St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-02
A Quarrelsome Neighbor.

That man VIII Oe Une ueatn OF me
yet," said Paul Levering. He looked
worried out, not angry.
"Thee means Dick Hardy 7"
eyes" {.
ssWhat has he been doing to thee,
now 2" asked the questioner, Friend,
named Isaac Martin, neighbor.
"He's always doing something, friend
Martin. Scarcely day passes that l
don't have complaint of him. Yester-
terday one of the boys came and told
me he saw him throw a stone at my
new Durham COW and strike her on the
head"
''That's very bad, friend Levering.
Does thee know why he did this
Was thy Durham trespassing on his
ground 2n
''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 fine Bartlett pear tree
that stands in the corner of my lot ad-
joining his property 2"
"Yes.n
"Two large limbs full of fruit hung
over on his side. You would hardly
believe it, but it is true; | was OuI
there just now, and discovered that he
had sawed off those two fine limbs thai
hung over on his side. They lay dow
upon the ground and his pigs were eat
ing the fruit"
E.Why is Dick so spiteful to thee
friend Levering? He doesn't annoy
me. What has thee done to him 7"
Nothing of any consequence"
"Thee must have done something
Try and remember
II know what first put him out
kicked an ugly old dog of his once
The beast, half starved at home, sup
pose, was all the time pTowling abou
here, and snatched up everything tina
came upon him suddenly and gave hin
a tremendous kick that sent him howl
ing through the gate. Unfortunately
as it turned out, the dogs master hap
pened to be passing along the road
The way he swOre at me was dreadful
| never saw more vindictive face. Th
next morning splendid Newfoundland
that | had raised from a pup, met m
, shivering at the door, with his tail Gu
off. | don't know when | felt so badly
Poor fellow his piteous looks haun
me now; | had no proof against Dick
, but have never doubted as to his agenc
in the matter. In my grief and indig
= nation shot the dog, and so put hiI
out of sight"
- s"Thee was hasty in that, friend Lev
ering," said the Quaker.
perhaps l was, though | have neve
regretted the act. l met Dick fe
= days afterwards. The grin of satisfat
ton on his face l accepted as an az
acknowledgements of his mean and Cruz
revenge. Within a week from thu
time one of my cows had horn knocl
ed off,
''What did thee dO?"
81 went to Dick Hardy, and gay
: him piece of my mind"
"That is, thee scolded and called hi
hard names, and threatened.
"Yes-just so, friend Martin"
'Did any good come of it 2"
"About as much good as though | ha
whistled to the wind"
- "HOw has it been since ?"
'ENo change for the better it grow
if ANYTHING worse and worse. Die
never gets weary of annoying me-"
sHas thee ever tried the law vii
st him, friend Levering? The law shou
protect thee"
go yes, Pve tried the law. Once
ran his heavy wagon against my ca
riage purposely, and upset me in Il
S. road. | made narrow escape Wi
my life The carriage was so bad
m broken that it cost me fifty dollars f
repairs. A neighbor saw the who
thing, and said it was plainly intend'
by Dick. So L sent him the carria!
makers bill, lat which he got into to,
y ering passion. Then l threatened hi
/! with prosecution, and he laughed
be my face Indignantly. | felt the tin
m had come to act decisively, and | su
P; him, relying on the evidence of n
ce ee neighbor. He was afraid of Dick, al
so worked his testimony that the ju
saw only an accident instead of pr
pose to injure. After that Dick Har'
was worse than ever. He took an e.
re- delight in annoying and injuring n
To- te am satisfied that in more than o
er instance he left gaps in his fences
order to entice my cattle into his flel'
that he might set his dogs on them, a
@ hurt them with stones. 1t is more th
- a child of mine dares to cross his pre-
in ises. Only last week he tried to =
,e;r his dog on my little Florence, who h
wv strayed into one of his fields after bl
" tercups. The dog was less cruel th
rs the master, or she would have be
to- torn by his teeth, instead of only bel
: frightened by his bark"