Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-04-03

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Across the read. directly in front OF
his house, ,loomed up before him the frame
of huge barn. Workmen were busy
wing their noisy hammers, loose timbers
were scattered about, great heaps OF
boards lag piled up here and there ready
Tor use, and all the dirt and RUBBISH oi
building defaced tho once beautiful
meadow
MIR. Dean stood sghast, and could
scarcely believe his eyes. His pretty
daughter tripped Out upon the balcony 10
meet him; but almost before the kiss
with which she greeted him was of from
her pou:iDg lips, she exclaimed. "Oh,
papa, is it rot shame Could you have
believed that any man wonld be SO mean
Is there nothing to he done? Must we
have that horrid barn always before our
eyes?'
Yes; The barn was there, aud stayed.
Mr.. Dean found himself powerless. A
man has right TO build where he will on
his own land, and the law cannot prevent
him from putting himself TO any amount
of trouble, expense and inconvenience
for the very laudable object OF executing
his spite on his neighbor. In the eye OF
the law the barn could not be made TO
appear a nuisance, whatever il might te
TO the dwellers in the stone house. S.
there was nothing TO DC done but 10 pocket
their wrath. and, il possible, TO possess
their souls in patience, while the monster
grew, day by day. until, at last it stood
complete in its uglineSs. cutting of the
beautiful western hills and the pretty
pond which nestled al their feet. hiding
the big knoll, where group OF gigantic
pine trees kept watch and ward over
the meadows below them, and shutting
ont even The sunlight.
The acme OF ugliness was reached, and
the disappointed farmers revenge must
have been satisfied. when the building
had been painted the brightest, tawdriest
yellow that ever disgraced .paint-po,.
and "Marshall's Barn" had become BY
word il the neighborhood.
What can't be cured must be endured" :"
Mr.. Dean remarked to his daughter. By
way of saying something both original
and comforting.
Blu, Miss Alice had no idea of sitting
down patiently 10 endure, when. though
cure was not 10 be hoped tor. matters
Nigh, be al least mended Ths mountain
would not move for Mahome', and the
barn Was not likely to be more accommo
dating; but something might. perhaps,
be done in the way OF hiding il. Alice
was TO be seen daily on tho lava, busily
at " Work with her own hands, aad super
intending the labOrs OF others. Hitherto
the balcony had boen left entirely open,
with nothing 10 Intercept the beautiful
western view; but now vines began TO
climb there. seeming to vie with each
other in hasIening upward with their
delicate, lealy wall. aud hanging baskets
with tail plants and long Streamers oil
lu1uriaut ivy d d what they could.in the
common cause. Here and there screens
of lattice work were set up. where, one
OF these days. roses wouli.blOom and Il
hawthorn hedge was planted, and coaxed
with every cunning device for speedy
growth.
All this was very well while summer
lasted; but when the autumn winds and
trosts had laid bare every tree and shrub.
stripped the leaves from the vines. and
shrub, and carried destruction among the
ll1wer baskets, then the barn stood forth
again 10 its nakedness, a great yellow
blot upon the landscape. Ia TACT, rs they
looked out OF the balcony windows oil
the stone house, it seemed 10 be the only
thing that was seen.
Mr.. Dean tried to take the infliction
phiosophically. since there was no REM
edy for it. and succeeded in putting II out
of his mind about as we'll as people gen.
orally do when thing is constantly in
sight. But Alice who was young lady
OF some spirit, was at no pains either to
conceal or lessen her indignation. Her
mother had been dead for many years,
and, on coming home from school year
before. the marriage of her only sister
had left her sole mistress OF her fathers 5
home. She had the greatest pride and
delight in her ancestral home; and these
feelings, together with her artistic sense
OF the beautiful in nature, were so CALLED
by this hideous barn, set under her very
eyes, that she could never look at it with
out futter OF wrath, sometimes silent,
but often outspoken.
1t was during the winter which follow
ed the building OF this barn that young
Marshall, as he was called, returned
from Europe. John Marshall had be-
slowed upon this only son every oppor-
tunity for that extended intelligence and
culture which those of his name had
hitherto considered of little worth CON-
pared 10 the accumulation Of lands and
stocks. There is money enough" he
said, land John shall have what he
wants, provided be does not squander it. J
A sin which the young man did not seem