The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-23

H COuSlu6TdDlB
tne past year, he went on, "and there
seemed to be good deal in what YOU
anu the neighbors said, and don't
Know m. as have any right to let him have
Snlngs all his own way just because it's
q .ulSagreeable business trying to resist
MN; so I've made up my mind to take
your advice and sue him for the damage
Snose grasshoppers have done that he
drove into my moving"
fnlo Robbins!" exclaimed his wife,
us the craziest thing I've heard of.
And you've no business to Law it off on
lle as II 1t was all my doing, for l don't
approve of it at all. If you had sued
MN about my hens there might have
Deen some sense to it, but about a mess
OF Jrasshoppers! What will folks say?"
IL isn't the damage, nor the kind of
critters that did it," he explained. "Its
Inc principle of it. This is the meanest
sning he's done yet, and it has took this
W snow me he ought to be brought up
standln'. l was mad about the hens,
ana the garden sauce, too, and it's no
tlme to sue folks when you're mad. I've
GOT all over my feelin' about this mat
Yer, and l don't do it because l want to,
put from a sense of duty"
Its contrary to Scripture" said
Mrs. Robbins, with a sudden change of
oase. g You'd ought to give him the
hrst and second admonition and bring
him before the church,
- think I've followed the spirit of
the Lords instructions, wife, he re-
l..aed. Z" I've tried to deal with him in
Thickness alone by myself, and we been
with some of the brethren and we all
agreed, IRON the spirit he showed, that
it wasn't best to bring him up publicly"
We're in for it now," she declared.
81 donf suppose We'll ever have a min
ute's peaee again. Fargo'l be so mad
there is pthing he won't do to torment
us, and hewas bad enough before The
neighbors Ill say it was foolish thing,
and they DON'T any Of them take sides
for you.''
But manwhose conviction of duty
remains unsh,ken can dispense with the
moral support of his neighbours APP
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 discomfort nor so patient
under all lesser trials, and she watched
him with the anxious tenderness of a
mother over Maynard child. 1t was
only upon the one subject that her words
were like wounds.
In the midst of one of her TRADES one
day there came knock at the door.
She opened it, and silently recoiled.
There stood on the doorstep grim and
hard-featured man with a face like 9
knotty apple, and behind him a 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 scornfuly 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.
yes, pretty warm" assented Fargo,
who sEt bolt upright on the edge of 8
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, shut 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. l amt no hand for a
quarrel, and it seemed as if it might be
fixed up"
He paused inquiringly, but his nearer
gave him no assistance, his expression,
on the contrary, growing severe.
cit don't look right for us to be havin
a lawsuit" Fargo went on. "I'm
willin' to put up with a great deal myself
for the sake of livin' in peace, and if
you'll agree to leave it out to couple of
the neighbors or even to Squire IIubbell,
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 husband S eye held her as
he began:
ais 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 hadn'tought
to have driven back the grasshoppers
again. The first time there was wind
a blowin' that haze 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. 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 ne said, sim not
goin' back a diggin' up what's past.
You know as well as l 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 | took
things so peaceable that you could do