Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-04-28
THE NEW LINE FENCE.

''If there amt them hens again, y
said Elias Long, setting down the milk
pail on the kitchen perch with g. jerk
The stout pleasant-faced woman tc
whom he spoke paused in the door
way with her bare arms twisted into
her calico apron, and regarded the Of
tenders mildly.
They were struggling through one Of
the numerous gaps in the broken
down fence which, separated Mr.
Longs garden from that of his
neighbor, Alvin Talcott-a process.
sion of nine, clucking in g. Groom
ing way and stepping high. They
came on with composed elaboration,
pausing among the cucumbers with a
contemplative air, skirting the rad
ishes after q dissatisfied survey, and
settling down at last among the toma-
toes with a chorus of victorious clucks.
cit amt going to do" said Mr..
Long, wiping disturbed face with his
old red silk handkerchief. 81 amt GO
ing to stand it."
ut amt likely he's thought of it,
said his wife, TRANQUILITY.
HE can't think of nothing but that
pesky croquet business" rejoined Mr..
Lcne, jerking his head towards his
neighbor' 8 yard from which the sound
of voices and the click of mallets pro-
ceeded.
ooh, laws, Elias!" Mrs. Long began,
In easy remonstrance; but her hus-
band had seized an old tin dipper
from the porch-shelf, and was making
for the tomato-patch as fast as his 60
years would permit. There was wild
cackling and scattering as he threw
his dipper into the midst of the scratch
ing flock, pursued them unrelentingly
to the farthest possible point, and
leaned exhaustedly against the sunken
gate of the dilapidated fence 1t was
sunken with the weight of many friend
ly chats held across it since the long
ago period of it's erection; chats held
at all times of day and upon all SUBJ
jects-politics, moving machines, fer.
tilizers, sewing societies, crochet pat
terms, raised cake recipes, etc.
Mr.. Talcott's croquet-ground was
before him. Mr.. Talcott himself stood
near, leaning the weight of his small
and wiry person on his rnsllet; his hat
over one ear, his cheerful round face
shining with eagerness, his whole atti-
tude expressive of watchful and pro-
found absorption.
Mr.. Long surveyed the scene with
.displeasure. Hehad originally, strong
ly disapproved of Mr.. Talcott's
croquet-ground. He had not been
sure that croquet was not on g. level
with ''keerds" and gambling; and that
of ho oI,
OF the town council should counte-
nance and encourage such iniquity was
a subject for grave reflection.
From this-after frequent glimpses
and occasional considerations of the
game, over the fence-he had softened
to the opinion that it was waste of
time and a pack Of foolishness; falling
gradually into the habit, despite his
convictions, of observing it regularly
graduating from the fence to Mr.
Talcott's doorstep, and thus acquir-
ing a tolerable knowledge of its baleful
methods. He had even been known to
manifest an interest In the game, to
tender advice IN a crisis, to give his
opinion on q disputed point, to Join in
applause of good strike.
But he had always considered that
his presence was something of g. re-
proof and restraint. Just now, as he
stood frowning down the long bewick.
eted ground, nothing could have con-
WINGED him that he had ever retreated
in heleast from his primal attitude of
rigorous disapproval.
Mr.. Long shifted his position near
oro
"You'll have to keep them hens of
yourn to home" he said. ''They're
spelling my garden jest about as fast
as they can manage it,
Mr.. Talcott's smiling face hardened
1t was not the first time his neighbor
had mentioned the hens; though never
hitherto with SO much decision.
81 don't really know as it's auy of
my concern" he said; "you can't Jest
expect for me to be chasing hens ever
lastingly."
"I don't know but what you better
be chasing the hens than wasting time
over this here, responded his neighbor,
surveying the croquet-ground with
sternness in his long featured face.
Mr.. Talcott's small, bright eyes
snapped.
"You hahn tho call, as | know OF,
to give no opinion whatsoever" he re-
torted.
Mr.. Long turned his eyes upon his
irate countenance. He was slower to
anger than his neighbor. "About
them hens" he said; II ruther guess
this line fence better be fixed up; needs
it. They couldn't get in then unless
they should go round by the orchard,
and that aI0't 1iRalu -
81 hain't been calculating to lay out
anything on fences just at present"
said Mr.. Talcott, bracing himself on
his short legs defantly.
Mr.. Longs thin face grew grim.
"You better just think over about
this here fence,' said he, as he turned
stif1y away.
Mrs. Talcott had come out of the
house with a little bowl in her hands;