The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-12
THE NEW LINE FENCE.

NbiiHtn W WnOin ne hpDht Ddustu
in the doorway with her bare arms twisted
offenders 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 procession
of nine, clucking in a grooming way and
stepping high. They came on with composed
deliberatiOn pausing among the cucumbers
with contemplative air, skrting the radsbes
after dissatisfied survey and settling down
at last among the tomatoes with chorus OF
victorious clucks
at amt going to do" said Mr.. Long,
wiping disturbed face with his old red silk
handkerchief IL amt going to stand i'll"
at amt likely he's thought of it," said his
wife, TRANQUILITY.
ale can't think of nothing but that pesky
croquet business, rejoined Mr.. Long, jerking
his head towards his neighbor's yard from
which the sound Of voices and the click OF
mallets proceeded.
"Oh, laws Eliasl" Mrs. Long began, in
easy remonstrance: but her husband had
seized an old tin dipper from the porch-shelf,
and was making for the omato-patch as fast
as his GO years would permit There was a
wild cackling and scattering as he threw his
pursued them unrelentingy to the farthest
possible point, and leaned exhaustedly against
the sunken gate of the dilapidated fence. 1t
was slnken with the weight of the many
friendly chats held across it since the long
ago period of its erection, chats held at all
times of day and upon all ubjects-politics,
moving ng-machines, fertilizers, sewing soci-
eties crochet patterns, raised cake recipes, etc.
Mr. Thcott's croquet-ground was before
him Mr. Talcott himself stood near, lean
ing the weight of his small and wiry person
on his malet; his hat over one ear, his cheer
full, round face shining with eagerness, his
whole attitude expressive Of watchful and
profound absorption,
Mr.. Long surveyed the scene with displeas-
ure. He had, originally, strongly disap-
proved of Mr.. Talcotts croquet-ground. He
had not been sure that croquet was not on a
level with "keerds" and gambling; and that
deacon of the church and member of the
town council should countenance and encour-
age such iniquity was subject for grave re-
necton.
From this-after frequent glimpes and oc-
casional considerations of the game, over the
fence-he had softened to the opinion that it
was waste of time and pack of foolishness;
falling gradually into the habit, despite his
convictions of observing it regularly-grad-
uating from the fence to Mr. Talcotts door
step, and thus acquiring a tolerablc knowl-
edge of its baleful methods. He had even
been known to manifest an interest in the
game, to tender advice i'll a crisis, to give
his opinion on a disputed point, to
Join in applause of good strike.
But he had always considered that his pres
ence was something of a reproof and re-
otr int I,tct ha
down the long bewicketed ground, nothing
could have convinced him that he had ever
retreated in the least from his primal attitude
of rigorous disapproval
Mr. Lorg shifted his position nearer
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
Mr. Tacott's smiling face hardened. 1t
was not the first time his neighbor had men-
toned the hens; though never hitherto with
so much decision.
Il don't really know as it's any Of my con-
cern," he said; "you can't jest expect for me
to be chasing hens everlastingly."
II don't know but what you better be chas-
ing 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 h'ain't no call, as now Of, to give no
opinion whatsoever he retorted.
Mr.. Long turned his eyes upon his irate
countenance. He was slower to anger than
his neighbor. About them hens, he said, ~
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
amt likely"
~ haint been calculating to lay out any
thing on fences jest at present. said Mr.. Tai
colt, bracing himself on his short legs de-
family
Mr.. Longs thin face grew grim. "You
better jest think over about this here fence,
said he, as he turned stifily away,
Mrs. Talcott had come out of the house
with little bowl in her hands; a thin
woman, with pleasing remains of sandy
haired prettiness.
II want you to take in some of my rising to
Hannah" she said. They had known each
other by their first names for some fifty
years
When Mrs. Long opened the kitchen door
at 9 o'clock the next morning, and stood
looking out at the early August day in the
moment before the fried pork had sizzled it.
self quite brown, and the coffee come to q
boil-her faculties concentrated themselves
upon an unexpected circumstance just be
meath her eyes.
H., iI',,' sl 'IJ o Il1 ne uains uo"L VI,
s,,'o .eiiCe iles soV oop D"yei hei'lils mn,
o'ie " ''a oit VI 'ii''s 'n'
i",S, 'y' 'o'uo "as tI, ineiety ii'iuliins
mi. no"s was tppeu naot asa.ist hs 'he wal wa,
9'uu9 ms t"o ivy t"pui W "n',H Ho suo
boir 10 ba upnr M his ytfa'c ant
chnii " 'ne Iooi "' us "iie ailiiuuilIei''ei'
a''u am aT t,e uooi i"'uei s,1"rS. t
n- 80 s'',. l.o N''''. a.u
'ncii "e',0 "'" 'no s'op' ami Uo"ai"' III
nr'snpoi Sa'" 'on'e 'i'iiei IoilS' 'iousi'eS'
Pio',i'''" nun " NAM O4i e,'es anu ~ ~.
opp ~. pauso =, "i'e .sp,o. ,e.,1 wy
a''', ''Ip ~ 'isn.eN t .,'e e,i'p'y ''o'nes
aoo;dontai sv, and ,,n,,TonloI;totad ur ,ra,'
'0''''''' '''''- 1''f'' '''''0>''''
Mr., Talcott was working energetically. A
pile OF worln-eaten posts, pulled up by the
roots, and broken plckets, lay before him. A
little further down job Dwyer was ainassing
similar heap,
Il thouSht llkely you'd thlnk better OF II,
Mr.. Long observed, with his eyes fixed
warlly ON the other. This fence has beer
wanting hXlng Tor quite spell don't
know as It's worth while tearing it down;
Thought, mebbe, little liking upd 40 1t. But
Im willing to do my share, II you be calcu
iatlng 10 build new one" After an unre
sponsiVe pause; You're calculating to build
anew one, sposet
"fes, l be- Mr. Talcott reJoinedi with
acrimonious promptness'
something III his voice shook his neighbor's
"a IN