Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-02-20

THAT man will be the death of me
yet" said Paul Leyering. He looks
worried out, not angry.
Thee means Dick Hardy"
"Yes.n
What has he been doing to thee
nowe" asked the guestioDer, a Friend
named Isaac Martin, a neighbof.
He's always doing something, Friend
Martin. Scarcely day passes that
don't have complaint of him. Yester.
day 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 p
Was the Durham trespassing on his
grounds 2"
"No, she was only looking oyer the
fence. He has 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"
"Yes,"
"Two lerge limbs full of fruit hung
over on his side. You would hardly be-
lieve it, but it is true; I was out there
just now, and he 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 doasn't annoy
me. What has thee done to him?"
"Nothlng 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, half-starved at home, I suppose,
was all the time prowling about here,
and snatched up everything that came
in his way. One day I came upon him
suddenly, and gave him tremendous
kick that 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. I never saw o more
vindictive face. The next morning a
splendid Newfoundland that I had rails
ed from a pup. met me shivering at the
door with his tail cut of. don't know
when have felt SO badly. Poor fellow!
his piteoCs look haunts me now. I had
no proof against Dick, but have never
doubted as to his agency in the matter.
In my grief and indignation 1 shot the
dog. and so put him out Of sight"
"Thee was hasty In that, Friend Lev
ering," said the Quaker.
perhaps. was, though have never
regretted the act. I met Dick few
days afterward. The grin of satisfaction
on his face accepted as an acknowledge
n.ent of his mean and cruel revenge
Within week from that time one of
my cows had horn knocked off"
"What did thee do?"
II went to Dick Hardy and gave him
a piece of my mind"
''That is, thee scolded and called him
hard names, and threatsned.p
"Yes-just SO, Friend Martini
Ibid any good come of it :"
"Abont as much good as though had
whistled to the wind"
"How has it been since?"
"No change for the better; it grows,
| if anything, worse and worse. Dick
never gets weary of annoying MEL
HAS thee ever tried the law with him.
Friend Levering? The law should pro-
tect thee"
80 yes, I've tried the law. Once he
ran his heavy wagon against my car
riage purposely. and upset me in the
road. | made narrow escape with my
life. The carriage was so badly broken
that it cost me fifty dollars for repairs
A neighbor saw the whole thug and
said it was plainly intended by Dick
So sent him the carriagemaker's bill,
at which he got into towering passion.
Then threatened him with q prose-
cution, and he laughed in my face ma
lignantly. I felt the time had come to
act decisively, and I sued him, relying
on the evidence of my neighoor. He
was afraid of Dick and SO worked his
testimony that the jury saw only an ac-
cident Instead of purpose to injure-
After that Dick Hardy was worse than
ever. He took an evil delight in annoy-
ing and injuring me. I am satisfied
that in more than one instance he left
gaps in his fences in order to entice INV
cattle into his fields, that he might set
his dogs on them and hurt them with
stones It il more than a child of mine
dares to cross his premises. Only last