The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-06-08
Selfrf Sturp.
THE BOARD FENCE.

OuOoS ouOos 6Se u'uS yVu PioSuCy
critters y cried Mr.. Babcock, waving bis
arms, as he chased dozen sheep and
lambs through gap in the ferce.
1t was wooden fence, and when he
had succeeded in driving the animals to
the other side of it, he lifted it from its
reclining position and propped it up with
stakes. This was an operation he had
found himself obliged to repeat many
times In the course Of the season, and
not only of that season but Of several
previous seasons. ~ " ~
Yet Mr.. Babcock wasineither slack mol
thriftless; in fact be rather prided him
self on the ordinary appearance Of bis
farm, and not without reason. How,
then, shall we account for his negligence
in this particular instance? "
The truth was that this fence formed
the boundary line between his estate and
that of Mr.. Small and three generate ms
OF men who owned these estates had
been unable to decide to whom it be
longed TO rebuild aud keep IT in repair
II the owners had chaneed to be men Of
peaceful dispositions. they would have
compromised the matter and avoided
quarrel; but IL, on the contrary, they be-
longed to that much larger class who
would sooner sacrifice their own comfor
and convenience tlian their own so-called
rights, this fence would have been Z
source of unending chickering's and strife
And OF this class were the present
owners. Again and again had they con
suited their respective lawyers on the
subject, and dragged from their hiding
places musty old deeds and records, but
always with the same result.
IL say it belongs to you to keep it in
repair; that's as plain as pikestaff," Mr.
Babcock would say.
sand ! say IL belongs to ycu-any
fool might see that" Mr.. Small would
reply; and then high wordsworth fol
low and they would part in anger, more
and obstinate than ever: The
lawyers fees and the loss by damages
from each others cattle had already
amounted to q: sum sufacient to have
builts fence around their entire estates,
but what was that compared TO the salts
faction OF having their own way.
At last, one day, Miss Eetitia Gill, a
woman much respected in the village, ,and
of some weight asa landowner and tax
payer, sen. for Mr.. Babcock tocome and
see her on business, summons which be
made haste to obey, as how could it be
othetwise where a lady was concerned
Miss Letita sat at her window sewing
a seam, but she dropped her work and
took. of her spectacles when Mr.. Bah
cock made bis appearance .f y
$50 you got myamesssge; thank you
for coming, I'm sure. Sit down, do.
suppose my man Issastcld'you l wanted
to consult you on businesses matter OF
equity, may say. 1t can't be'expected
we women folks, should be the best
Judges about such things you know!
there's Isaac to be sure, but then he lives
on the place maybe he wouldn't be ex-
acty ampartialin us Judgment about our
effairs .sies ra-sii.s tcsf 'si'aa = t-
"Jess so," said Mr.. Babcock. g
"Wer, the state of the case Is this
When. Isaac. came up from the Ions
meadow to dinnerAthey're moving th'
meadow to-day, and an uncommonl!
good yield there is-when he came up tt
dinner he found that stray COWS hat
broke into the vegetable garden"
"He did, hey21 81 = sar q
sYou can fancy the ries made. ! de-
clare, Isaac was almost ready to use pro
fame. language. / am not sure that b.
didn't; and after all couldn't feel to re
proach him very severely, for the pain
he has taken with that garden is some
thing amazing !; working in 1t, Mr.. Bah
cock, early. and late, wedding, and dig
ging; and watering, aud now to see it al
torn and trampled so that yon wouldn'
know which was beets and which wa
rcucumbers. It's enough to raiseany
hody's temper 300
ut is so," said Mr.. Babcock.
sand that isn't all, for by the looks O
things they must have been rampaginI
In the worehard and clover-feld befor
they gotiinto' the garden. just you COM
and see;" and putting on her sun. bonne
miss sLetitia showed Mr.. Babcock owe
The damaged precincts. a. -so
"You don't happen to know whose an
imals did the mischief ?" saia Mr.. Bah
swell. ] didn't observe them in pal
tieulsr myself, but Isaac said khere wa
one with peculiar white mark. some
thing like a cross, on its haunch."
"Why, that's Small's old brindle,
cried Mr.. Bahccck. 81 know the mar
as well as know the nose on my fac
She had balls on her horns, didn't she !
rYes, so Isaac said" r
sand kind Of hump On her back T.
"A perfect dromedary," said Miss l.
titia. II noticed that myself"
\ t,Tho1 yoro Cmal'e cOwa M dOuht ,