Quaker. "Pve killed {
good many in my time, and no stain o.
blood can be found on my garments, NJ
,ody Of killing enemies is to make them friends
Kill neighbor Hardy with kindness, anC
thee'D have no more trouble with him."
A sudden light cleaned over Mr.. Lever
ings face, as if cloud had passed, "
new way to kill people,"
"The surest way TO kill enemies, as thee