Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1877-04-06
A Quarrelsome Neighbor.

That man will be the death of me yet, >
said Paul lowering. He looked worried out
not angry.
thee means Dick Hardyf"
"Yes."
"What has he been doing 10 thee now n
asked the questioner, friend named Isaac
MARTA, a neighbor.
"IIe's always doing something, Friend
Martin. Scarcely n 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, aud strike
her on the head"
That's very bad, Friend lowering. Does
thee know why he did this Was thy Dur
ham trespassing on his ground ~
mo, she was only looking over the fence
He has spite against me aud mine, and
does all he can to injure me- You know the
fine Bartlett pear tree that stands in the cor
ner Of my lot adjoining his propertyH'
yes"
1.-TWO large limbs full of fruit hung over
his side. You would hardly believe il, but
it is true was out there just now, and
discovered that be had sawed off those two
fue 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
LeveringH lie doesn't annoy me. What has
thee done to him1''
Nothing Of any consequence"
"Thee must have done something. Try and
remember"
II know what first put him out kicked
an ugly dog of his once. The beast, hal!
starved at home, suppose, was all the time
providing about here. aud snatched up every
thing that came in his way. One day |
come upon him suddenly, and gave him a
tremendous kick, and sent him bowling
through the gate. Unfortunately, as it
turned out, the dogs master happened to be
passing along the road. The way he swore
at me was dreadful. | never saw a more
vindictive face. The next morning splen-
did Newfoundland, that had raised from
pup met me shivering at the door, with his
tail cut off. don't know when l have felt
SO badly. Poor fellow his piteous looks haunt
me now had no proof against Dick, but
have never doubted as to his agency 10 the
matter. 10 my grief and Indignation shot
the dog, and so put him out of sight"
Thee was hasty in thai, friend lowering"
said the Quaker.
0"Perhaps was, though have never re.
GREETED the act | met Dick few days at.
terwlrd Tie grin Of satisfaction on his
face accepted as an acknowledgment of
his mean and cruel revenge Within week
from that time one Of my COWS had q 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 50, friend Martin"
"Did any good come ofit2"
about as much good as though had
whistled to the wind"
"How has it been since p
mo change for the better; it grows if
anything worse aud worse. Dick never gets
weary Of annoying me-"
HAS thee ever tried the law with him,
friend Lcvering2 The law should protect
thee"
ooh, Yes I've tried the law. Once he ran
his heavy wagon against my carriage pur-
posoly, and upset me in the road. made,a
narrow escape with my life. The carriage
was so badly broken that it cost me City dol
lars for repairs. A neighbor saw the whole
thing, and said it was plainly intended by
Dick. So sent him the carriage. max er's
bill, at which he got into towering passion
Then threatened him with a prosecution
and he laughed in my face Indignantly. l
felt the time had come to act decisively, and
| sued him, relying on the evidence of my
neighbor. lie was afraid of Dick and 80
worked his testimony that the jury saw only
an accident instead of a purpose to injure.
After that Dick was worse than ever. He
took al evil delight in annoying 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, or hurt them with
stones. 1t is more than a child OF mine
dares to cross his premises. 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 his
master or she would have been torn by his
teeth, instead of beng only frightened By Si
bark"
ats hard case, truly, friend Levsring.
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
does not get rid Of him he will do thee great
harm. Thee must if thee would dwell in
safety, friend LeVerng." ...
The Quaker's face was growing very seri-
GUS lie spoke ia lowered voice, and bent
towards his neighbor in confidential man
ner
"Thee must put him out Of the way"
"Friend Martin :" The surprise of Paul
was unfeigned.
thee must kill him."
The counteuanee Of lowering grew black
with establishment.
Kill him % he calculated.
"If thee doesn't kill him he'll certainly
kill thee one OF these days, friend lowering
And thee knows what is said about seli-pres
ervation being the first law Of nature"
"And get hung !"
81 don't think they'll hang thee" coolly
returned tho Quaker. "Thee can 90 Ovel
10 his place ahd get him alone by myself
Or thee can meet him in sumo by.road. No
body need see thee, and when he's dead
think people will be more glad than sorry.
ado you think I'm no better than a mur
derer; l, Paul lowering, stain my hand
with blood !"
"WhO said anything about staining tn.
hands with blood2" said the Quaker mildly
why, you"