The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-07-15

and the neighbors said, and I don't
know as have any right to let him have
things all his own way just because it's
. disagreeable business trying to resist
him; so I've made up my mind to take
your advice and sue him for the damage
those grasshoppers have done that be
drove into my moving"
"Philo Robbins!" exclaimed his wife.
"it's the craziest thing I've heard Of.
And you've no business to lay it off on
me as if it was all my doing, for don't
approve of it at all. If you had sued
him about my hens there might have
been some sense to it, but about q mess
of grasshoppers! What will folks sayP"
eft isn't the damage, nor the kind Of
critters that did it," he explained. "It's
the principle of it. This is the meanest
thing he's done yet, and it has took this
to show me he ought to be brought up
standin'. was mad about the hens,
and the garden sauce, too, and it's no
time to sue folks when you're mad. I've
got all over my feelin' about this mat
ter, and don't do it because I want to,
but from sense of duty"
cts contrary to Scripture" said
Mrs. Robbins, with a sudden change o;
base. "You'd ought to give him the
first and second admonition and bring
him before the church."
81 think I've followed the spirit of
the Lords instructions, wife," he re-
piled. "I've tried to deal with him in
meckness alone by myself, and I've been
with some of the brethren and we all
agreed, from the spirit he showed, that
it wasn't best to bring him up publicly"
"We're in for it now" she declared.
~ don't suppose we'll ever have min
ute's peace again. Fargo'll be so mad
there is nothing he won't do to torment
us, and he was bad enough before. The
neighbors all say it was . foolish thing,
and they don't any of them take sides
for you.'
But man whose conviction of duty
remains mistaken can dispense with the
moral support of his neighbours ap-
proval, and Mr.. Robbins was never
more peaceful and undisturbed; and
while his wife's sharp tongue inflicted
frequent stings she was never before so
thoughtful of his comfort nor so patient
under all lesser trials, and she watched
him with the anxious tenderness of q
mother over q wayward child. It was
only upon the one subject that her words
were like wounds.
In the midst of one of her TRADES one
day there came q knock at the door.
She opened it, and silently recoiled.
There stood on the doorstep grim and
hard featured man with face like q
knotty apple, and behind him pale,
frightened looking woman.
"Walk in, neighbor Fargo" said
Mr.. Robbins, supplying his wife's omis-
sion.
"Have some Seats" she added, has,
tenlng to place chairs before them, and
gazing scornfully upon the meek little
creature who crept in behind her
husband.
drought you for Witness" she
mentally remarked.
"Pretty warm weather for the sea-
son." began Mr.. Robbins, placidly
rubbing his hands along the arms of his
chair.
eyes, pretty warm" assented Fargo,
who sat bolt upright on the edge of q
chair, nervously conscious of Mrs.
Robbins's flaming glances.
81 don't know when it has been so
dry" continued the deacon, who alone
seemed at ease, "but it is grand weather
for corn"
His visitor made no reply, and after a
few more similar remarks silence fell
upon the group. Fargo sat uneasily
shifting his hat in his hands, and finally
cleared his throat and began:
81 thought I'd come over and see you
about that little matter you've been
sum me for. I amt no hand for q
quarrel, and it seemed as if it might be
fixed up"
He paused inquiringly, but his hearer
gave him no assistance, his expression,
on the contrary, growing severe.
set don't look right for us to be havin'
a lawsuit" Fargo went on. elm
willin' to put up with great deal mys elf
for the sake of Twin in peace, and if
you'll agree to leave it out to couple of
the neighbors or even to Squire Hubbell,
I'm willin' to pay whatever they say"
The tone of the last sentence implied
the conclusion of the whole matter. Mrs.
Robbins drew her breath and opened her
mouth, but her husbands eye held her as
he began:
els that all you are a-goin' to say to
me?''
"Oh wal, if you want me to eat hum
BILE pie I'm willin' to own Ihadn' fought
to have driven back the grasshoppers
again. The first time there was wind
a blowin' that had driven over more'n
my share, and then your boy was pickin'
berries and scared in a considerable
many. But if you was small enough to
come and drive 'em all back again, I'd
ought to have took it meekly. l had no
business to have KEEP it up. But if I'm
willin' to pay fair damages that's more
to the point than Begin pardon"
Mr.. Robbins again held his wife's
tongue with his eye.
"Neighbor Fargo" he said, 'I'm not
a goin' back diggin' up what's past.
You know as well as I do how we've
lived alongside here for fifteen year, and
we know well enough, both of US, when
we've been to blame. don't care any
thing about the damage the grasshop-
pers have done. 1t wouldn't compare
with other things could name; but
you've always thought because 1 took