The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-07
How to Deal With Suriy Neighbor.

William Ladd had a fine field Of grain
growing upon an out-farm, some distanco
frcn his homestead; but Whenever he
rode by he saw his neighbor Pulsfor,P,
sheep in the field, destroying his hope
of harvest. These sheep were of the
gaunt, long-legged kind, active as span
iels; they could spring over almost any
fence. William Ladd complained to his
ncighbor himself, and also sent him sew
eral messages but all without avail. Per-
haps the sheep would be kept out for q
day or two; but the legs of the intruders
were long, and the tender blades OF
wheat were more tempting than their own
scanty pasture.
MIR. Ladd rode by again, land again. he
found the trespassers trampling down his
corn. What was to be done? Natural
ly enough the injured farmer felt ag-
grieved, and in the first impulse Of his
anger he told his men to set the dogs on
the sheep, and if that did not keep them
away, to shoot them.
But farmer Ladd was a man of q
thoughtful turn of mind, and not one to
indulge feelings of wrath and malice.
He was in the habit of reading the Bible
and he loved the lessons he learned from
that best of all books. In other words,
j the farmer WAS Christian. So when he
reached his home, with his anger cooled
down, William Ladd began to think
calmly. While he thought of his own
field of wheat trampled down and ruined,
his mind turned to his neighbor's sheep,
torn and bleeding and dead. Neither
picture was pleasant; but of the two, tho
latter was more painful to him.
The farmers better feelings began 10
prevail. He knew where it is written,
''The discretion Of q man deferreth his
anger :" and "lct not the sun 60 down
upon your wrath" At any rate, the more
he thought of what had passed, the more
dissatisfied he was with himself, and the
more his compassion and forbearance
we're stirred up in favor of his neghbor.
"Poor Pulsford," thought he, sis not
so much to blame, perhaps, after all. 1t
may be he cannot prevent his sheep from
straying; and even if he can, what busi-
ness have 1 to take his punishment into
my own hands? He is poor man, too,
and an injury inflicted upon him will
increase his poverty while God has so
prospered me, that even the loss OF the
entire crop of my field will scarcely be
felt Besides this, if cannot forgive a
wrong, even if Intentionally done, where
is my Christianity? And where is it !
am told that am not to render evil for
evil, but contrariwise blessing? 1t will
not do; I have gone the wrong way to
work with my poor ncighbor. Twill Try
another plan"
Mr.. Pulsford was IN ugly-tempered
man, surly, and unwilling to oblige.
This was his natural disposition, and
trouble had made him more cross-grained.
It seemed to him that everybody had n
spite against him; but he had never, per-
haps thought that if a man would have
friends, he must show himself friendly.
Ec was in a particularly ill-humor on
ono particular morning. He had heard
of the threats Of his richer neighbor, and
the direction he had given about his poor
sheep: while he was not at all aware that
the hasty order given to the men about
dogs and guns had been set aside hours
before.
And SO, tretting and fuming, lie set
about chopping wood in h;s yard, and
was giving vent to some Of his o7crboii-
ing anger in this work when he was stop
ped by pleasant voice close by.
"Good morning, neighbor." ;"
Pulsford looked up, and whom should
he see facing him but Ladd, sitting
quietly on his horse, and smiling good
humoredly. 1t was almost more than he
could bear; but he bore it somehow, and
without replying, went on chopping his
wood more furiously than before.
"Good morning, Mr.. Pulsford," re-
heated the unwelcome visitor.
Pulsford gruntcd and growlcd, and still
continued lis labor.
"I have come to SEQ you again about
those sheep of yours" said AEr. Ladd.
This was too much for the angry man
to endure silently. He threw down his
axe, Strengthened his back, and looked
his adversary full in the face.
"Ycu are come 10 see ME about my
shccp!' said he, wrathfully; "a pretty
sort of neighbor you arc, to tel! your men
to kill M sheep Yes, l hare heard OF it,
I hayo--:I rich man ike you TO so shoot
ing a poor fellows sheep"
"Wcll, was wrong about that" said
tho farmer mildly; "and l don't mind
telling you was wrong. And since you
know what told my men, l may as well
tell you now that your sheep are safe
from any harm l ever intended them.
But It wont do, yoG know" added he
good-humoreuly, "to lct you7 sheep eat
all my corn; 80 | am just ccme over to
make you an offer"
"Oh an ofier," still sii5ii.y and gloomi
ly.
"Ycs, ncighbor; have been thinking,
and am come over TO say that: II you
like, will take Jour sheep to nay home
stead pastures, and put them along with
mine. l think they will do better there
than here, perhaps; they won't be likely
to stray, because they will be under my
shepherds care; and they will not be any
further trouble to you through the sum-
mer. Then after harvest you can bring
them back again and, meanwhile, if any
thing goes wrong with them, or you miss
any Of them, you shall take your pick out
| OF my hoci."
The mau looked confused and con-
founded. l, seemed as though his rich
ncighbor Was III earnest, but he was not
sure so he said:
"Do you mean what YOU say, sir"
"Ccrtainiy do," said Mr. Ladd ''it
will be better for me to feed your sheep
in my pasture on grass, than to lee'l
them here Gil com; and l see that your
| fence cannot Keep them out
"Thcy shall not trouolc you any more,
NJ. L.aJ," saiG the other, i'll a subdGod
tone; "I'll take care that they don't get
into your corn-fcld again. And if do
not accept your ofer," he added, Il thank
you FOX it al the same. 1t is Kind and
ncighLorly; and when q man is neigh:
hor.y can be he same."
pnlsiord was as good as his word, his
sheep never strayrd again, by somo mca4s
! tl,ny y.nrn teut IN their own ground